Treatment

After Extractions | Sedation Instructions
Post Operative Instructions | Sealant Instructions

Instructions Before Your Child's Sedation

Dr. Hogan has recommended sedation for your child to promote cooperation and relaxation during dental treatment. Please follow these guidelines prior to your scheduled visit.

FOOD

1. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the day prior to your scheduled appointment.
   
2. Water may be given up to three hours prior to appointment time.
   
3. Let everyone in the home know the above information, as siblings or others living in the home often unknowingly feed the child. If you do not strictly adhere to the food guidelines above then your child’s appointment may be cancelled.

ACTIVITY

1. Plan the child’s sleep and awakening times to encourage the usual amount of sleep the day and night before the sedation appointment.
   
2. Allow your child to use the restroom before the sedation medicine is given.
   
3. The legal guardian must accompany the child to the sedation appointment.
   
4. It is strongly recommended that a second responsible adult join you at the time of discharge from the office if possible.

SCHEDULING

1. Please arrive on time for your scheduled appointment. This is a long appointment and you may be in the office for several hours.
   
2. Please be advised due to the length of time reserved for sedation appointments, a $75.00 deposit is required at the time the appointment is scheduled. This deposit will be applied to the total cost of the treatment plan. If you are unable to keep the appointment you must inform us 48 hours prior to the appointment time. Failure to give proper notice will result in the loss of the $75.00 deposit. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

REASONS TO CALL THE DOCTOR PRIOR TO THE SEDATION APPOINTMENT

1. Your child is sick.
2. Your child has a runny nose or cough.
3. You have further questions.

You may reach Dr. Hogan or a member of her team Monday through Thursday during normal business hours by calling 770-614-8914.

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Instructions After Your Child's Sedation

Today your child had dental treatment under conscious sedation
Children respond to sedation in their own way, but the following guidelines will help you know what to expect at home.

GOING HOME FROM THE DENTIST’S OFFICE

1. Your child will not be able to walk well, so we suggest that you carry your child to the car.
2. Young children must be restrained in a car safety seat in accordance with Georgia State Law
3. Older children must be restrained with a seat belt and should be assisted into your home by two people.
4. Your child must go home with individualized attention and care. We discourage going to back to school or day care after treatment and possibly the next day if your child is still drowsy or unable to walk well.

ACTIVITY

1. Your child may take a long nap. He/she may sleep from 3 to 8 hours and may be drowsy and irritable for up to 24 hours after sedation. When your child is asleep, periodically check to make sure he/she is easily arousable.
2. Your child may be unsteady when walking or crawling and will need support to protect him/her from injury. An ADULT must be with the child at all times until the child has returned to his/her usual state of alertness and coordination.
3. Your child should not perform any potentially dangerous activities, such as riding a bike, playing outside, handling sharp objects, working with tools, or climbing stairs for the remainder of the day or until they are back to their usual state of alertness for at least one hour.

EATING AND DRINKING INSTRUCTIONS
Begin by giving clear liquids such as water, clear juices, jello, popsicles, or broth. If your child can hold down the clear liquids without vomiting for 30 minutes then you may progress to soft foods then solid foods. If your child has a numb lip or mouth following dental treatment then avoid solid foods for 2 hours. This is to help avoid a lip biting episode.

REASONS TO CALL THE DENTIST

1. You are unable to arouse your child.
2. Your child is unable to eat or drink.
3. Excessive vomiting or pain.
4. Your child develops a rash.

FOR THESE OR ANY OTHER CONCERNS about your child’s sedation, please contact Dr. Hogan at 770-614-8914 or 770-653-2127.

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Treatment Instructions After Your Child's Treatment

Post Operative Instructions

Your child has received local anesthetic necessary for dental treatment.

Children do not fully understand the effects of local anesthetics or what it means to be numb. Please follow the instructions below to prevent unnecessary problems that may occur following administration of local anesthetics.

1. The teeth, lips, and surrounding tissues (including the tongue if work has been done in the lower jaw) will be numb for nearly two hours. Do not allow your child to chew, bite or suck on the numb oral tissues.
2. Keep your child on a liquid or soft diet until the numbness has subsided.
3. If stainless steel crowns have been placed, do not allow your child to eat sticky foods or candy (bubble gum, taffy, caramel, fruit roll-ups, etc.) for the life of the crown. Please call the office if the crown comes off so that we can schedule an appointment to have the crown recemented.
4. For pain or discomfort, give children’s Tylenol or Motrin/Advil as recommended on the bottle.

