Post-Op.......



Care of the Mouth after Local Anesthetic
If your child has had local anesthetic during their dental procedure the tongue, teeth, lips, and surrounding tissue will be numb if the procedure was in the lower jaw. The teeth, lips, and surrounding tissue will be numb if the procedure was in the upper jaw. In addition, children often do not understand the effects of local anesthesia, and may chew, scratch, suck, or play with the numb lip, tongue or cheek. These actions can cause minor irritations or can be severe enough to cause swelling and abrasions to the tissue. Please monitor your child closely for approximately two hours following the appointment. It is a good idea to keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the anesthetic has worn off. Please do not hesitate to call the office at (402) 421-8020 if you have any questions.

Extraction Post-Op Instructions
If your child has had one or more teeth "wiggled" out, please follow these instructions:

  1. The gauze needs to stay in place with biting pressure for 30 minutes as this will reduce the amount of bleeding.

  2. Give your child the appropriate dose of children's Tylenol, Motrin or Advil (NO aspirin). Your child should only need this for approximately 12 to 24 hours after the procedure. If pain persists beyond 48 hours, please call our office.

  3. Your child should eat only soft, bland food for the first couple days after the procedure and not eat anything sharp, crunchy or too hot or cold because the area most likely will be sensitive. Encourage plenty of liquids including water, soups, juices, etc. Let your child determine when he/she is ready to return to a regular diet.

  4. Your child should avoid spitting or drinking through a straw or "sippy" cup as the force can start the bleeding again.

  5. A clean mouth heals faster. Gentle brushing around the extraction site can be started immediately along with warm salt water rinses (1/4 teaspoon to a glass of water) to aid with any discomfort.

  6. Activity after the procedure should be limited and sometimes a nap is a good idea.

  7. Swelling after an extraction is not uncommon and should not cause alarm. If this occurs, apply an ice pack for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off as needed in the 24 hours following tooth removal.

  8. You child's cheek, lip and tongue will be numb for approximately 1-2 hours. Please be very careful that your child does not bite at his/her cheek or pick at this area. As this area "wakes up" it may feel "funny" to your child. A self-inflicted bite injury is the most common post-op complication.
If you have any questions or should any complications arise, please call the office at (402) 421- 8020.

Care of Sealants
Sealants are a thin covering applied over the pits and fissures of the teeth and keep out plaque and food to decrease the risk of decay. The covering is only over the biting surface of the tooth and areas on the side and between the teeth are not coated with the sealant. Even with sealants, good oral hygiene and nutrition are still very important to prevent decay next to these sealants or in areas unable to be covered. After sealants are applied, your child should refrain from eating ice or hard candy. This tends to fracture the sealant. Normal retention of a sealant is up to four years. Sealants that become displaced in the first twelve months will be replaced at no charge. After the first twelve months, sealants will be replaced at 50% of charge for the next 3 years. The American Dental Association recognizes that sealants can play an important role in the prevention of tooth decay. When properly applied and maintained, sealants can successfully protect the chewing surfaces of your child's teeth. A total prevention program includes regular visits to the dentist, the use of fluoride, daily brushing and flossing, and limiting the number of times sugar-rich foods are eaten. If these measures are followed and sealants are used on the child's teeth, the risk of decay can be reduced or may even be eliminated.

Oral Discomfort after a Cleaning
A thorough cleaning may inadvertently produce some bleeding and swelling and may cause some tenderness or discomfort. This is not due to a "rough cleaning", but rather to tender and inflamed gums from insufficient oral hygiene. We recommend the following for 2-3 days after cleaning was performed:

  1. A warm salt water rinse 2-3 times per day (1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water)

  2. For discomfort use Children's Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin as directed for the age of the child.

Please do not hesitate to contact the office at (402) 421-8020 if the discomfort persists for more than 7 days or if there are any questions.


Home | About | Tour | Map | Forms | Policies | First Visit | FAQ | Emergency | Post-Op | Cases | Community Events | Contact Us


Southwest Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Gregory A. Fought • Dr. Martin D. Killeen
8020 South 13th Street
Lincoln, NE 68512
(402) 421-8020

info@southwestpediatricdentistry.com