Your child’s cheek, lip, and/or tongue will be numb for approximately 1-2 hours. Please be careful that your child does not bite their cheek/lip or pick at this area with their fingers. As this area “wakes up” and regains feeling, your child may experience a tingly feeling in this area.
A self-inflicted bite injury is the most common post-op complication, and depending on the severity, it can look scary! Most bite injuries do not require antibiotics and are allowed to heal on their own in about 7-10 days. Severe bite injuries can leave a scar. Prevention is key!
Monitor your child closely for two hours after their procedure. Allow your child to eat soft and bland foods for the first 1-2 hours. Please do not allow your child to eat anything that is hard crunchy, or hot to prevent any burns or bites. Encourage plenty of liquids and soft foods like yogurt, smoothies, or pasta.
After a tooth extraction, a small amount of bleeding is normal for 24 hours. Please make sure to not use straws/sippy cups for the first 48 hours. This may cause more bleeding and disrupt the healing process.
Immediately after extraction, have your child bite down on the provided gauze and apply biting pressure for 30 minutes. This will help the area clot and promote healing. Remember that a small amount of blood can mix with saliva and make it look like there is a lot of blood. If bleeding continues, or is not controlled, call our office immediately.
When your child brushes, allow the excess water/toothpaste to dribble out of their mouth for the first two days, rather than forcefully spitting. Brush the extraction site gently during the first 24 hours. Your child should not participate in strenuous physical activity for 24 hours after an extraction. If pain occurs, you may give your child the appropriate children’s dose of pain medication, such as children’s Tylenol or Motrin. Do NOT give them aspirin.
A dental crown is placed over your child's tooth when it has been severely undermined by a large cavity. It is expected to provide strength for the life of the tooth and will come out naturally when your child's tooth exfoliates.
After the placement of a crown your child may experience a tight feeling, and their gum my feel sore and bleed while brushing for 1-2 days after the procedure. To help with healing, keep the area clean by gently brushing 2-3 times a day, and floss around the area to keep bacteria to a minimum during healing. Using a salt/water rinse twice a day may help the gums heal after placement of a new crown. It may take a few days for your child to adjust to the feeling of the new crown.
Do not let your child pick or pull at the crown. It is glued with a strong cement but can be loosened or removed over time with continuous force and pressure. Your child should avoid sticky and hard candy (taffy, caramel, starburst, airheads, etc..) for the life of of the crown. These sticky foods can cause the crown to become loose over time. If your child notices that their crown is loose, please return to our office for it to be removed and recemented.
A filling is placed by bonding, a tooth-colored material into the part of your child's tooth that was damaged by a cavity. It is expected to last years in your child's mouth, but does require maintenance to allow it to remain in good condition. This filling can be pulled out by sticky foods such as taffy, caramel, or candy, and can be broken by biting into hard foods such as ice, french bread, and jaw breakers. We recommend avoiding these types of foods altogether.
A tooth may also get a new cavity around an old filling or on an entirely different part of the tooth. Proper brushing, flossing, minimizing snacking, and consuming healthy foods will help prevent the tooth from developing another cavity. If your child gets a new cavity around this filling, the filling may need to be replaced.
Today, your child had a topical application of Silver Diamine Fluoride, better known as SDF.
SDF has been used for over 80 years in other countries and has been proven to be safe and effective at decreasing tooth sensitivity and arresting dental cavities.
SDF is usually applied in 1-3 applications during the first 6 months after diagnosis, and every 6-12 months thereafter to stop the progression of a cavity. SDF does discolor the cavity black. The dark discoloration may not be visible if the cavity is in between teeth, and/or can be masked with a white filling or a crown. If accidentally applied to the soft tissue, SDF does stain skin, clothing, and soft tissue.
Avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes after application to allow maximum efficacy.
Please do not allow your child to place their finger in their mouth immediately after the procedure to prevent staining.
