Swollen Lips following Extractions

Although we don’t advise patients to get teeth extracted needlessly, the process is usually a simple one. Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs serves patients of all ages, and often performs dental extractions on children in preparation for orthodontic work or to prevent overcrowding from wisdom teeth. When we do this, we do our best to provide clear instructions and arrange follow-ups. However, there are some issues that are known to pop up after extractions, including swollen lips.

 

When we extract teeth from the lower jaw, we usually use local anesthetic to numb the alveolar nerve. This nerve also supplies feeling to the chin and lower lip, and for many children, a numb lower lip is a strange new sensation. Unfortunately, they often experimentally bite on their lower lips, and being numbed, can’t tell when they’re biting too hard. This could result in a lesion and the lip swelling to many times its usual size.

 

Typically, this kind of swelling isn’t dangerous. If the lesion remains white and doesn’t produce any odor, and the patient doesn’t have a fever, it is probably not infected and doesn’t need to be drained. It will likely recede to normal after a few weeks, and patients can take over-the-counter painkillers and apply cold packs to their faces for the first forty-eight hours after the extraction. (They can switch to hot packs after that.) Hopefully, simply informing children of the risk of a swollen lip is enough to prevent them from biting, and they’ll be on a soft foods diet immediately after the extraction that will prevent them from biting their lips accidentally. If a swollen lip does show signs of infection, it will need to be cared for professionally.

 

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Dental.

Bite Checks

As a family practice, we at Southern Cross Dental carefully monitor the dental development of our pediatric patients. While we use the latest technology to predict where children’s permanent teeth will come in, biannual check-ups are chances for us to ensure the teeth they already have are comfortable and healthy. If we see a problem, we can refer them for orthodontic work, although we’ll remain an important part of each child’s health team.

We’ll ask children to close their teeth together and whether they’ve experienced any pain while chewing or when they wake up. This will help us to establish whether they have an issue with misaligned teeth (also known as malocclusions) or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). If they have TMJD, they may be clenching their jaws subconsciously or grinding their teeth in their sleep. This would result in distinctive wear patterns in their enamel and could further exacerbate malocclusions.

Although the wisdom teeth usually do not erupt until late adolescence, orthodontic work is usually done during late childhood and early adolescence. This is because children’s jawbones have not solidified as much and more extensive orthodontic work can be done on them without the need for surgery. It’s normal for children to get their first orthodontic assessment when they’re about seven, but work would only start at that age in extreme circumstances. An orthodontist may still prefer that we do any necessary extractions, and we will continue to provide cleanings and sealants while orthodontic work is ongoing.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

National Children's Dental Health Month

We treat patients of all ages at Southern Cross Dental and are proud members of the American Dental Association (ADA). Each year, the ADA designates February as National Children’s Dental Health Month. This year’s theme is the proper use of fluoridated toothpaste, so we wanted to help educate our patients about it.

Fluoridated toothpaste provides additional protection against tooth decay. It works according to the same principle as water fluoridation and the fluoride topical treatments we provide pediatric patients. It is essential for children to brush their teeth properly, or else the pain from tooth decay can disrupt their sleep and eating habits and cause speech development delays. When children do brush their teeth, they are learning to take responsibility for their own health, which will bring a lifetime of benefits.

Brushing should be done with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Each session should last for two minutes, during which the brusher covers each tooth surface, as well as their tongue. The toothpaste should be spat out afterward since excessive fluoride intake can discolor the teeth. Fluoride toothpaste should also not be used on mouth guards or other oral appliances.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Biannual Examinations for Children

Biannual dental check-ups are an important part of maintaining everyone’s overall health, but they are especially crucial for children. If your children haven’t had their teeth professionally cleaned in a while, we at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs urge you to set up an appointment.

Children are at particular risk for caries, the infectious lesions which eventually form cavities. In fact, caries is the most common disease among children. Although the process of removing dental decay and filling in teeth is common and relatively simple, parents should not underestimate the harm a toothache can do. Young children sometimes experience delays in speech development because they are avoiding use of their teeth. Children of all ages get worse sleep and eat less when their teeth hurt, which harms their academic performance and makes them emotionally fatigued.

Of course, caries is not the only source of toothaches: bruxism can be one, as well. But one thing toothaches have in common is that they usually get worse without intervention and can become serious health threats in the worst cases. At your child’s appointment, we can not only diagnose and treat problems but also set up treatment plans for future issues, such as misaligned teeth and impacted wisdom teeth.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit SouthernCrossFamilyDentistry.com and fill out a contact sheet.