In order to keep your child’s dental experience pleasant, we have provided you with the following guidelines to help them after the completion of their dental treatment. Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions.
Sealants: Sealants are a protective plastic-like covering placed in the grooves of your child’s teeth to help prevent cavities. They are usually placed on the teeth without the use of local anesthesia. Your child may feel at first that their teeth do not fit together properly. Your child should NOT crunch ice or eat sticky or crunchy foods for a few hours to avoid breaking the sealant. Even after sealants have been placed, kids can still get cavities between their teeth so daily brushing and flossing is necessary and recommended.
White Faced Silver Crowns: White Faced Silver Crowns are used for small cavities on the biting surfaces and in between the teeth. They may or may not require local anesthesia, depending on the size of the cavity. Your child may feel that their teeth do not fit together properly for a few hours. Your child should NOT crunch ice or eat sticky crunchy foods for a few hours to avoid dislodging the crown.
White Composite/GIC Fillings: White Composite Fillings/GIC are used for small cavities on the biting surfaces and in between the teeth. They may or may not require local anesthesia, depending on the size of the cavity. Your child may feel that their teeth do not fit together properly for a few hours. Your child should NOT crunch ice or eat sticky crunchy foods for a few hours to avoid dislodging the filling. You may not be able to see the filling body, but over time the filling will become more visible. Children can still get cavities around these fillings so daily brushing and flossing is recommended.
Silver Stainless Steel Crowns: Silver Stainless Steel Crowns are used for very large cavities, cavities that require nerve treatments, and in children with a lot of cavities. These crowns are always done using local anesthesia so your child’s mouth will be numb. The gums surrounding the crowns will appear very irritated. The medication prescribed by the dentist should relieve any soreness your child is experiencing. Avoid foods that are extremely hot or cold, because your child may experience sensitivity for a few days. The crowns are glued on with sticky cement. Crowns can be dislodged with sticky candy such as and caramel so please avoid these and most other candies. You will notice a number on the side of the crown that will disappear if your child is doing a good job brushing their teeth. The crown and tooth will be lost naturally as they are replaced by permanent teeth.
Nerve Treatments/Pulpotomy: Nerve Treatments/Pulpotomy are performed when the cavity is large enough that it involves the nerve and the nerve becomes sick. We remove the nerve, place medication to calm the nerve, and cover the medication with a silver crown. Crowns are always done using local anesthesia so your child’s mouth will be numb. Sometimes the body does not react well to the nerve treatment so these teeth will need to be monitored by x-rays during recall visits.
Indirect Pulp Caps: Indirect Pulp Caps are placed over the nerve of your child’s tooth because the cavity was close to the nerve but the nerve was still healthy. A base layer was applied and the tooth was restored with a white filling, silver filling, white crown, or silver crown. Your child’s tooth may be sensitive for a few days. The medication prescribed by the dentist should relieve any soreness your child is experiencing. Avoid foods that are extremely hot or cold, because your child may experience sensitivity for a few days..
White Composite Crowns: White Composite Crowns are used for large cavities that involve the front teeth. Crowns are always done using local anesthesia so your child’s mouth will be numb. The gums surrounding the crowns will appear very irritated. The medication prescribed by the dentist should relieve any soreness your child is experiencing. Avoid foods that are extremely hot or cold, because your child may experience sensitivity for a few days. These crowns are very fragile and require a great amount of care. For the first few days, your child should avoid tearing food with their front teeth. Caution should be used for the entire time the child has the crown. If your child is active in sports, an athletic mouthguard is suggested. Children can still get cavities around these fillings so daily brushing and flossing is recommended. The crown and tooth will be lost naturally as they are replaced by permanent teeth.
Space Maintainers: Space Maintainers are used to holding spaces for unerupted permanent teeth if the baby teeth are lost too early. They are cemented with sticky glue that can be washed away by saliva over time. They may or may not be placed using local anesthesia. Spacers can be dislodged with sticky candy and caramel so please avoid these and most other candies. Your child should also not pick at the spacer with his/her fingernails. The continued need and fit of the spacer will be evaluated at each recall visit. We will eventually need to remove the space maintainer to allow the eruption of the permanent tooth.
Local Anesthesia: Local Anesthesia is a medication that numbs your child’s mouth. Depending on where it was applied, your child’s teeth, lips, cheek, and/ or tongue may be numb, lasting about 1 to 4 hours. Children often respond differently to the numb feeling. It is very important that you monitor your child to avoid biting or playing with the numbed area. DO NOT allow your child to eat food that has to be chewed for at least 3 hours. Yogurt and smoothies are great treats if your child is hungry. Some children do not respond well to having a numb lip and will cry or complain of pain. Please reassure your child that their lip is just sleeping. The numb area often tingles or itches when the medication wears off. The medication prescribed by the dentist should relieve any soreness your child is experiencing.
