Caring for Your Child After a Dental Procedure

Having dental work done can be very stressful for children, but the anxiety may not end once the procedure is over. Some children feel nervous even after getting dental work done. Luckily there are a few ways for parents and caregivers to ease stress and anxiety after a dental procedure.

Caring for Children After a Dental Procedure

Below are a few tips on caring for your child after he or she has dental work done:

• Make sure that you have enough time set aside after the procedure to spend time with and watch your child. Because the mouth can stay numb for up to several hours after they leave the dentist’s office, it’s possible for kids to be biting their lips or tongues and not even be aware of it. Additionally, kids who have been put under anesthesia may not regain proper coordination for a few hours. Make sure your child doesn’t fall and hurt themselves.
   
• Plan for a simple and easy day after finishing the procedure. We recommend putting on a fun movie, playing a mellow game, or snuggling on the couch. This will help you keep an eye on your child and will comfort him or her after what may be a traumatic procedure.
   
• Lastly, have soft foods on hand that won’t require a lot of chewing. Before letting your child eat, make sure that the numbness has worn off. Then try applesauce, Jello, soup, or pudding before moving on to solid food.

Here at Piedmont Pediatric Dentistry, we want your child to have a calm, stress-free visit to our office. For more information on how to care for your child after he or she has a dental procedure, please contact our Greensboro, North Carolina pediatric dental office today.