Post-Op Instructions
Home Care For Your Child’s Fixed Appliance
Your child’s fixed appliance is held in place by bands and wire attachments cemented onto the teeth. If the bands or wire attachments become loose, please call our office for an appointment immediately. Otherwise there is a good chance that the other teeth will shift their positions and the appliance will no longer fit properly. Instruct your child not to play with the appliance with his/her tongue or fingers as it can bend or break the wires.
Eating: Avoid hard or sticky foods such as taffy, caramels, and chewing gum as it may loosen the cement or bend and break the wires. The appliance may need to be re-fabricated at your expense.
Discomfort: There may be slight discomfort with the newly cemented bands. However, these problems should disappear as soon as the tongue and teeth have a chance to adjust to the presence of the appliance. If necessary, Children’s Motrin or Children’s Tylenol may be given as directed on the label.
Maintenance: Careful brushing around the appliance is necessary to reduce the risk of decay. Floss should be used to clean under any appliance or wire resting against the gums. Attend your regular check-up appointments to ensure that no problems develop with the appliance.
Home Care For Your Child’s Frenulectomy or Gingivectomy Site
If your child has had a frenulectomy, he/she has been instructed to keep a wet gauze under his/her lip or tongue for 2 hours after the surgery to aid in the healing process.
Discomfort: Your child may experience some mild discomfort as this area will be tender for 3-5 days. If necessary, Children’s Tylenol or Motrin may be given as directed on the label.
Bleeding: As the area heals it will look white or gray in color and may appear ”oozy” for up to 7 days. It is normal for the area to bleed for 24-48 hours. If bleeding is prolonged or stops completely and then starts up again, you may place a wet gauze in the area and apply pressure. Remember a little blood mixed with a little saliva looks like a lot of blood.
Maintenance: Keep the area clean with regular toothbrushing and a wet cotton swab if necessary.
Eating: Your child should have a soft diet for 24 hours after his/her surgery. Your child should also avoid spicy or acidic foods during this time as they may cause some “stinging” or discomfort.
Home Care For Your Child’s Crowns
Your child’s cheeks, lips and/or tongue are numb and will be for up to 2 hours after leaving our office. Be careful that your child does not bite or chew on their cheeks, lips, or tongue. Severe damage to those tissues can result from only one bite.
Discomfort: The crown extends below your child’s gum line causing the area to be tender for 3-5 days. The gums may appear blanched, or white/gray in color, while they are reforming around the crown. If necessary, Children’s Tylenol or Children’s Motrin may be given as directed on the label.
Eating: NO STICKY OR HARD CANDY - IT WILL PULL THE CROWNS OFF! If your child received Silver Crowns with White Fronts, be aware that the white front can chip or pop off completely if your child chews on hard things such as pencils, ice, candy, etc. If your child received Silver Crowns with White Fronts or Composite Crowns, they can discolor if your child drinks tea, cola, coffee, or eats foods such as blueberries and tomato sauce.
Maintenance: Regular brushing and flossing around each tooth is necessary to prevent infection from seeding.
Home Care For Your Child’s Extraction Site
Your child’s cheeks, lips and/or tongue are numb and will be for up to 2 hours after leaving our office. Be careful that your child does not bite or chew on his/her cheeks, lips, or tongue. Severe damage to those tissues can result from only one bite.
Bleeding: Your child has been instructed to bite firmly on the gauze provided to him/her for 30-45 minutes to stop the bleeding. If residual bleeding occurs, have your child bite firmly on another gauze wrap provided to you. The extraction site is expected to ooze for 24-48 hours. However, if the site continues to bleed profusely after 2 hours call Dr. Rex’s office for further instructions.
Eating/Drinking: Avoid very hot or very cold fluids and foods until the numbness diminishes. A soft diet is recommended for the next 24 hours. After that time, your child will tell you what he/she can eat.
Discomfort Children typically experience very little pain or discomfort following extractions. If necessary, Children’s Tylenol or Children’s Motrin may be given as directed on the label. Do not use Aspirin.
Dry Sockets: If a primary tooth was extracted, we do not need to worry about dry sockets. If a permanent tooth was extracted, prevent a dry socket by:
- No heavy spitting: rinse with water by rolling it around in your mouth and then letting it fall into the sink
- No straws for 1 week
- No smoking for 1 week, if your child smokes.
Maintenance:Clean the extraction site regularly by gently brushing it when brushing the rest of your child’s teeth.