Post-Op Instructions For Stainless Steel Crowns

1. Your child’s lip, cheek and tongue will be numb or “asleep” for about 2-3 hours. During this time, make sure your child does not bite, scratch, or pick at these numb areas.
2. Restrict diet to liquids (milkshake or smoothie) for the first 3 hours, and then eat soft foods for the rest of the day such as soup, yogurt, Carnation Instant Breakfast, eggs, jello etc. Child should chew on the opposite side of the filling for the first 24 hours.
3. Gums may bleed for 2-3 days. Gentle cleaning should be done for the first 2 days with a soft toothbrush or washcloth. All other areas should be cleaned as usual. To speed healing, use warm saltwater rinses after meals and before bedtime, then apply Glyoxide 3-4 times daily.
4. NEVER permit your child to have Now or Laters, Jolly Ranchers or fruit roll-ups and other hard or sticky candy. These can pull the crown off the tooth. Call us immediately if the crown does come off, so that Dr. Lindhorst can replace it or re-cement the old one.
5. If you chose a white crown, sometimes the white part can come off. If so happens, the crown is still most likely intact and functional. You can come to the office to get it replaced, but if it is not in the esthetically bothersome area, you may elect to wait for the next checkup.
6. Your child should heal normally if you follow these instructions. Please feel free to call our office if you have any questions.

How To Care For A Chewed Lip, Cheek Or Tongue

1. Apply ice packs for first 3 days. Ice packs should be placed for 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off, for 1 our, 3 times a day.
2. Clean the wound are with a product such as Glyoxide or Peroxyl 4-5 minutes a day for 3 days.
3. After cleaning the area apply Orabase with benzocaine ointment.
4. Give your child Tylenol or Motrin for pain.
5. All of these products are available over the counter at your drug store.
6. Call us in if the would is not healing in 5-7 days or if it seems infected.