Interesting to hear about the lukewarm compresses...I usually recommend sticking with cold initially, but honestly, if it's working and not causing more swelling, who am I to argue? Have you noticed any changes in swelling or redness since switching it up? Bone graft recovery can be tricky—I've seen some patients breeze through it, while others have a tougher time. Just keep an eye out for anything unusual and don't hesitate to check in with your dentist if something feels off.
We actually tried lukewarm compresses briefly, but I noticed my son's swelling seemed to increase slightly afterward. Switched back to cold packs and it settled down again. Could just be individual reactions though...every kid's different with this stuff.
"Switched back to cold packs and it settled down again. Could just be individual reactions though...every kid's different with this stuff."
Interesting you mention that, because our surgeon specifically advised against cold packs after the first 48 hours—said it could slow down healing or something? Now I'm wondering if that's just a general guideline or if it really varies that much from kid to kid. Did your doctor give you specific instructions about temperature treatments, or was it more trial and error on your end?
Our surgeon gave us similar advice about cold packs—said after the first couple days, warmth was better to encourage blood flow and healing. But honestly, when my daughter had her graft, she found cold packs way more comforting even after that window. We ended up just going with what made her feel better, and it didn't seem to slow things down noticeably. Guess it really does depend on the kid...
We had a similar experience when my son had his graft done. The surgeon was pretty firm about switching to warmth after the first couple days, but honestly, my son hated the warm packs. He said they made him feel worse—like more swollen and uncomfortable. We ended up sticking with cold packs longer than recommended too, and it didn't seem to cause any issues. Healing went smoothly enough, and he was definitely happier that way.
I think you're right—it really does depend on the kid and their comfort level. Sometimes the textbook advice just doesn't match up with real-life experiences. Glad you trusted your instincts and did what felt best for your daughter. Hope she's feeling better soon... bone graft recovery can be rough, but it does get easier day by day. Hang in there!
