Our pediatric dentists and team will provide you with post-op care instructions after your child receives treatment. Some of these instructions are below. If you have any questions about your child’s pediatric dental treatment in San Antonio, Texas, or want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Derrick Cantu or Dr. Christi Wengler, please contact Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio at 210-680-7841.
- Care After Local Anesthetic
- Care of the Mouth After Trauma
- Care of the Mouth After Extractions
- Care Of Sealants
- Oral Discomfort After A Cleaning
Care After Local Anesthetic
- 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.
- 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.
Care of the Mouth After Trauma
- Please keep the traumatized area as clean as possible. A soft washcloth 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).
- If the swelling should re-occur, our office needs to see the patient as soon as possible. Ice should be administered during the first 24 hours to keep the swelling to a minimum.
- Watch for infection (gum boils) in the area of trauma. If an infection is noticed – call the office so the patient can be seen as soon as possible.
- 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.
Care of the Mouth After Extractions
- Do not scratch, chew, suck or rub the lips, tongue or cheek while they feel numb or asleep. The child should be watched closely so they do not injure their lip, tongue or cheek before the anesthesia wears off.
- Do not rinse the mouth for several hours.
- Do not spit excessively.
- Do not drink carbonated beverages (Coke, Sprite, etc.) for the remainder of the day.
- Do not drink through a straw.
- Keep fingers and tongue away from the extraction area. Some bleeding is to be expected. If unusual or sustained bleeding occurs, place cotton gauze firmly over the extraction area and bite down or hold in place for fifteen minutes. This can also be accomplished with a tea bag. Repeat if necessary.
- Maintain a soft diet for a day or two, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again.
- Avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity for several hours after the extraction.
- 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.
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.
Your child should refrain from eating ice or hard candy, which tend to fracture the sealant. Regular dental appointments are recommended in order for your child’s dentist to be certain the sealants remain in place.
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!
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 two to three days after cleaning was performed:
- A warm saltwater 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.