Please follow your doctor’s instructions for any myofunctional exercise your child has been given to do before the procedure.
The night before the surgery, make sure your child gets enough sleep to keep irritability at bay.
We also encourage parents to feed their child a couple of hours before the procedure.
Try to soothe your child if they are feeling nervous or scared about the procedure. Keeping yourself and your child as calm as possible will make for a much more pleasant experience for you both.
It is normal to see some swelling and bleeding immediately after surgery. Your child will feel some mild pain and discomfort that can easily be controlled with over-the-counter pediatric pain medication. Swelling and discomfort should subside naturally in 1-2 weeks.
A little bleeding is normal for the first 1-2 days. If you notice heavy bleeding, place gauze under the tongue, applying gentle pressure, and then contact us. If heavy bleeding doesn’t stop, seek emergency care.
You will receive special antiseptic, gauze, and instructions for taking care of the incision site after the procedure. Be sure to apply the antiseptic as instructed. For the first 24-48 hours, try to keep the incision site covered with gauze as much as possible.
If your child is uncomfortable, you may give them an over-the-counter pediatric pain medication, such as ibuprofen or children’s Tylenol.
For at least the first week, rinse your child’s mouth several times a day with salt water to promote healing and prevent infection.
The sutures will come out on their own in about a week. Once they do, use a soft toothbrush to gently brush the area of the incision.
Don’t forget to have your child do their myofunctional exercises! Start slowly and gradually increase the pace/intensity as your child continues to heal.
If your child develops any troubling symptoms such as:
- Fever over 102ºF
- Sever pain that does not resolve with medication
- Heavy bleeding
- Trouble breathing
- Severe swelling
Contact our office or seek medical attention right away.
