Post Op Care

Care of the Mouth after Local Anesthetic

It is important to closely monitor your child for a few hours following their appointment. Because children often do not understand the effects of local anesthesia, they will chew, suck, scratch or play with the numb lip, tongue or cheek, which can sometimes cause minor irritations that may cause swelling and abrasions to the tissue. Try to keep your child from doing such things to avoid the possible irritations that may be caused as a result. Depending on where the procedure was performed, the tongue, teeth, lip(s) and surrounding tissues will be numb.

Generally, maintaining a liquid or soft diet at least until the anesthesia completely wears off is recommended.

In an effort to make every visit as comfortable as possible for your child, we now offer a new anesthetic reversal agent, Oraverse to restore normal function so patients can speak, smile and drink normally in nearly half the time. Oraverse has been proven safe for children over 33 pounds, so if you are interested in this product, please let us know at your child’s appointment.

If you have any questions before or after your child’s procedure, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Back to top

Care of the Mouth after Extractions

It is important to monitor your child closely following an extraction procedure because often times, children do not understand the effects of anesthesia and may injure themselves by scratching, chewing, sucking or rubbing the lips, tongue or cheek while they still feel numb.

You should make sure your child follow these guidelines while extraction area is healing:

• Do not rinse or swish liquids.
• Do not drink carbonated beverages such as, Coke, Sprite, etc. for the remainder of the day.
• Maintain a liquid/soft diet the remainder of the day or until your child feels comfortable eating normally again.
• Do not drink through a straw.
• Do not try to touch the extraction area with your fingers and/or tongue.

Bleeding

Some bleeding is to be expected. To help control it, place cotton gauze firmly over the extraction area and hold it in place by biting down for 15 minutes. You can also use a tea bag to accomplish this. Repeat when necessary.

Pain

Some mild to moderate discomfort may be expected. You may use Children’s Tylenol, Advil or Motrin as directed for the child’s age to help alleviate the pain. If your doctor prescribes a medication, please follow the directions on the bottle.

Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Back to top

Care of Sealants

Sealants help to keep out plaque and food particles from your child’s permanent molars by forming a thin covering over the tooth’s pits and fissures. This helps reduce the risk of tooth decay.  It is still just as important to maintain a proper oral hygiene regimen as the sides of the tooth are not protected by the sealant; only the chewing surface is protected.

Children with sealants should refrain from eating ice or hard candy, as it tends to fracture the sealant. Normally, the sealant lasts up to three years.

The American Dental Association has recognized that sealants play a vital role in the prevention of tooth decay in children. They can successfully protect the chewing surfaces of your child’s teeth when properly applied and maintained. Regular visits to the dentist, the use of fluoride, daily brushing and flossing, and limiting your child’s intake of sugar-rich foods will also help ensure the overall health of your child’s teeth and gums. If sealants are used on your child’s teeth and the above measures are followed for good oral hygiene, the risk of tooth decay can greatly be reduced or may possibly be eliminated!

Back to top