Pediatric Dental Surgery Recovery Instructions

After a procedure or surgery from your children’s dentist in Indianapolis or West Lafayette, it is important to have excellent home care. This will provide the best comfort as they recover as well as ensure the best possible smile for your child. A few ways you can accomplish this for your kid are:

 

General Numbness

  • The sensation of being numb after the appointment is typically the most challenging aspect for a child to understand
  • It may take 1-4 hours for the numbness to wear off
  • Avoid eating foods that require much chewing (a soft food diet is recommended)
  • Monitor your child closely so that he/she does not bite their tongue, cheek or lips

 

For children who received Resin treatment:

  • General Numbness – Please follow the general numbness guidelines for children who are numb as stated above.
  • Soft Foods – Be sure that your child avoids chewing on ice and hard sticky candies as well using their front teeth to bite into things like carrots, apples, corn on the cob etc.
  • Discoloration – The resin material in your kids new filling will be susceptible to discoloration at first so be sure to avoid dark colored beverages for a week or so.
  • Recurrent Decay – Your child’s new resin fillings are prone to new decay (recurrent decay) so be sure to brush and floss as if it’s a normal tooth.
  • Pain Relievers – For any minor pain or discomfort feel free to administer over the counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Motrin.

For children who received Amalgam treatment:

  • General Numbness – Please follow the general numbness guidelines for children who are numb as stated above.
  • Soft Foods – Be sure that your child avoids chewing on ice and hard sticky candies as well using their front teeth to bite into things like carrots, apples, corn on the cob etc. Some great choices are Milkshakes, smoothies, yogurt, applesauce and macaroni.
  • Bleeding – Your child’s gum tissue may bleed upon brushing for the next few days. To help with healing, keep the area clean by gently brushing two to three times a day and flossing. In addition, in order to properly place the filling, work may have been done below the gum line which may result in your child’s gums being sore for 2-3 days.
  • Pain Relievers – For any minor pain or discomfort feel free to administer over the counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Motrin

For children who received Stainless Steel Crown and / or a Space Maintainer:

  • General Numbness – Please follow the general numbness guidelines for children who are numb as stated above.
  • Bleeding – Your child’s gum tissue may bleed upon brushing for the next few days. To help with healing, keep the area clean by gently brushing two to three times a day and flossing. In addition, in order to properly seat the crown etc, work may have been done below the gum line which may result in your child’s gums being sore for 2-3 days.
  • Tampering – It may take a few days for your child to adjust to the crown or spacer. Do not let your child pick or pull at the crown or spacer as continuous force and pressure can pull it off.
  • Soft Foods – Be sure that your child avoids chewing on ice and hard sticky candies as well using their front teeth to bite into things like carrots, apples, corn on the cob etc. Some great choices are Milkshakes, smoothies, yogurt, applesauce and macaroni.
  • Hard Candies – Even though the crown or spacer is cemented to the tooth structure, your child should avoid candies like caramel, starburst, suckers and taffy should be avoided until it is removed and the procedure has been completed by one of our children’s dentists in Indianapolis or West Lafayette.

For children who received an Extraction:

  • First 30 minutes – We will provide you with a gauze for your child to contagiously bite on for 30 minutes.
  • General Numbness – Don’t forget that after your children’s dentist procedure your child can feel numb for up to 4 hours. Please follow the general numbness guidelines for children who are numb as stated above.
  • First 24 hours – The sucking action from sippy cups, pacifiers, straws, thumb, and bottles can prolong bleeding so be sure your child avoids all these. In addition, be sure your child avoids crunchy, acidic, salty, or spicy foods as this could irritate the extraction site as well as avoiding strenuous activity.
  • Bleeding – It is normal for most children to experience some oozing after an extraction, but if the bleeding becomes more than oozing, have your child bite down on a gauze or a tea bag for 15 minutes. If the bleeding persists and is uncontrollable please call our office immediately.
  • Pain Relievers – For any minor pain or discomfort feel free to administer over the counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Motrin.