Post Op Care

Numbness, Comfort and Oral hygiene post treatment

Your child’s mouth will be numb for approximately 2-3 hours after treatment. Please watch that your child does not bite his/her tongue, cheek or lip. Some children may be upset when they realize their mouth feels “different”. You can reassure your child that the tooth will wake up and the “different” feeling will go away. A soft diet consisting of foods like jello, pudding, soup, milkshakes and ice cream are recommended until the numbness wears off.

Some discomfort is expected after a filling is done. You may give your child over-the-counter pain medication (Children’s Tylenol or Motrin) for discomfort. Follow the directions on the medication.

Teeth with a history of fillings are more prone to cavities in the future. It is important to brush at least twice a day and floss daily to keep teeth healthy and clean.

Amalgam and Composite (Tooth Colored) Dental Filling

It is not uncommon for recent fillings to require some time to feel “normal” again. Should the bite still feel different to your child after a week you can contact our office for an appointment.

Stainless- Steel Crowns

Please have your child avoid eating hard, sticky or chewy foods. Although the crown is cemented on to the tooth structure, these types of foods can cause the crown to become loose.

The gums may appear red and irritated following the placement of a stainless-steel crown. It is also normal to have a slight amount of bleeding for 1-2 days around the gum where the crown has been placed. This should resolve with good oral hygiene. It is important to brush at least twice a day and floss around the stainless-steel crown daily.

If the stainless-steel crown is placed on a baby tooth it will remain in place until the adult tooth comes in. Should the crown become loose it should be saved and you can contact our office to have it recemented.

Extractions

Refrain from letting your child drink liquids from a straw or spitting the day of the extractions. The area of the extraction will form a clot and both of these actions could cause the clot to be dislodged. Avoid giving your child very hot or very cold fluids or foods. Some bleeding following extractions is to be expected. Place gauze firmly over the extraction site and bite or hold in place at least 20 minutes. Change the gauze as necessary. A damp tea bag may be used in place of gauze. After the first day, rinsing with warm salt water is helpful.

Space Maintainers and Appliances

Please have your child avoid eating hard, sticky or chewy foods. Although the space maintainer or appliance is cemented on to the tooth structure, these types of foods can cause them to become loose.

If the space maintainer or appliance becomes loose or comes out of the mouth, please place it in an envelope and call or office so it can be recemented.

Your child will need to be seen by the dentist a minimum of every 6 months for examination of the bite, fit of the bands, and tooth eruption. Once the space maintainer or appliance is ready for removal the dentist will remove it.