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Post Extraction Instructions

Please follow the instructions below if your child had a tooth or teeth extracted today:

1. Do not rinse the mouth for several hours.
2. No forceful spitting or drinking through a straw for the remainder of the day.
3. Avoid carbonated beverages.
4. Keep fingers out of the mouth and away from the extraction site.
5. Some bleeding following a tooth extraction is to be expected. If unusual or prolonged bleeding occurs, have your child bite down firmly on a piece of gauze for 15 minutes. Call the office if bleeding does not subside.
6. Use children’s Tylenol or Motrin as recommended on the bottle according to age for discomfort.

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Sealant Instructions

In order to insure the life of the sealant, we ask that you have your child follow the instructions below:

1. Do not eat sticky foods or candy such as bubblegum, taffy, caramel, fruit roll-ups, etc. for the life of the sealant.
2. Do not chew ice cubes or hard candy such as jawbreakers. These habits will fracture the sealant and possibly healthy tooth structure.
3. 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 surfaces of the tooth from decay.

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Teething

Normally the first tooth erupts between ages 6 to 12 months. Gums are sore, tender and sometimes irritable until the age of 3. Rubbing sore gums gently with a clean finger, the back of a cold spoon or a cold, wet cloth helps soothe the gums. Teething rings work well, but avoid teething biscuits—they contain sugar that is not good for baby teeth.

While your baby is teething, it is important to monitor the teeth for signs of baby bottle decay. Examine the teeth, especially on the inside or the tongue side, every two weeks for dull spots (whiter than the tooth surface) or lines. A bottle containing anything other than water and left in an infant’s mouth while sleeping can cause decay. This happens because sugar in the liquid mixes with bacteria in dental plaque, forming acids that attack the tooth enamel. Each time a child drinks liquids containing sugar, acids attack the teeth for about 20 minutes. When awake, saliva carries away the liquid. During sleep, the saliva flow significantly decreases and liquids pool around the child’s teeth for long periods, covering the teeth in acids.

Infant’s New Teeth

The primary, or “baby,” teeth play a crucial role in dental development. Without them, a child cannot chew food properly and has difficulty speaking clearly. Primary teeth are vital to development of the jaws and for guiding the permanent (secondary) teeth into place when they replace the primary teeth around age 6.

Since primary teeth guide the permanent teeth into place, infants with missing primary teeth or infants who prematurely lose primary teeth may require a space maintainer, a device used to hold the natural space open. Without a maintainer, the teeth can tilt toward the empty space and cause permanent teeth to come in crooked. Missing teeth should always be mentioned to your family dentist. The way your child cares for his/her primary teeth plays a critical role in how he/she treats the permanent teeth. Children and adults are equally susceptible to plaque and gum problems—hence, the need for regular care and dental checkups.

A Child’s First Dental Visit

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that every child have an established dental home by age one. A risk assessment will be completed that will help us determine your child’s risk for tooth decay. At this young age, the focus is on education, anticipatory guidance and prevention so that problems can be treated early or avoided completely.

Why Primary Teeth Are Important

Strong, healthy primary (baby) teeth help your child chew food, speak clearly, give his/her face proper shape and guide the proper eruption of permanent teeth. The Center for Disease Control reports that caries (cavities) is the most prevalent infectious disease in children. Dental caries is five times more common than asthma. Decay of primary teeth can affect growth, lead to malocclusions, and cause pain, infection and/or damage to the underlying tooth. It is important that these teeth stay healthy and present until naturally lost.

Good Diet and Healthy Teeth

The teeth, bones and soft tissue of the mouth require a healthy, well-balanced diet. A variety of foods from the five food groups helps minimize (and avoid) cavities and other dental problems. Most snacks that children eat cause cavities, so children should only receive healthy foods like vegetables, low-fat yogurt and cheeses, which promote strong teeth.

Infant Tooth Eruption

A child’s teeth actually start forming before birth. As early as 4 months of age, the primary or “baby” teeth push through the gums—the lower central incisors are first, then the upper central incisors. The remainder of the 20 primary teeth typically erupt by age 3, but the place and order varies.

Permanent teeth begin eruption around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until around age 21. Adults have 28 secondary (permanent) teeth—32 including the third molars (wisdom teeth).

Preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Tooth decay in infants can be minimized or totally prevented by not allowing sleeping infants to breast or bottle-feed. Infants that need a bottle to comfortably fall asleep should be given a water-filled bottle or a pacifier. Our office is dedicated to fighting baby bottle tooth decay. Let us know if you notice any signs of decay or anything unusual in your child’s mouth.