Your child has had local anesthetic
for their dental procedure:
If the procedure was in the lower jaw...
the tongue, teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb
or asleep.
If the procedure was in the upper jaw...
the teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep.
Often, children do not understand the
effects of local anesthesia, and may chew, scratch, suck, or play
with the numb lip, tongue, or cheek. These actions can cause minor
irritations or they can be severe enough to cause swelling and
abrasions to the tissue. Please monitor your child closely for
approximately two hours following the appointment. It is often
wise to keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the anesthetic
has worn off.
Please do not hesitate to call the office if there are any questions. Back to the Top
CARE OF THE MOUTH AFTER TRAUMA
Please keep the traumatized area as-clean-as
possible. A soft wash cloth often works well during healing
to aid the process.
Watch for darkening of traumatized teeth. This
could be an indication of a dying nerve (pulp).
Watch for infection in the area of trauma.
If infection is noticed - call the office so the patient can be seen.
Maintain a soft diet for two to three days,
or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again.
Avoid sweets or foods that are extremely hot or cold.
If antibiotics or pain medicines are prescribed, be sure to follow the
prescription as directed.
Please do not hesitate to call the office if
there are any questions.
Do not scratch, chew, suck, or rub the lips, tongue, or cheek while
they feel numb or asleep. Your child should be watched closely so he/she
does not injure his/her lip, tongue, or cheek before the anesthesia wears
off.
Bite on a gauze pad for 30 minutes and then discard. After tooth
extraction some bleeding is to be expected. If persistent and extensive
bleeding occurs, place gauze pad or wet tea bag over the bleeding area
and bite down firmly for 45 minutes. Repeat if necessary. Avoid excessive
exertion. If bleeding still continues, call our office.
DO NOT rinse mouth on the day of the extraction. The next day rinse
mouth with warm salt water (1/2 tsp salt per glass of water) 3 times
daily for one week.
Avoid hot food and beverages for the rest of the day.
No spitting or using a straw for 24 hours.
Pain - For discomfort use Children's Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed
for the age of the child. If a medicine was prescribed, then follow the
directions on the bottle.
Please do not hesitate to contact
the office if there are any questions. Back to the Top
CARE OF SEALANTS
By forming a thin covering over the pits and fissures, sealants keep out plaque
and food, thus decreasing the risk of decay. Since, the covering is only over
the biting surface of the tooth, areas on the side and between teeth cannot be
coated with the sealant. Good oral hygiene and nutrition are still very important
in preventing decay next to these sealants or in areas unable to be covered.
The American Dental Association recognizes that sealants can play an
important role in the prevention of tooth decay. When properly applied
and maintained, they can successfully protect the chewing surfaces of
your child's teeth. A total prevention program includes regular visits
to the dentist, the use of fluoride, daily brushing and flossing, and
limiting the number of times sugar-rich foods are eaten. If these measures
are followed and sealants are used on the child's teeth, the risk of
decay can be reduced or may even be eliminated! Back to the Top
ORAL DISCOMFORT AFTER A CLEANING
A thorough cleaning unavoidably produces
some bleeding and swelling and may cause some tenderness or discomfort.
This is not due to a "rough cleaning" but, to tender and inflamed
gums from insufficient oral hygiene.
We recommend the following for 2-3 days after cleaning was performed:
A warm salt water rinse 2 - 3 times per
day (1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water)
For discomfort use Children's Tylenol,
Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age of the child.
Please do not hesitate to contact the office if
the discomfort persists for more than 7 days or if there are any
questions. Back to the Top
