A Jungle of Smiles

Bleeding

Most of the bleeding should have subsided by the time you have left the office. It is important to keep pressure on the extraction area for about 1 hour after extraction. This can be done with the gauze provided when you left the office. If your child's tooth was If the site begins to bleed again, have the child bite on wet gauze or a tea bag for 20 minutes.

Swelling

Most likely swelling after an extraction is due to your child biting the area that was anesthetized without realizing it. Place ice bags around the area if it is the day of extraction, and warm compresses the days after. Call to make an appointment to evaluate the severity of the swelling. If the swelling is rapidly progressing call us as soon as possible.

Discomfort after cementation

Expect some discomfort after a space maintainer is placed. They are similar to braces because they do not allow the teeth to move as much as they did before. The discomfort should resolve in 2-3 days. Children's Motrin and a soft diet during this time will help ease your child.

Came loose

If the appliance is very loose and can be easily removed from mouth, take appliance out and place in a safe place. If slightly loose, leave in mouth. Call for an appointment to have appliance recemented as soon as possible.

Teeth are coming in

If the adult teeth are starting to erupt where the prematurely lost baby was please make an appointment to have your child evaluated for the removal of the space maintainer.

Eating Before the appointment

Your child should have nothing to eat or drink 6 hours before the appointment. This is extremely important to the health and safety of your child.

Eating After the appointment

Start by giving your child water or apple juice after the appointment when they request it. Feeding your child to quickly, or feeding them heavy foods immediately after IV sedation will likely result in vomiting.

If your child can tolerate the apple juice, move to soft foods such as yogurt, pudding, etcÉ Gradually increase to normal foods as they are able to tolerate it.

Sleeping

Your child will likely go home and take a nap after IV sedation. This is normal. Place them on their side. Do not leave your child unattended, or place anything (such as gauze) in their mouth while they are sleeping.

Activity

It is best that your child rest for the remainder of the day. Watching videos at home is an excellent idea. Your child may resume normal activity the day after their appointment if they feel able. Some children may not feel up to normal play and may seem "hung over" from the medications. Encourage clear liquids to help clear the medication from their system.

Remember, your child is not as awake as they think they are, avoid swimming, biking, vigorous activity for the remainder of the day.

Oral hygiene

A fluoride varnish was placed on your child's teeth during the sedation. It is the orange colored material you see in their mouth. This will brush off, and the teeth will be back to their normal color. It is best to leave the varnish on overnight, so no brushing is needed the day of sedation. You can, and should, resume normal hygiene practices the day after sedation.

Please call our office or your anesthesiologist if you have any questions or concerns after your appointment. We know it is a stressful event for the parents and it is often difficult to remember all the instructions, so don't hesitate to call with questions or concerns.

Pain

It is normal for your child to have some soreness in the area they had treatment done. Children's Tylenol or Motrin should alleviate the pain. If your child is still having difficulties after a day or two, please call the office for a follow up appointment. If the pain is severe, not alleviated by pain medications, or swelling occurs please call as soon as possible to discuss the situation with the doctor.

Swelling

If your child experiences swelling after treatment, it is likely due to lip biting in the anesthetized area. However, if you do not see teeth marks in the area and the swelling is increasing please call the office as soon as possible.

Lip biting

Often children will bite themselves in the area they were anesthetized without realizing it. The area can become quite swollen and painful. Your child will need to remain on a soft diet until the area heals to avoid re-injuring themselves. Give Children's Motrin/Tylenol as needed for the pain.