PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH AND HEALING
POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS
At Jackson Pediatric Dentistry in Lubbock, TX, we want to ensure that every patient has a positive dental experience that results in optimal health and healing for every treatment or procedure. Below are post-procedure instructions for common treatments and procedures. If you have any additional questions or concerns about your child’s recovery or procedure, please be sure to contact our office.
POST-LOCAL ANESTHESIA
The lips, cheeks, tongue, and teeth will continue to be numb for one-to-three hours after the appointment, depending on the anesthetic used. Children will often scratch and chew on their lips, cheeks, and tongue because they do not understand the numbness associated with the local anesthesia. Continue to monitor your child until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. Until the anesthetic has worn off, a liquid diet is recommended.
POST-EXTRACTION
The lips, cheeks, tongue, and teeth will continue to be numb for one-to-three hours after the appointment, depending on the anesthetic used. Monitor your child until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off, and:
Do not spit.
Do not drink through straws; drinking from a regular cup is recommended.
Do not drink carbonated beverages.
Do not eat hard, crunchy foods, such as chips.
Do not touch the area of the extraction.
Bleeding is normal after an extraction. Place cotton gauze over the extraction site, and hold in place with light biting pressure for 15-30 minutes. For discomfort, children's Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or children's Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is recommended. Follow the instructions on the bottle according to the child's weight.
POST-PLACEMENT OF A CROWN
The lips, cheeks, tongue, and teeth will continue to be numb for one-to-three hours after the appointment, depending on the anesthetic used. Monitor your child until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. Also, do not eat hard or sticky foods for the remainder of the day. The glue will not be fully set for hours after the placement of the crown. Hard or sticky foods may dislodge or move the crown.
Bleeding of the gums is normal after placement of a crown. Place cotton gauze over the tooth that the crown was placed on, and hold in place with light biting pressure for 15-30 minutes. For discomfort, children's Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or children's Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is recommended. Follow the instructions on the bottle according to the child's weight.
Keep the area clean by proper tooth brushing of the area. The gums around the crown will not heal properly in the presence of plaque accumulation.