Post-operative instructions for local anesthesia
Local anesthesia to the jaw will most likely cause the tongue, teeth, lips, and surrounding tissues to go to sleep or feel numb. When you take your child home after a procedure requiring local anesthesia, please keep the following in mind:
- Keep a close eye on your child for at least two hours after treatment
- Remind your child that their face is numb and that they should avoid chewing, scratching, or sucking on the area as this could cause irritation or abrasions
- If your child bites their lip, it could get swollen, maintain the area clean, and put ice on it to help the inflammation
- Limit your child to liquids and soft foods until the numbness has subsided
Post-operative instructions for fillings/anterior white crowns
- If your child is numb, please follow the post-op instructions for local anesthesia
- Avoid sticky, hard candies and chewing on ice to prevent breaking the filling or crown
- Avoid using front teeth to bite directly into hard foods such as apples, carrots, and corn on the cob
- Limit drinking or eating dark colored beverages and foods as they may cause staining and discoloration of the resin material
- It is important to note that resin fillings are prone to recurrent decay (new decay around the filling margin) and should be brushed and flossed like a normal tooth
- It is important to note that resin fillings are prone to recurrent decay (new decay around the filling margin) and should be brushed and flossed like a normal tooth
Post-operative instructions for stainless steel crowns/space maintainers/ anterior crowns:
- Your child will be numb, please follow the post-op instructions for local anesthesia
- To seat the crown or spacer correctly, work must be done just below the gum line: therefore, expect your child's gums to be sore for 2-3 days. 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 or three times a day and flossing.
- 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 as continuous force and pressure can pull it off
- Your child should avoid sticky, hard candies (i.e. taffy, suckers, Starburst, caramels) for the life of the crown as continuous force and pressure can pull it off
Post-operative instructions for sealants:
- Prohibit your child from eating ice
- Say no to sticky, chewy, and sugary foods like caramel, taffy, and tough fruit chews like Starburst or roll-ups
