Patient Instructions
We want your time with us to be as easy and as comfortable as possible. That’s why we’ve compiled our patient instructions here so you can be prepared coming into your visit.
Your child had one or more teeth extracted today. The following instructions will aid you in care:
- Gauze should stay in place with gentle biting pressure. Change the gauze every 15-20 minutes until the bleeding subsides. If your child will not keep the gauze in his/her mouth, check the area(s) periodically until the bleeding has stopped.
- Give your child children’s Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or children’s Acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help alleviate any pain or discomfort. If pain persists for more than 48 hours, please contact our office.
- Your child should eat only soft food for the next few days because the area(s) may be sensitive. Let your child determine when a regular diet can be reintroduced.
- NO drinking through a straw or sippy cup. This action can start the area(s) bleeding again.
- A clean mouth heals faster. Gentle brushing around the extraction site can be started immediately, along with warm salt water rinses (1/4 teaspoon salt to a glass of warm water) if necessary to relieve discomfort. Salt water rinses are not recommended in young children.
- Activity may need to be limited. Swimming is not recommended for several days following an extraction. Activities that require running and jumping are not advised the day of the extraction procedure.
- Swelling of tissue in the area of the extraction is common and should not cause alarm.
- Your child's cheek, lip and tongue will be numb for a period of time. Please be very careful that your child does not bite or pick at this area and cause a self-inflicted injury.
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact our office.
Your child had preventive sealants placed on one or more of their molars today. A sealant is a protective coating that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back (molar) teeth. This sealant protects decay-prone areas of the teeth by acting as a barrier to food, plaque, and acid.
Your child may eat and drink immediately after having the sealants placed. To increase the lifetime of the sealants we ask that your child please avoid chewing or crunching ice, hard candy, unpopped popcorn kernels, etc. We will evaluate the sealants at each routine dental examination to ensure no fracture or leakage is present. Periodic repair may be necessary which may or may not be covered by your dental insurance.
Thank you for your investment in your child’s preventive dental health.
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact our office.
Today a space maintainer was placed in your child’s mouth. We ask that they avoid food or drink for 30 minutes following this appointment to allow time for the cement to dry completely. After 30 minutes, a normal diet is fine.
As long as the space maintainer is present, it is very important that your child avoid eating sticky candies and foods such as Jolly Ranchers, Tootsie Rolls, Starburst or anything else that would “stick” to the appliance and cause it to become loose.
If the space maintainer comes out or becomes loose, please call our office as soon as possible. We will reserve an appointment to recement the existing appliance. Failure to recement the space maintainer in a timely manner may result in space loss and require fabrication of a new appliance.
Please note:
- Most dental plans will pay for one space maintainer in a lifetime. If it is lost, you will be responsible for the office visit and lab fee to replace it.
- Your dental plan may have limitations relating to recementing the space maintainer. If this is not a covered benefit, you will be responsible for the $50.00 re-cement fee.
If you have any question, please feel free to contact our office at 706-288-1100.
A stainless steel crown has been placed on your child’s tooth today. The following instructions may aid in care:
- Give your child children’s Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve any discomfort before the numbness wears off. The tissue around the base of the crown may be sore from preparation of the tooth.
- Your child should avoid sticky foods, such as Jolly Ranchers, Tootsie Rolls, or anything else that may “stick” to the crown and cause it to become loose. These foods could cause the
crown to come off and require replacement. - Do not eat or chew anything approximately 30 minutes after the crown has been cemented. The cement needs adequate drying time.
- When flossing around the crown, pull the floss toward the tissue and then pull the floss out from the side for the tooth. Do not “pop” the floss back out between the teeth. This could
pull the crown off the tooth. - Should the crown become loose or come off, please call our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to have the crown recemented. Failure to recement the crown in atimely manner may result in additional treatment needs. In addition, your insurance may not cover recementation or replacement of the crown.
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact our office.
Please NO food or drink after midnight the night before the sedation procedure - not even a sip of water.