We provide written and/ or oral instructions at our office following every procedure. If you have questions or are unsure about anything, please contact us. Below are additional after-care instructions for your use.
1) Instructions Following Preventive Visits
A thorough cleaning may produce some bleeding and tenderness or discomfort around the gums. If this persists 2-3 days after the cleaning, you may rinse with warm salt water 2-3 times per day. For discomfort, you may also give your child Children’s Tylenol, Advil or Motrin as directed for the age and weight of your child.
After most fluoride treatments, patients should not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to increase the fluoride’s direct contact with the teeth.
After a sealant is placed, your child may feel the coating on their teeth. The feeling subsides within 24 hours. After the sealant appointment, your child should refrain from eating sticky or chewy foods for 24 hours.
2) Instructions Following Dental Procedures
Aftercare for Fillings
Some tooth and gum tissue manipulation was necessary to perform the procedure and may result in sensitivity or discomfort. Should this occur, you may give your child Children’s Tylenol, Advil or Motrin as directed for the age and weight of your child. If sensitivity or discomfort continues for more than 24 hours, please contact our office.
Aftercare for Sealants
Sealants can last several years. But they need to be checked at regular dental check-ups, once every six months, to make sure they are not chipped or worn away. The dentist/hygienist can repair sealants by adding more sealant material. Our office does not charge for re-seals if you are receiving your check-ups every six months as recommended. You do not have to avoid any type of foods because of the sealants. You must continue to brush regularly. Sealants will help prevent cavities by covering the chewing surface of the molar, because of the deep grooves and pits it is the most common place to get decay.
Aftercare for Extracted Teeth
1. The Anesthesia used generally last up to two hours. Because the child may bite his/herself, you do not want the child eating especially unsupervised, until the numbness wears off.
2. If your child does bite his/herself DO NOT APPLY ORAJEL or ANBESOL to the bite mark, it will hurt the child more then help. Instead you may want to give your child an ice cube or an ice pop to relieve the swelling. There is nothing more that can be done.
3. There may be some soreness of the gum tissue around the extraction area. You may wish to give your child something to relieve the discomfort such as Tylenol, Motrin or Advil—BEFORE THE NUMBNESS WEARS OFF.
4. You will be given extra gauze for the bleeding, change the gauze every fifteen minutes or until the bleeding stops.
5. As always brush as usual and continue with regular check ups every six months.
Post Operative Instructions For Crowns
1. Anesthesia generally lasts up to 2 hours; it may last as long as 4 hours, do not be alarmed. Because the child is numb, he or she may bite their lip. Try to watch your child very closely during this time. Do not eat until numbness wears off.
2. If your child does their lip or cheek, have them suck on ice or an ice pop to help the swelling.
3. There may be some soreness around the tooth that was worked on. You may wish to give your child something for the discomfort, such as Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil, before the numbness wears off.
4. If your child was on an antibiotic before the procedure, then finish the rest of the antibiotic.
5. Please avoid giving your child sticky candies such as gummy bears, tootsie rolls or fruit roll ups. They can pull the cap off, if cap does fall off for any reason, please try to save it and bring it back to the office. We will put it back on.
6. After the numbness wears off continue brushing twice a day as normal.
3) Instructions For Invisalign
Do
Use your fingers to put your aligners place. First place the aligners over your front teeth, and then use your fingers to push the aligner down gently over your molars. When aligners are correctly inserted, they will fit all the way down on the teeth, with no space between the top of the aligners and the top of the teeth. Aligners will fit tightly at first but should fit well at the end of the two week period.
Keep aligners in except when flossing, brushing, eating. It’s also best to remove the aligners when drinking warm beverages such as coffee or tea.
Remove the aligner by pulling it off both sides of your back teeth simultaneously then lifting it off of your front teeth.
Place your aligners in the case we provided any time they are not being worn.
Clean aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Wear each set of aligners for two weeks unless our office directs you to vary from this schedule.
Wear aligners in the correct numerical order. (Each aligner is labeled by number and with a U or an L to designate upper or lower.)
Keep all of your old aligners and bring them to your orthodontic appointments.
Don’t
Don’t place your aligners in or on a napkin or tissue. Many aligners have accidentally been thrown out this way!
Don’t use your teeth to “bite” your aligners into place.
If you have pets, don’t place your aligners anywhere that your pets can reach them. Pets are attracted to saliva and would enjoy chewing on your Invisalign trays!
Do not use denture cleaner, alcohol, or bleach to clean your aligners.
Do not use boiling water or warm water on your aligners.
Don’t chew gum with your aligners in.
It would be best not to smoke while wearing aligners. The smoke can stain the aligners as well as your teeth.
Just In Case
If you lose the tab attached to your tooth that helps the aligner snap on, please call our office right away so that we can determine if you need to come in before your next scheduled appointment.
If you lose one of your aligner trays, please wear the next tray if you have it. If you do not have the next tray, please wear the previous tray. It is extremely important to use a tray to keep teeth from shifting. Call our office to let us know which tray was lost so that we can determine if a replacement tray is needed. There will be a fee if replacement trays are required.