Post-Op Care

Post-Op Care

We recommend using the following as a guide, but please contact our office if you have any questions.

Care of the Mouth After Local Anesthetic

  • After the procedure, your child may experience numbness in the tongue, teeth, lips or surrounding tissue.
  • Swelling and abrasions may occur after the procedure due to chewing, sucking or scratching of the tissue.
  • Monitor your child for two hours after the appointment. It is recommended to keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the anesthetic has worn off.

Care of the Mouth After Extractions

  • Watch the child closely to make sure he/she does not injure his/her lip, tongue, cheek before the anesthetic wears off.
  • Do not rinse the mouth for several hours after the procedure.
  • No carbonated drinks for the rest of the day.
  • No drinking through a straw. 
  • Keep the child’s fingers and tongue away from the extraction area. 

Bleeding

Some bleeding is to be expected. If unusual or continued bleeding occurs, place cotton gauze firmly over the extraction area and have the child bite down or hold it in place for approximately 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary. 

  • Keep your child on a soft diet for a day or two, or until they feel comfortable eating normally. 
  • Avoid physical activity or exercise for several hours after the procedure. 

Pain

If your child is experiencing discomfort, use Children’s Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age of the child.

Care of the Mouth After Trauma

  • Keep the area clean with a soft wash cloth to help with the healing process.
  • If you notice any of the following, please contact our office so we can get them in for an appointment as soon as possible:
    • Swelling
    • Infection
    • Darkening of traumatized tooth
  • Keep your child on a soft diet for two to three days, or until your child feels comfortable eating normally again.
  • Avoid foods that are extremely hot or cold. Avoid sweets. 
  • Be sure to follow instructions of prescribed pain medications or antibiotics.

Care of Sealants

Sealants form a thin covering over the pits and fissures of the teeth to keep out plaque and food in order to decrease the risk of decay. Good oral hygiene and nutrition are still very important in preventing decay. 

To prevent the sealants from fracturing, your child should refrain from eating ice or hard candy. Regular dental appointments are recommended to be sure the sealants remain in place. 

The American Dental Association recognizes that sealants play an important role in the prevention of tooth decay. When properly applied and maintained, they can successfully protect the chewing surfaces of your child’s teeth. The risk of decay can be reduced or even eliminated with the combination of regular dental visits, the use of fluoride, daily brushing and flossing and limiting the number of sugar-rich foods.

Oral Discomfort After a Cleaning

A thorough cleaning can sometimes unavoidably produce some bleeding and swelling which may cause tenderness or discomfort. In this case, we recommending the following for two to three days after the cleaning:

  • A warm salt water rinse two to three times per day. (one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water)
  • For discomfort use Children’s Tylenol, Advil or Motrin as directed for the age of the child.

Please contact our office if you have any questions or discomfort remains for more than seven days.

Address

106 Fairfield Dr,
Nicholasville, KY 40356

Phone

859-885-0086

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