Every procedure is a little different, and knowing what to expect afterward can make recovery much smoother for both you and your child. Here is what we recommend following each type of treatment. As always, if something does not seem right or you have questions, call us.
After a Cleaning
Gum sensitivity for a day or two after a cleaning is common, particularly if it has been a while since your child’s last visit or if their gums needed extra attention. Warm salt water rinses a few times a day can provide relief. Over-the-counter children’s pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are fine to use if needed, following the dosing instructions for your child’s age and weight. It is important to still brush and floss that night after your cleaning appointment, as bacteria and plaque do not take a break and can start building back up on your teeth in as little as 12 hours.
After Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride works best when it stays in contact with the teeth. Ideally, plan to hold off on eating, drinking, or rinsing for 30 minutes. If your child wears removable appliances for orthodontic work, plan on keeping the appliances out for 2 hours after application as the appliances can temporarily become sticky and harder to clean if they are immediately placed back in your child’s mouth.
After Sealant Placement
Often after sealant placement, the bite will feel different or “tall” for several days as the sealants adjust into place. As sealants are designed to fill in the micro-anatomy of grooves on the biting surface of the tooth, adjusting sealant height immediately after placement with dental tools risks over-reduction of the sealant which can reduce its long-term performance. Our office uses two categories of sealant material, to best service our wide range of patient ages and tolerances. One category of material is light-cured to its full strength during the appointment time but requires more instruments and isolation tools in the mouth during placement. The other type of material is more moisture tolerant, allowing for fewer items in the mouth at once. This type of sealant material then sets-up to its full strength over the course of 48 hours after the appointment, during which time avoiding hard, crunchy, and sticky foods is important. A child’s age, familiarity with dental work, gag sensitivity, and cavity risk are all taken into consideration when determining which material option is the best choice for their individual needs.
After Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatment
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) relies on extended contact with the tooth surface it was applied to for best absorption into the tooth. Plan on having nothing to eat or drink for 30 minutes after an appointment where SDF was applied. If SDF comes in contact with tissues other than the tooth (gums, lips, or hands) it can cause temporary staining of that tissue. Chances of a child getting SDF on their hands or lips increase if there is spitting, drooling, or hands-in-mouth in the 30 minutes following SDF application. If staining occurs on the lips, gentle exfoliation with a make-up remover pad can help to speed up its removal. On hands/skin, a make-up remover pad and/or hydrogen peroxide can help decrease any discoloration.
After Your Child Has Received Numbing Medicine
Local anesthetic is commonly used in the dental office for procedures including fillings, crowns, and extractions. Our office uses a state of the art electronic device to deliver anesthesia to teeth. This method minimizes how much of your child’s cheeks, face, and lips are impacted by the medicine and creates a more pleasant post-operative experience as the medicine wears off in the approximately one hour following the appointment.
Even with this modern, minimally invasive approach to delivering local anesthesia, it is still important to watch your child closely to ensure that they do not accidentally bite or suck on their cheeks or lips; reminders to leave the numb area alone can be very helpful. We recommend sticking to soft foods until normal feeling returns. If they experience discomfort once the anesthetic has worn off, children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen is appropriate at the dose recommended for their age and weight.
After Pulp Treatment
Pulpotomies or pulpectomies are performed as part of restorative treatment for a tooth if the nerve of the tooth became inflamed from how close the cavity was getting. Think of it kind of like a “baby root canal” although several key differences do exist when compared to a true root canal procedure in an adult tooth. Pulp treatment can cause mild sensitivity in the days following the procedure as the nerve adapts and heals. This is generally manageable with over the counter child’s pain relievers in appropriate doses for their age and weight.
After a Tooth Extraction
Extractions of baby teeth can vary greatly in their healing process based off factors such as whether it is a front or back tooth extracted, whether there was an infection present, and how much of the tooth was left (i.e. was it fully rooted, or was the adult tooth right underneath, leaving only a tiny amount of baby tooth to be removed). After an extraction visit, our doctor will review specific post operative instructions with you based off how much healing your child’s tooth socket will require.
In general, post-operative instructions for extractions are focused on protecting the blood clot that forms in the socket, which supports healing. These instructions include:
- No rinsing, spitting, or drinking through a straw for the rest of the day
- Stick to soft foods for 24-48 hours until eating feels comfortable again. Your child may direct their return to normal diet after this window, but test harder/crunchy foods with care. Soft food options for the initial healing window include ice cream, apple sauce, pudding, yogurt, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese This is not an exhaustive list, but try to keep initial foods within this range.
- Your child may brush their teeth that night after the extraction, however, we recommend going very gently around the extraction site. A return to normal homecare routines efficiently as the socket continues to heal is key to maintain overall oral health during the healing period.
- It is best to avoid vigorous activity for the remainder of the day. If your child has any sports practices or games coming up, discuss with our doctor any tailored recommendations.
- Children’s pain relievers may be used as needed for soreness
- A little bit of ooziness from the socket for the rest of the day is normal as the clot establishes, and slight ooziness is not cause for concern. Several hours after extraction, if slight ooziness persists, you may opt to use a black tea bag (activate under water, place over socket, and gently bite down on bag for 10-15 minutes) to help stop it. If bleeding continues beyond 24 hours, please contact our office.