Dental Care

Look for a dentist who can work with your HTC to provide safe treatment. The HTC might even have a dentist as a member of its comprehensive treatment team. If not, it should be able to help you locate a suitable dentist in your area.

Follow Post-Treatment Instructions Carefully

Your dentist may advise the use of ice packs to reduce swelling
Make sure your child avoids using straws and eating hot foods, and that he rinses his mouth for several days or until he has completely healed
Ask the dentist to recommend a non-aspirin pain reliever to help control pain and soreness

To provide your child with appropriate care, the dentist needs to know:

The type and severity of your child’s hemophilia
Whether your child has an inhibitor
Whether your child has any infectious diseases, such as hepatitis
Whether your child has a venous access device (VAD)
What medications your child takes
Whether pretreatment with factor concentrate or other products will be needed
Whom to contact at your HTC

Have your HTC staff complete the "Information for Dentist" form. Print out this form and give it to your dentist to put in your child’s chart. Be sure to update it regularly.

It is essential that your child’s dentist works with your HTC to ensure that dental procedures are performed safely. Based on the severity of your child’s hemophilia and the type of procedure, you may need to take preventive measures.

Factor replacement therapy
Your child may need to receive factor before certain dental procedures. These include block anesthesia, deep scaling, fillings, extractions, root canals, and any type of oral surgery
Antibiotics
If your child has a VAD or heart murmur, discuss the need for prophylactic antibiotic therapy

Your dentist may advise you to use ice packs to reduce swelling
Make sure your child avoids using straws and eating hot foods, and that he rinses his mouth for several days or until it has healed
Ask the dentist to recommend a non-aspirin pain reliever to help control pain and soreness