Post Crown Care

Your child had a crown done today.  

Numbing: Your child received numbing medicine and their lip/cheek/tongue may be numb for 1-2 hours after the procedure. Please be very careful to remind your child not to bite or chew on their lip/cheek/tongue which could cause a significant injury that takes 1-2 weeks to heal. If your child does bite and injure this area, please call the office. It sometimes helps to tell kids their lip/cheek/tongue will feel back to normal in the time it takes to watch a movie. 

Brushing: Start with gentle but thorough brushing of all teeth the same day as your child’s procedure. Good brushing removes plaque and bacteria, and it will reduce the inflammation at the gums around the crown, helping the mouth to heal and feel better faster! Avoid flossing your child’s new crown for 2 days, as this is how long it takes the tooth cement to fully harden. 

If brushing is sensitive, we recommend running their toothbrush under warm water to make the bristles softer and then gently massaging the gums with the toothbrush with very gentle pressure for longer amounts of time.

Diet: Your child may eat and drink after the numbing feeling wears off. Avoid any sticky, crunchy foods, as well as foods that are too hot for 2 days, while the tooth cement is hardening.  

Medicine: Some children have mild discomfort of the gums after a crown is placed. Over-the-counter tylenol or ibuprofen is recommended for 1-3 days as needed for discomfort, as long as your child can tolerate these medications usually. If your child cannot take Ibuprofen or Tylenol, please reach out to us directly or contact your pediatrician.

Activity: Your child can return to normal activities after their procedure. If they received any nitrous oxide (laughing gas), we had them breathe 100% oxygen for 5 minutes at the end of the appointment. This ensures there should be no effects of the nitrous oxide after their visit. 

If you have any concerns, please call us at 720-678-9401