Pediatric Patient After-Care Instructions
For a Spanish version, click here (para una versión en español, click aquí).
Caries Risk Management for Children
Age Group: 0-6 years old (infants and preschoolers)
| Low Risk |
- Brush teeth daily with a smear or pea-sized amount of age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste.
- Avoid putting the child to bed with a bottle or sippy cup unless it contains only water.
- Encourage a balanced diet that limits sugar, unhealthy snacks and acidic drinks (e.g., Juice, soda etc.).
- Schedule regular dental checkups every 6-12 months.
- Parents should lift the child’s lip once a month to check for early white spots or discolorations on the tooth surfaces.
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| Moderate Risk |
- Follow all low-risk instructions.
- Increased supervised tooth brushing to ensure proper technique and duration.
- Limit grazing or frequent snacking; offer water between meals.
- Consider taking professional fluoride applications two to three times per year as recommended by your dentist.
- Use fluoride supplements if recommended by the dentist based on the fluoridation status of your local water supply.
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| High Risk |
- Strictly limit sugar, unhealthy snacks and acidic beverages (e.g., fruit juice, soda etc.), especially between meals.
- Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and floss if teeth are in contact
- Consider taking topical fluoride varnish applications every three months (four times per year).
- Discuss the use of prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste or xylitol-containing products with the dentist
- Schedule dental visits every 3 months.
- If cavities or high bacteria levels are present, discuss antimicrobial treatments (e.g., silver diamine fluoride) with the dentist.
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Age Group: 7-12 Years Old (School-Aged Children)
| Low Risk |
- Encourage twice-daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and daily flossing.
- Limit sugar, unhealthy snacks and acidic beverages (e.g., fruit juice, soda); promote water and healthy snacks.
- Continue routine dental visits every 6–12 months.
- Consider application of dental sealants for permanent molars as soon as they erupt.
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| Moderate Risk |
- Follow all low-risk instructions with closer supervision of brushing and flossing.
- Reduce the frequent intake of unhealthy snacking and avoid sticky, processed sweets.
- Consider taking professional fluoride applications as recommended by your dentist (typically 2 or 3 times per year).
- Discuss sealants and fluoride rinses with the dentist for extra protection.
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| High Risk |
- Encourage strict oral hygiene: brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice daily, flossing, and consider prescription- strength fluoride toothpaste or rinses.
- Avoid sugar, and acidic foods and drinks completely outside of main meals.
- Consider taking professional fluoride varnish applications every 3 months as recommended by your dentist (four times per year).
- Discuss sealants on all susceptible permanent teeth, including premolars when indicated.
- Schedule dental visits every 3–4 months for close monitoring.
- Consider using xylitol gum or lozenges as recommended by the dentist.
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Instructions for Post-Surgery
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A small amount of bleeding is normal for the first 24 hours. Keep a gauze pad placed over the surgical site with gentle pressure for 30 – 60 minutes. Replace the gauze as needed. If bleeding continues, place clean gauze over area and apply pressure for 30 minutes. Avoid spitting, using straws, or rinsing vigorously.
Administer age-appropriate pain medication as directed (acetaminophen or ibuprofen, usually). Avoid giving aspiring as this may increase bleeding. Begin pain medication before numbness wears off to stay ahead of discomfort.
Wait until numbness wears off to avoid biting lip, check, or tongue. Provide soft, cool food for the first day. Avoid hot, spicy, crunchy, or acidic foods that may irritate the surgical site. Encourage plenty of fluids, but no straws for 24 hours.
Do not brush area for first 24 hours. Continue brushing and flossing other areas gently. After 24 hours, a gentle warm saltwater rinse (1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 oz. of warm water) can be used 2–3 times a day to aid healing—if the child is old enough to rinse and spit.
Keep the child calm and quiet for the rest of the day. Avoid strenuous activities, running or playing rough for 24 – 48 hours.
Mild swelling or bruising is normal. Apply a cold compress on the outside of the face for 10 minutes on / 10 minutes off during the first 6 hours.
When to Call the Dental School
Heavy bleeding that doesn’t stop after applying pressure. Severe pain not controlled by prescribed medication Fever over 101°F (38.5°C). Signs of infection (pus, foul odor, increasing swelling after 3 days). Nausea, vomiting, or prolonged numbness (more than 6 – 8 hours).
Post-Operative Note: Dental Restoration Complete
The following instructions should be followed to help care for a child at home after one or more dental restorations to ensure smooth recovery.
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Numbness and Cheek/Tongue Biting
Your child may be numb for 1 to 3 hours after the procedure. Monitor your child closely at this time to prevent accidental biting of the lips, cheeks, or tongue. Avoid giving solid food until the numbness fully wears off; opt for soft or liquid foods.
Once the numbness subsides, your child may resume a normal diet unless otherwise directed. If a white filling, or a stainless-steel crown was placed, normal eating can resume as soon as numbness is gone.
Continue with regular brushing and flossing routines. Be gentle around the restored area, especially if the gums appear slightly irritated.
Sensitivity or Discomfort
Mild sensitivity to cold or pressure is normal for a few days after the procedure. Over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g. children’s ibuprofen or acetaminophen) may be used as needed, if prescribed by faculty member).
When to Call the Dental School
If your child experiences persistent pain, swelling, or fever. If your child complains that the filling feels “too high” or uncomfortable when biting. If the filling appears to be cracked, chipped, or has fallen out, and or the stainless-steel crown is loose.
