Care of the Mouth After Local Anesthesia (Novocain)

After receiving local anesthesia, your child’s teeth, lips, cheeks and, if in the lower jaw, tongue will be numb or asleep. Local anesthetic typically lasts 2-3 hours. During this time, it is very easy for a young child to injure these soft tissues. Care must be taken to avoid this, but event the best efforts are futile when dealing with a curious child. Some children will suck or bite the area out of curiosity. Some will injure themselves while eating. Some will do enough damage that the surrounding area becomes swollen and/or bruised.

Here is what you can do to minimize cheek-bite after local anesthesia.

• Reassure your child that the numb feeling will only last 2-3 hours.
• Monitor your child closely. Encourage your child not to bite or suck on the numb area.
• Avoid foods that need to be chewed. Only give your child something that can be swallowed right away, such as pudding, yogurt, applesauce or gelatin.

Please do not hesitate to call our office at (518) 785-3911 if you have any concerns.

Care of Your Child After Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)

There is no special care required after your child receives nitrous oxide. Our doctors will allow your child to sit for a minimum of five minutes with 100% oxygen before returning to you in the reception room. This allows your child to completely exhale all of the nitrous oxide gas.

You should be aware that while the nitrous oxide is being administered, dizziness and nausea are common side effects but usually only occur while the gas is being administered in higher doses.

Care of the Mouth After Extractions

If your child has one or more teeth “wiggled out,” he or she should expect to be numb for 2-3 hours. Please follow the instructions for Care of the Mouth After Local Anesthesia.

You should expect to see some bleeding. The best way to stop bleeding is pressure with gauze. You will be provided a small envelope with some 2x2 inch gauze. You can fold the gauze, place it over the area and have your child bite on it for 20+ minutes. A small amount of bleeding may occur while your child eats or brushes his or her teeth for the first 1-2 days. This is normal and no cause for concern.

After the local anesthetic wears off, your child might have some mild discomfort. You may give your child Tylenol, Advil or Motrin as directed.

Your child should avoid eating food that is crunchy, spicy or too hot/cold as the area might be sensitive. Encourage your child to drink plenty of liquids but avoid sipping through straws or sippy cups. The force can dislodge the clot that is forming in the extraction site and complicate healing.

A clean mouth heals faster. Don’t be afraid to brush the area gently. Warm salt water rinses are also helpful.

Limit high-energy activities for the day. It’s best to “lay low.”

Care of Sealants

After sealants are placed, there are no restrictions. Your child may eat or drink and go about his or her normal day.

By forming a thin covering over the pits and fissures, sealants keep out plaque, this reducing the risk of decay. Since the covering is only over the biting surfaces of the tooth, areas on the side and between the teeth cannot be protected. Good oral hygiene and proper nutrition are still very important in preventing decay.

Your child should refrain from eating ice or hard candy as this tends to fracture sealants. Normal retention of sealants is up to three years. A child who eats lots of sugary foods and/or does not demonstrate proper oral hygiene will need to have his or her sealants replaced more frequently than a child who practices good oral hygiene and nutrition.

We will check the integrity of your child’s sealants at each of his or her check-up visits. If a sealant is compromised, we will replace it at no charge for up to three years after its original placement.

The American Dental Association recognized that sealants can play an important role in the prevention of tooth decay. A total prevention program includes regular visits to the dentist, use of fluoride, daily brushing and flossing and limiting the number of times sugar-rich foods are eaten.