Post-Treatment Instructions

Local Anesthesia

  • Following treatment, your child's teeth, tongue, lips, and cheeks may be numb for an additional 1-2 hours. 
  • Please watch your child; often they find this sensation unusual and may bite or play with the area leading to discomfort when the anesthesia has worn off. If you are taking your child back to school or daycare, please inform their teacher or caretaker. 
  • Stick to liquids and soft foods until the numbness is gone to avoid injury.
  • If there is swelling of the lip or cheek, it is usually associated with a bite.  Administering Motrin and applying ice will help to keep the swelling down.  Depending on the severity of the bite, it may take a few days to return to normal. Please call the office if you have any concerns.

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Fillings, Crowns, and Nerve Treatments ​

  • After the local anesthesia wears off, the bite may feel different. It may take a few days to get accustomed.
  • Avoid chewing on hard, sticky foods and candies.
  • If crowns in the front were done, cut carrots, apples etc. in pieces and encourage your child to chew them with their back teeth.
  • Sensitivity/soreness of the teeth and gums is normal for 2-3 days after treatment. 
  • Medications such as Tylenol or Motrin, as long as the child is permitted to take this medication based on their individual health history, are usually able to adequately control any discomfort. 
  • Your child can eat/drink immediately after treatment. Please stick to liquids and soft foods until numbness wears off.
  • It is very important to brush at least two times per day and floss at night.  Good oral hygiene helps the gums feel better. Parents are encouraged to help children 8 and under with brushing and flossing. 

Extractions

  • Bleeding:  Minor bleeding or oozing from the extraction site may occur. Should bleeding continue, place one of the gauze pads provided over the extraction site and have your child bite with firm pressure for 20-30 minutes. For the first night, you may want to place a towel on your child's pillow to protect the pillow case from any oozing.
  • Pain/Discomfort:  Only minor discomfort is expected after tooth removal. Medications such as Tylenol or Motrin, as long as the child is permitted to take this medication based on their individual health history, are usually able to adequately control any discomfort.
  • Diet:  Please have your child avoid drinking through a straw, drinking carbonated beverages, or chewing coarse or spicy foods for the first 24 hours. To avoid dehydration, make sure your child continues to drink liquids, especially water.
  • Exercise:  Heavy, strenuous exercise should be avoided during the day of the extraction.
  • Oral Hygiene:  Your child should continue normal tooth brushing of all teeth except near the area of tooth removal. Normal brushing and flossing of all areas should resume within 2 to 3 days.
  • Spitting should be avoided.

Nitrous Oxide

  • If nitrous oxide is used during your child’s treatment, there are no lingering effects.  Nitrous oxide is only effective while the patient is breathing it.
  • Once the treatment was complete, your child was given 3-5 minutes of oxygen which displaces the nitrous oxide. The child returns to exactly the way they were prior to the appointment.
  • The child can return to normal activity.

Oral Sedation

  • The sedation is very mild but your child will need to take the day off from school and activities.
  • Your child will need to be supervised by an adult for the remainder of the day.
  • We will provide a light snack after the appointment. A normal diet can be resumed later that day.
  • We will review detailed post-sedation instructions after the appointment.
  • Call the office if there are any concerns.