Aftercare Instructions

Your child has had a dental extraction.  The following instructions should be followed at home to minimize his or her discomfort.

1. Have your child bite down on the gauze bandage placed at the extraction site for at least 15-min.  If bleeding continues have your child bite down again for 5-minute intervals.

Dark Red bleeding from the extraction site is NOT NORMAL!  Please call the office immediately if this occurs.  Light red saliva is normal.  This is just some residual blood, which has mixed with saliva.

2. No spitting or drinking from a straw for the next 24 hours.  Bottle and pacifier should be avoided too.

3. Give your child Tylenol when you arrive home.  NO ASPRIN OR IBUPROFEN (MOTRIN, ADVIL).  Tylenol will help with any discomfort or swelling.

4. Your child should not have anything to eat or drink until the anesthesia has worn off. This is to prevent any tongue, lip or cheek biting.

5. Once the anesthesia has worn off, your child can eat whatever he or she can tolerate.  He/she will be in charge of any food restrictions.

6. Resume normal brushing the night of the extraction.  You want to keep the area clean.

7. The tooth fairy should always pay a visit!  (Even if the tooth was a sick tooth!)

Children tend to be very resilient and bounce back pretty quickly once the Novocaine wears off.  However, if you notice any excessive swelling, bleeding, pain or if anything seems unusual to you, please do not hesitate to call the office.  After hours the emergency number is on our answering machine.  The office number is (914) 242-2000

Pulpal necrosis is a process, in which the nerve tissue in a tooth is starting to die, or lose its vitality. This can be caused by trauma, a large filling, or untreated decay. The process does not quickly occur over night. There are signs of pulpal degeneration, which will occur prior to, complete pulpal necrosis. These signs include the following:

• Continual discoloration (gray to black) of the tooth over a period of time
• Increase of tooth mobility
• Sensitivity to warm or hot temperatures (soup, tea etc.)
• Spontaneous pain or discomfort
• Dental abscess-appears as a red or white pimple above the tooth

If any of these symptoms occur, you should call the office and speak to one of the doctors. She will guide you as to what needs to be done (if anything needs to be done at all). You should note when the symptom first occurred and if something triggered it.

Now that you have started Orthodontic Treatment REMEMBER: 

1. Soreness is expected for about 3 to 5 days (depending on pain tolerance). 

2. Tylenol/Advil/Motrin or equivalent in the usual dosage should be used to control any discomfort. Warm salt water rinses as frequent as possible are also recommended for sores in the mouth. 

3. Soft foods should be eaten within this time period should you have any discomfort. 

4. Avoid chewing any sticky, chewy candy that includes: gum, taffy, gummy bears, twizzlers, fruit roll-ups, jelly beans, skittles, caramels, starburst, and etc.. 

5. Also avoid biting directly into anything hard such as: apples, bagels, pizza crust, nuts, carrots, celery, corn on the cob, etc.. Cut up everything!!!!!!!!! 

6. Do not pick at the appliances with your fingers or play with them with your tongue. 

7. Brush 3 times daily. (for braces use the mouthwash given to you) In the A.M., brush and rinse with the Act mouthwash. After school, brush again. Before bed brush, floss, and rinse with the mouthwash again. It is important that you do not eat or drink anything after you do this. Not even water-at bed time. 

8. You should use the wax to cover any sharp edges that may irritate the lips, cheeks, or tongue. 

 9. Regularity in keeping appointments is essential. Monthly visits are required unless notified otherwise from the orthodontist. Failed or broken appointments increase treatment time. 

10. The patient and parents must help in following instructions of the orthodontist, ESPECIALLY REGARDING ELASTICS AND HEADGEAR (If applicable). 

11. Broken or lost appliances or loose bands should be reported within 24 hours.                                                            

Successful treatment depends heavily upon your cooperation in following these directions carefully. 

Please keep this for your future reference. 

Retainers are to be worn about 12 hours daily.  We recommend after school and sleep time.  Please only wear it when you are home, because they can get lost.  It’s ok to leave the retainer at home for a sleepover.

Retainers need to be cleaned daily by brushing with toothbrush and toothpaste.  Once a month soak them in a denture cleaner.

If you like your retainer to be a little fresher, soaking in Listerine is also ok.

DO NOT EVER BOIL THE RETAINER TO CLEAN IT, IT WILL SHRINK.

Please store the retainer in its case.  DO NOT wrap it in a napkin because it will end up in the garbage!

And please make sure that you ALWAYS bring your retainer to your orthodontic appointments so we can make any necessary adjustments.

If there’s ever any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call or make an appointment.