Parent resources

After-visit care: fillings, crowns, extractions & sealants

Exactly what to do at home after the most common pediatric dental treatments — and the signs that mean you should call us.

After a filling or crown

While numb (usually two to four hours): soft foods only, and keep an eye out for cheek or lip chewing — kids find numbness fascinating.
Mild soreness at the injection site or tooth for a day or two is normal; children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen at package doses helps.
For crowns: skip sticky candy on that side permanently, and don't panic about a little gum tenderness the first day.

After an extraction

Firm bite on gauze for 30–45 minutes; repeat with fresh gauze if oozing continues. A little pink in the saliva for a day is normal.
Protect the clot: no straws, no swishing, no spitting the first day. Soft, cool foods; gentle brushing away from the site.
Pain should peak in the first day or two and improve steadily. Worsening pain, fever, or growing swelling — call us.

After sealants or fluoride

Sealants: eat normally right away. Fluoride varnish: soft foods and nothing hot for the rest of the day, and skip brushing until bedtime so the varnish keeps working.

After sedation

Sedation visits come with their own written instructions — the full rundown is on our sedation page, with clear written instructions to take home.

This guide is general education, not a diagnosis. Every child is different — when in doubt, call us at (615) 349-8450 and ask.

Quick answers

Parents also ask

How long will my child be numb after a filling?

Usually two to four hours — longer after lower-jaw numbing. Watch for cheek and lip chewing — it's the most common problem after a visit, and soft foods until the numbness fades prevent it.

What can my child eat after a crown?

Soft foods the first day, and avoid sticky candy (gummies, caramel, taffy) on that tooth going forward — sticky foods are how crowns get pulled loose.

When should I worry after an extraction?

Bleeding that won't slow with steady gauze pressure after a couple of hours, worsening pain after day two, fever, or swelling that grows instead of shrinks — call us at (615) 349-8450.