Post-Operative Instructions: Fixed Space Maintainer
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Avoid sticky or chewy foods (e.g. gum, taffy, caramels, gummy bears), as they can loosen or dislodge the appliance. Avoid hard foods (e.g. ice, hard candies, popcorn kernels, raw carrots) that can bend or break the wire. Encourage cutting food into smaller pieces to avoid putting excess pressure on the appliance. Encourage plenty of water intake to keep the mouth clean.
Brush teeth twice daily using a soft- bristled toothbrush. Take special care to clean around the space maintainer. Floss daily – under supervision if needed. Special floss threaders may help clean around the bands. Use fluoridated toothpaste and consider a fluoride mouth rinse (if age appropriate) to protect the teeth around the appliance.
Do not attempt to remove or adjust the appliance at home. Schedule and attend all follow-up appointments as recommended by your dentist. Notify the dental clinic immediately if the appliance becomes loose, broken, or causes irritation.
Mild discomfort or pressure may occur for the first 1 – 2 days. This is normal and should subside quickly. Children may feel the appliance with their tongue or explore it out of curiosity; this usually resolves as they adjust. Speech may be slightly affected initially, but most children adapt within a few days.
When to Call the Dental School
Pain, swelling or persistent discomfort. A loose or broken appliance. Difficulty eating or speaking that does not improve. Signs of infection or irritation around the appliance.
MUSoD Lead Shield & Imaging Policy
Pediatric Imaging
Pediatric patients will routinely be provided thyroid shields when they will not interfere with the required diagnostic information of the exam. If a parent requests a full shield (thyroid collar and abdomen shield) for their child, MUSOD personnel will accommodate this request.
Instrucciones de cuidados posteriores para pacientes pediátricos
Instrucciones para Padres: Manejo del Riesgo de Caries en Niños
Grupo de Edad: 0-6 Años (Bebés y Niños en Edad Preescolar)
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Riesgo Bajo
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- Cepillar los dientes Cepillar los dientes dos veces al día con una cantidad pequeña o del tamaño de un chicharo de pasta dental con flúor adecuada para la edad.
- Evitar acostar al niño con un biberón o vaso entrenador, a menos que contenga solo agua.
- Fomentar una dieta equilibrada que limite el azúcar, los refrigerios poco saludables y las bebidas ácidas (por ejemplo, jugos, refrescos, etc.).
- Programar visitas regulares al dentista cada 6–12 meses.
- Los padres deben levantar el labio del niño una vez al mes para revisar si hay manchas blancas tempranas o decoloración en las superficies dentales.
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Riesgo Moderado
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- Seguir todas las instrucciones para el riesgo bajo.
- Aumentar el cepillado supervisado para asegurar la técnica y duración adecuadas.
- Limitar los bocadillos frecuentes; ofrecer agua entre comidas.
- Considerar aplicaciones profesionales de flúor dos o tres veces por año según las recomendaciones del dentista.
- Usar suplementos de flúor si el dentista lo recomienda, dependiendo del nivel de fluoración del agua local.
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Riesgo Alto
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- Limitar estrictamente el azúcar, los refrigerios poco saludables y las bebidas ácidas (por ejemplo, jugos, refrescos), especialmente entre comidas.
- Cepillar dos veces al día con pasta dental con flúor y usar hilo dental si los dientes están en contacto.
- Considerar aplicaciones de barniz de flúor cada 3 meses (cuatro veces al año).
- Consultar con el dentista sobre el uso de pasta dental con flúor de prescripción médica o productos que contengan xilitol.
- Programar visitas al dentista cada 3 meses.
- Si hay caries o altos niveles de bacterias, consultar sobre tratamientos antimicrobianos (por ejemplo, fluoruro de diamina de plata) con el dentista.
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Grupo de Edad: 7-12 Años (Bebés y Niños en Edad Escolar)
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Riesgo Bajo
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- Fomentar el cepillado dos veces al día con pasta dental con flúor y el uso diario de hilo dental.
- Limitar el azúcar, los refrigerios poco saludables y las bebidas ácidas (por ejemplo, jugos, refrescos); promover el consumo de agua y refrigerios saludables.
- Continuar con visitas dentales de rutina cada 6–12 meses.
- Considerar la aplicación de selladores dentales en molares permanentes tan pronto como erupcionen.
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Riesgo Moderado
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- Seguir todas las instrucciones para riesgo bajo con una supervisión más cercana del cepillado y el uso del hilo dental.
- Reducir la ingesta frecuente de refrigerios poco saludables y evitar dulces pegajosos y procesados.
- Considerar aplicaciones profesionales de flúor según lo recomendado por el dentista (típicamente 2 o 3 veces al año).
- Consultar con el dentista sobre selladores y enjuagues con flúor para protección adicional.
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Riesgo Alto
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- Fomentar una higiene oral estricta: cepillado dos veces al día con pasta dental con flúor, uso de hilo dental, y considerar pasta dental o enjuagues con flúor de prescripción médica.
- Evitar completamente los azúcares y alimentos o bebidas ácidas fuera de las comidas principales.
- Considerar aplicaciones profesionales de barniz de flúor cada 3 meses según las recomendaciones del dentista (cuatro veces al año).
- Consultar sobre el uso de selladores en todos los dientes permanentes susceptibles, incluidos los premolares cuando esté indicado.
- Programar visitas al dentista cada 3–4 meses para un control estrecho.
- Considerar el uso de goma de mascar o pastillas con xilitol según las recomendaciones del dentista.
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Escudo de Plomo MUSoD y Política de Imágenes Dentales
Imágenes Pediátricas
Los pacientes pediátricos recibrán protección tiroidea cuando no interfiera con la información de diagnóstico requerida del examen. Si un padre solicita un protector completo (collar de tiroides y protector de abdomen) para su hijo, MUSoD se adaptará a esta solicitud.
