Instructions Following Local Anesthesia
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. Remind your child to refrain from touching, biting, sucking, or playing with the numb area. If your child does get an ulceration from sucking/licking and/or biting, the lip can swell significantly and develop a yellow scab (also known as a fibrinopurulent membrane). It is recommended to give over-the-counter pain medication for discomfort as directed for the age and weight of your child, such as Acetaminophen/Tylenol or Ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin. Apply ointment, such as Aquaphor, to keep the tissues moistened if it crosses onto the lips. Salt water rinse or topical cleansing can expedite healing. The area should heal within 7-10 days. Please contact our office if you are concerned or have any further questions.
Instructions Following Restorative Treatment (Filling or Crown)
Make certain that your child is only eating soft foods requiring no chewing while numb. Please make sure they do not bite their cheeks, lips, or tongue as doing so can cause injury to the soft tissue. Please see Instructions Following Local Anesthesia. Your child should avoid sticky, crunchy, or hard foods for 24 hours.
Excessively sticky foods, such as gummy snacks or candies, should always be avoided to prevent fracture of restoration or loss of the crown. If your child experiences sensitivity or discomfort, you may give your child over-the-counter pain medication as directed for the age and weight of your child, such as Acetaminophen/Tylenol or Ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin.
Instructions Following Pulp Treatment (Pulpotomy/Pulpectomy/Baby Root Canal)
Pulpal therapy involves the partial or complete removal of pulpal tissue to prevent or remove infection. If your child is experiencing sensitivity after this treatment, you may give your child over-the-counter pain medication as directed for the age and weight of your child, such as Acetaminophen/Tylenol or Ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin. If discomfort continues for more than 24-48 hours, please contact our office.
Instructions Following an Extraction
Please instruct your child not to rinse, spit, or drink through a straw for 24 hours. Have them keep their fingers and tongue away from the area. If unusual or sustained bleeding occurs, place a cotton gauze firmly over the extraction area, and bite down or hold in place for 30 minutes. Repeat every thirty minutes until the area is no longer bleeding. A lightly moistened black tea bag can also be a good alternative if the gauze is not enough. This works due to the tannins in the tea bag which aid in clotting. Maintain a soft diet for 24-48 hours 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 you may use over-the-counter pain medication as directed for the age and weight of your child, such as Acetaminophen/Tylenol or Ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin. If sensitivity or discomfort continues for more than 24 hours, please contact our office.