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*POST ANESTHESIA INSTRUCTIONS*

Your child has had dental anesthesia for their dental procedure.

  • If the procedure was in the lower jaw – the tongue, teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep possibly for several hours.

  • If the procedure was in the upper jaw – the teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep possibly for several hours.

Many children do not understand the effects of local anesthesia and may chew, bite, suck, pick, or scratch the numb area. This can cause a very SORE AND SWOLLEN area that will get better in 5 to 10 days. Call our office if this happens. Ice pack and over the counter liquid Benadryl-Maalox 50-50 mix (swish and spit) works as a magic mouth rinse to help the pain after a lip or cheek-bite injury.

Your child may eat and drink immediately after the appointment but give your child liquids or soft food. Make good choices: give them nothing they have to chew excessively while they are numb.

Your child may brush as normal if they have had a dental filling or crown.

Your child may experience cold and heat sensitivity and some gum soreness; this usually subsides within a few days to two (2) weeks.

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*CARE OF THE MOUTH AFTER EXTRACTIONS*

  • Patients who have had DENTAL EXTRACTIONS follow all instructions above and;

  • Some bleeding is to be expected. Bite on the gauze for 15-30 minutes to help control bleeding. A wet tea bag can be used in place of the gauze. We tell the kids that “it looks a little red” where the tooth used to be and the gauze soaks it right up.

  • Soft/liquid diet for the first 1-2 days until the child feels comfortable eating normally again. Nothing hard or crunchy like Doritos, pretzels, or pizza crust. Cool or cold foods: shakes, crushed ice may feel best for the first 6-12 hrs. 

  • Do not use straws or rinse forcefully or blow the nose for about 24 hours.

  • Do not spit excessively.

  • Do not drink a carbonated beverage (Coke, Sprite, etc) for the remainder of the day.

  • Keep fingers and tongue away from the extraction area.

  • Do not swim for the remainder of the day.

  • Do not rinse the mouth for several hours.

  • Avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity for several hours after the extraction.

  • After the appointment, give age-weight appropriate Acetaminophen (TYLENOL), Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) to help alleviate any possible post extraction pain. You may give it every 4-6 hours as needed. Take prescription medications as directed.

  • A towel on your child’s pillow will help because saliva may be “pink” for 24-48 hrs.

  • Do not brush teeth in an extraction area for 24 hours after surgery.

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