Dental Health
It is imperative to give all pain medica- tions at the correct dose and frequency. Giv- ing too low a dose (or giving it inconsistent- ly/too infrequently) will result in inadequate pain relief, and giving too high a dose (or giving the dose too often) can result in toxic- ity and other adverse side effects. Therefore, check with your child’s dentist or pharmacist to ensure the dose is safe for your child’s weight and age, and write down when you give each dose so that you can accurately track when the next dose is due. This is especially important when
giving more than one type of pain medication. In addition to ensuring safe medication administration, it also allows for a better understanding of your child’s pain and if the current pain management methods are effective or need adjustment. Most kids will only need to consistently take pain medications for the first two to three days after a dental procedure, after which they can switch to an as-needed basis. The goal is always to stop the pain medications as soon as they are no
longer needed. However, if you find that your child
is requiring more pain medication than seems necessary, suddenly experiences an increase in pain or bleeding, becomes lethargic or hard to arouse or develops any adverse side effects to the medications be- ing administered, stop administration im- mediately and contact your child’s dentist, oral surgeon or primary care provider. Persistent pain — or pain that is out of
context with what is expected — could be a sign of infection or other complications and always warrants follow-up. If your child develops any signs of respiratory distress or difficulty breathing, seek emer- gency care or call 911 immediately. In addition to pain medications, there are some holistic alternatives to the manage- ment of pain in kids who have had dental procedures. Distraction often works very well with younger children, especially if it involves playing a game or participating in a quiet activity that requires focus on something other than the pain. According to the Journal of the Ameri-
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