Comprehensive Guide to Post-Anesthesia Care for Pediatric Dentistry at Leident

Your child has successfully completed their dental treatment under general anesthesia (narcose). Using anesthesia is a highly safe and effective method to prevent fear and pain, but like any medical procedure, some mild side effects may occur after the treatment.

At Leident Dental Practice, we are always by your side. The purpose of this comprehensive guide is to provide you with accurate information about normal post-anesthesia conditions, how to manage potential side effects at home, and when to contact the clinic. Please read this guide carefully to ensure your child’s recovery goes as smoothly and quickly as possible.

The First Hours at Home: Rest and Managing Sleepiness

The sleep medications we use for pediatric anesthesia at Leident are highly modern and very short-acting. However, it is completely normal for your child to feel sleepy, groggy, and tired in the hours following the treatment.

• Absolute Rest: Allow your child to take it easy and rest on the day of the treatment and the day after.
• Continuous Supervision: It is absolutely crucial that an adult is continuously present near your child for the first 24 hours after the treatment to assist and care for them.

Caring for the Hand: The IV (Cannula) Site

To administer all sleep medications into your child’s bloodstream, an IV (infuus) was placed in their hand or forearm. Before your child was allowed to go home, this IV was removed, the area was pressed for a few minutes, and a band-aid was applied.

What to do in case of bruising or bleeding?

• Bruising (Blue Spot): Despite all precautions, a bruise may develop where the IV was placed. This is harmless and will naturally disappear over the course of 1 to 2 weeks.
• Re-bleeding: Sometimes, due to movement or bumping the hand, the IV site might start bleeding again. Do not panic; this can happen. Simply fold a tissue and apply continuous pressure to the site for at least 5 minutes. This will stop the bleeding. You can apply a new band-aid afterward if you wish, although it is not strictly necessary.

Throat Pain and Coughing: Breathing Tube Side Effects

To safely facilitate the dental treatment under anesthesia, a breathing tube was inserted through the nose into the throat after your child fell asleep.

• Normal Symptoms: Because a foreign material passed through the nose and throat, it can cause irritation to the mucous membranes. Your child might experience some bleeding from the nose, a heavy or ticklish feeling in the back of the throat, or some coughing. These symptoms are harmless and will naturally subside within a few days.
• When to Call Us: If your child becomes severely hoarse when speaking or wheezes while breathing, you must contact the dental practice immediately.

Post-Anesthesia Diet: How to Restart Feeding

Your child’s stomach may be sensitive after anesthesia. Feeding should be reintroduced carefully step-by-step:

1. Start with Fluids: Once you are home, your child can cautiously start drinking. Do not let them drink large amounts at once.
2. Light Foods: Be cautious with food. Only when drinking goes well should you carefully allow your child to eat. Try to give only easily digestible food on the day of the treatment.
3. Return to Normal: If everything goes well, your child can eat and drink according to their normal pattern the very next day.

Managing Nausea and Potential Vomiting

With the modern medications we use for anesthesia, the chance of nausea and vomiting occurring is very low. However, there is still a small chance it might happen after the treatment.

• If this occurs, be careful with consuming food and drinks until the feeling of nausea has passed.
• If your child vomits 1 or 2 times due to nausea, it is not harmful in itself, no matter how unpleasant it is for you and your child.
• If the nausea persists after vomiting 1 or 2 times, your child can take the anti-nausea medication you received via prescription.
• If the medication fails to suppress the nausea and vomiting, please contact the dental practice for further advice.

Dental Pain Control: Proper Use of Painkillers

The dentist performed a treatment on your child that may be accompanied by pain. The local anesthesia injected by the dentist during the treatment will slowly wear off in the hours following the procedure.

As a result, it is possible that the pain will increase over the course of the hours. The dentist has provided you with a prescription for painkillers; you must strictly adhere to these instructions. If your child cannot manage the pain with these prescribed measures, you can contact the dental practice for potential additional solutions.