Treatment
Local Anesthesia:
- 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 severe damage to the tissue.
- Please monitor your child closely for approximately two hours following the appointment.
- If the procedure was in the lower jaw then the tongue, teeth, lip and surrounding tissues will be numb or asleep.
- If the procedure was in the upper jaw, then the teeth, lip and surrounding tissues will be numb or asleep.
Nitrous Oxide appointments:
Nitrous oxide is recommended for our patients who have a mild level of anxiety. We describe the effects as floating on a cloud. Your child will remain awake the entire time but will be relaxed.
- You child can resume normal activity after the appointment. The nitrous oxide will be completely out of your child’s system once he/she leaves the office.
- Your child can return to school after the appointment, just be cautious with any numbness.
Sedation appointments:
Sedation in recommended for our patients who have a moderate level of anxiety. The sedation medication helps to promote cooperation and relaxation during dental treatment. The sedation medication will not put your child to sleep but will help to relax your child so that treatment can be completed.
- Before the appointment
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the day prior to your scheduled appointment. It is very important that this guideline is followed. If they are not followed, your child will not be sedated and the appointment will have to be rescheduled.
- A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to the sedation appointment.
- Dress your child in loose fitting, comfortable clothing.
- We provide a child-sized quilt for your child during treatment but you are welcome to bring your own.
- If your child regularly takes a medication in the morning, it can usually wait unless otherwise directed by Dr. Ochoa or Dr. Gonzales.
- After the appointment
- Your child will probably be sleepy or acting groggy. Don’t be surprised if your child wants to take a nap for several hours, just make sure you child rests on his/her side or back and is closely monitored by an adult for the rest of the day.
- Activities should be limited to watching TV, playing quietly with toys inside and resting.
- Your child should not return to school or day care that day. He/she needs to be under close parental supervision.
- Do not plan or permit activities for your child after treatment. Your child’s activities should be limited and supervised today. This means no running, bicycling riding, roller skating, swinging on a swing, swimming at the pool or playing at the playground.
- Your child may experience some nausea. If so, please allow only sips of clear liquids (Gatorade and Pedialite) followed by softer foods. Please do not give heavy foods (like hamburgers or pizza) to start with.
- As soon as you get home, you may give your child Motrin or Tylenol for pain.
- Your child’s mouth, lips and tongue may be numb. This numbness can last up to 2 hours, so please monitor that the child doesn’t bite himself/herself.
General anesthesia in an outpatient surgery center
General anesthesia is recommended for our patients that have a high level of anxiety, very young children, children with special needs, and patients that could not complete treatment under conscious sedation. General anesthesia renders your child completely asleep. This would be the same as if he/she was having their tonsils removed or ear tubes placed. This is only preformed in an outpatient setting.
- Before the appointment
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the day prior to your scheduled appointment. It is very important that this guideline is followed. If they are not followed, your child will not be sedated and the appointment will have to be rescheduled.
- A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to the hospital appointment and remain in the surgical site waiting room during the procedure.
- Dress your child in loose fitting, comfortable clothing.
- Bring a bag for your child’s belongings, as a hospital gown will be worn during the procedure.
- If your child regularly takes a medication in the morning, it is best to hold off in giving unless otherwise instructed.
- Every patient is evaluated by our anesthesiologist the day of surgery.
- After the appointment
- Your child will probably be sleepy or acting groggy. Don’t be surprised if your child wants to take a nap for several hours, just make sure you child rests on his/her side or back and is closely monitored by an adult for the rest of the day.
- Activities should be limited to watching TV, playing quietly with toys inside and resting.
- Your child should not return to school or day care that day. He/she needs to be under close parental supervision.
- Do not plan or permit activities for your child after treatment. Your child’s activities should be limited and supervised today. This means no running, bicycling riding, roller skating, swinging on a swing, swimming at the pool or playing at the play ground.
- Your child may experience some nausea. If so, please allow only sips of clear liquids (Gatorade and Pedialite) followed by softer foods. Please do not give heavy foods (like hamburgers or pizza) to start with.
- As soon as you get home, you may give your child Motrin or Tylenol for pain.
- A stronger prescription medication for pain will be given to you by Dr. Ochoa/ Dr. Gonzales the day of surgery.
- Your child’s mouth, lips and tongue may be numb. This numbness lasts for up to 2 hours, so please monitor that.
Post-Extractions Instructions
- Do not rinse the mouth vigorously. Gentle rinsing is fine.
- No forceful spitting or drinking thick liquids (such as a milkshake) through a straw for the remainder of the day.
- Avoid carbonated beverages.
- Keep fingers out of the mouth and away from the extraction site.
- Some bleeding following a tooth extraction is to be expected. Have your child bite down firmly on a piece of gauze for 15 minutes. You can replace the gauze every 15 minutes until the bleeding is down to a minimum.
- It is safe to use children’s Tylenol or Motrin as needed for discomfort
Sealant Instructions
In order to insure the life of the sealant, we ask that you have your child follow the instructions below:
- Do not eat sticky foods or candy such as taffy, caramel, fruit roll-ups, etc. for the life of the sealant
- Do not chew ice cubes or hard candy such as jawbreakers. These habits will fracture the sealant and possibly healthy tooth structure.
- It is very important to maintain good oral hygiene. The sealant will protect the biting surface of the tooth from decay, but you must brush and floss well in order to protect the remaining tooth surfaces of the tooth from decay.
