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.
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.
- Depending on the size of the cavity, white fillings can commonly be sensitive to cold for up to two weeks after treatment.
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
- No drinking with straws
- No vigorous rinsing and spitting
- A soft diet is recommended; no eating of popcorn, pretzels, pizza, crackers, or any food with sharp edges
- If your child has any discomfort, give a children’s dose of ibuprofen (motrin) or acetaminophen (tylenol)
- If your child experiences swelling, apply a cold cloth or an ice bag and call our office if needed
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.
