Post-Op Questions

Extraction:

1. After an extraction, pressure should be applied on the extraction site for 30 minutes by biting on the gauze pad placed by the doctor. If the bleeding continues new gauze should be placed and pressure applied for another 30 minutes. If your child has excessive bleeding, contact our office ASAP.
2. If you are supervising children who have had an extraction done, make sure they don’t bite on their numb lips, inside cheeks or tongue. In case lip biting occurs, your child will have swelling and a lot of pain. Orabase can be applied on the wounded area to minimize your child’s discomfort. Any swelling not associated with lip biting, you should contact our office ASAP.
3.  Avoid eating or drinking anything hot on the day of your extraction. Also, do not rinse your mouth often and do not use a straw for drinking. Do not spit from time to time and do not drink carbonated beverages. Brush normally, but be careful to avoid the extraction areas.
4. It is normal to have some soreness after an extraction. Children’s Tylenol or Motrin should alleviate the pain.  If pain persists and is not reduced by medications, you should contact our office ASAP.

Fillings:

1. Do not eat solid food until your numbness is gone.  Anything doesn’t require chewing is fine.  For examples: ice cream, yogurt, smoothies, juice, etc…
2. If you are supervising children who had fillings done, make sure they don’t bite on their numb lips or tongue
3. Do not bite hard or chew on silver amalgam fillings for 24 hours.
4.  You may experience cold and heat sensitivity and some gum soreness; this usually subsides within a few days.
5.  Call  Dr. Cima Mazar-Atabaki’s pediatric dental office  if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few days after the fillings, or if you have any questions.

Crowns:

1. You may experience sensitivity, gum soreness, and slight discomfort on the tooth/teeth; it should subside within a couple of days with normal brushing on the sore areas, don’t avoid the sore areas.
2. Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing on your teeth until the numbness has worn off.
3. Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.

Baby Root Canal Treatment:

1. You child may experience some pain and sensitivity to pressure on his or her tooth. Also, you child may feel gum soreness for a couple of  days after the treatment. The healing process may take several days but the pain and discomfort should subside gradually.
2. It is important not to avoid brushing and flossing on the sore areas.
3. Call our office if you are in severe pain or experience swelling, or if you have any questions.

Space Maintainers:

1. Your child may experience some discomfort mainly because he or she is not used to  the appliance after it is cemented. The discomfort should subside in 2 to 3 days, Children’s Tylenol or Motrin and soft diet may help to ease your child.
2. Try to avoid sticky candy which can loosen the spacer. In case the space maintainer becomes loose, please contact our office right away, and  Dr. Cima Mazar-Atabaki can recement the spacer for your child.

Care After Chewed Lips, Cheek or Tongue:

1. In some dental treatments where anesthesia has been used (numbing), your child may bite their cheeks, lips or tongue because they will be unable to feel the areas affected.
2. Numbness generally lasts for a few hours after treatment is performed. During this time, avoid giving your child solid food as they may bite or chew their cheeks, lips, or tongue and not feel the wound. Stick with soft foods such as Jell-O, ice cream, yugort, smoothies  that DOESN’T  require chewing.
3. If your child does bite their cheek, lips, or tongue, there may be swelling over the next couple of days while the wound heals. A yellowish, whiteness will appear over the wound and is a soft scab which is a part of the healing process.
4. Mouth wounds heal in about 10-14 days. If your child complains of discomfort you can apply Orabase over the swollen areas.