Post-Op Procedures | The Woodlands TX

Conscious Sedation

Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first, it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea. The first meal should be light and easily digestible.
If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to ensure that they do not inhale the vomit.
Because we use local anesthetic to numb your child’s mouth during the procedure, your child may have the tendency to bite or chew their lips, cheeks, and/or tongue, and/or rub and scratch their face after treatment. Please observe your child carefully to prevent any injury to these areas.

Your child will be drowsy and will need to be monitored very closely. Keep your child away from areas of potential harm.
If your child wants to sleep, place them on their side with their chin up. Wake your child every hour and encourage them to have something to drink in order to prevent dehydration. At first, it is best to give your child sips of clear liquids to prevent nausea. The first meal should be light and easily digestible.
If your child vomits, help them bend over and turn their head to the side to ensure that they do not inhale the vomit.

If the procedure was in the lower jaw, the tongue, teeth, lip, and surrounding tissue would be numb or asleep.
If the procedure was in the upper jaw, the teeth, lip, and surrounding tissue would be numb or asleep.
Often, children do not understand the effects of local anesthesia and may chew, scratch, suck, or play with the numb lip, tongue, or cheek. These actions can cause minor irritations or they can be severe enough to cause swelling and abrasions to the tissue.
Monitor your child closely for approximately two hours following the appointment. It is often wise to keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the anesthetic has worn off.

Please keep the traumatized area as clean as possible. A soft wash cloth often works well during healing to aid the process.
Watch for the darkening of traumatized teeth. This could be an indication of a dying nerve (pulp).
If the swelling should re-occur, our office needs to see the patient as soon as possible. Ice should be administered during the first 24 hours to keep the swelling to a minimum.
Watch for infection (gum boils) in the area of trauma. If infection is noticed, call the office so the patient can be seen as soon as possible.
Maintain a soft diet for two to three days, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again.
Avoid sweets or foods that are extremely hot or cold.
If antibiotics or pain medicines are prescribed, be sure to follow the prescription as directed.

Do not scratch, chew, suck, or rub the lips, tongue, or cheek while they feel numb or asleep. The child should be watched closely so he/she does not injure his/her lip, tongue, or cheek before the anesthesia wears off.
Do not rinse the mouth for several hours.
Do not spit excessively.
Do not drink a carbonated beverage (Coke, Sprite, etc.) for the remainder of the day.
Do not drink through a straw.
Keep fingers and tongue away from the extraction area.
Some bleeding is to be expected. If unusual or sustained bleeding occurs, place cotton gauze firmly over the extraction area and bite down or hold in place for fifteen minutes. This can also be accomplished with a tea bag. Repeat if necessary.
Maintain a soft diet for a day or two, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again.
Avoid strenuous exercise or physical activity for several hours after the extraction.
For pain or discomfort, use children’s Tylenol®, Advil, or Motrin® as directed for the age of the child. If a medicine was prescribed, then follow the directions on the bottle.