Post-Operative Instructions

If treatment was in the lower jaw, the tongue, teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb. If it was in the upper jaw, the teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb. Children often do not understand the effects of local anesthesia, and may chew, scratch, suck, or play with the numb lip, tongue, or cheek. This can cause minor irritations or they can be severe enough to cause swelling and bruising of the tissue. Please monitor your child closely for at least 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.

Keep the traumatized area as clean as possible. A soft wash cloth often works well. If swelling should re-occur, our office needs to see your child as soon as possible. Ice should be used during the first 24 hours to keep the swelling to a minimum. Maintain a soft diet for at least two to three days, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again. Avoid foods that are extremely hot or cold. If antibiotics or pain medicines are prescribed, be sure to follow the prescription as directed. Watch for infection (gum boils, swelling, or extreme redness) in the area of trauma. If infection is noticed, call the office so we can see your child as soon as possible. Also watch for darkening of traumatized teeth. This could be an indication of a dying nerve.

Please do not rinse, spit, or drink through a straw. Keep fingers and tongue away from the area. If unusual or sustained bleeding occurs, place cotton gauze firmly over the extraction area and bite down or hold in place for thirty minutes. You can also use a tea bag. Repeat every thirty minutes until the area is no longer bleeding. Maintain a soft diet for a day or two, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again. Avoid strenuous exercise and physical activity for the rest of the day after the extraction. For discomfort use Children's Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age and weight of your child.

Your child may experience slight discomfort or feel pressure around the crown for a few days. Our doctors recommend giving children’s Tylenol or Motrin for the first 24 hours after a new crown.  If discomfort persists beyond 48 hours, call our office. It is normal for the tooth’s gum tissue to bleed a bit and be slightly swollen the day of treatment.  We ask that you help your child brush and floss his/her teeth and gums today and tomorrow. This will help in the healing process. Your child should eat only soft food for the remainder of the day – nothing crunchy, sticky, or hard.  A regular diet can be started as tolerated by your child. Your child needs to avoid sticky items such as suckers, gum, tootsie rolls, jolly ranchers, taffy, etc. until that tooth naturally exfoliates (comes out on its own).  These sticky candies could pull the crown off.

Your child should not experience any discomfort with this type of filling but if he/she does, you may give your child the appropriate dose of children's Tylenol or Motrin. Your child should only need this for approximately 12 to 24 hours. If soreness persists beyond 48 hours, call our office. A regular diet can be started as tolerated by your child.