- We ask that you refrain from all food and drink (including water) for six (6) hours prior to your appointment.
- A responsible adult must accompany the patient to our office, remain in the office during the procedure, assist and drive the patient home.
- Patients undergoing anesthesia should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following the anesthesia experience.
- Please wear loose fitting clothing with sleeves which can be rolled up past the elbow and low-heeled shoes.
- Contact lenses, jewelry, piercings (tongue, lips etc) and dentures must be removed at the time of surgery.
- Do not wear lipstick, excessive makeup, or nail polish on the day of surgery.
- If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach or bowel upset, please notify the office in advance of your scheduled treatment.
- If you take routine oral medications, please follow the instructions provided by the doctor on your consultation visit.
Immediately following surgery:
- Keep the gauze pad placed over the surgical area with pressure applied by biting down for up to 6 hours. After this time, the gauze pad should be removed and thrown away.
- For 24-48 hours following your surgery, do not suck on a straw, drink from a bottle, rinse or spit vigorously, or smoke. Doing so may result in dislodging the clot and promote bleeding. Some oozing is normal and to be expected.
- Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you begin to feel discomfort, which will usually coincide with the diminishing effects of the local anesthetic agent.
- Avoid vigorous activities the day of surgery and you may return to your normal routine when you are comfortable.
- Placing ice packs on the side of your face where the surgery was performed will help reduce swelling and stiffness. Refer to the section on swelling for further explanation.
- Rinsing of the mouth should be avoided for the first 24 hours after surgery. After that, you should begin vigorously with a full glass of warm water, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda every 2-3 hours and especially after eating. This is important for proper hygiene as well as medicinal purposes(healing aid).
Bleeding
A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following a surgical procedure. Placing the gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for 30 minutes may control excessive bleeding. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon. If the bleeding continues, bite down firmly on a moistened tea bag for thirty minutes. The tannic acid in the tea bag will help contract bleeding vessels and reduce bleeding. To minimize further bleeding, do not become excited, sit upright, and avoid exercise. If bleeding does not subside, contact our office for further instructions.
Swelling
Swelling around the face, eyes and surgical site is not uncommon and is proportional to the extent of the surgery performed. This swelling may not appear until the day following the surgery and may not reach it’s peak until two to three days following surgery. You can help to minimize the swelling by applying a cold compress on the face near the extraction site alternating on for 20 minutes then off for 20 minutes. After 36 hours the ice will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling. Swelling or jaw stiffness may persist for several days and this may be no cause for alarm. However if you are concerned, we encourage you to contact our office.
Pain
The amount and duration of pain may vary greatly from patient to patient. The pain medication prescribed by our office, when taken as directed, is generally adequate to control your symptoms. Medication may require 30-95 minutes to take effect and should not be taken on an empty stomach. For mild pain, over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) may be sufficient.
If you have been prescribed pain medication besides aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), do not drive, operate heavy equipment, work around machinery or tools or engage in any other activity that may be unsafe when groggy, as your reflexes and judgment will be affected by the medication. Medication should not be taken on an empty stomach. Post Operative Pain or discomfort will generally begin to ease after 72 hours and should continue to improve every day. If after three days your pain is the same or worse, it may require our immediate attention and you should contact our office.
Diet
Immediately after surgery, we recommend a liquid diet until the effects of anesthesia have worn off. Avoid hot and spicy foods, carbonated and alcoholic beverages. During the first few days after surgery restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods such as soups, yogurt, juice, and smoothies. Avoid vigorous activities for three to four days after surgery. No heavy lifting. You may go back to your normal routine as tolerated. Do not suck on a straw, as it can cause the protective blood clot to dislodge. Once the anesthesia has worn off, we recommend a soft diet and that you chew away from the surgical area. Good nutrition is important for healing, so we suggest that you return to a high protein, high calorie diet as soon as you feel comfortable. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. You will feel better, be stronger and heal faster if you are able to maintain proper nutrition.
Oral Hygiene
Rinsing of the mouth should be completely avoided for the first 24 hours after surgery. You may brush your teeth the night after surgery, but be sure to avoid the surgical area. After 24 hours, you should begin vigorously rinsing your mouth with a full glass of warm water, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda every 2-3 hours and especially after eating. This is important for proper hygiene as well as medicinal purposes(healing aid).
Discoloration
In some cases, discoloration of the skin will occur after swelling. Black, blue, green or yellow discoloration is caused by blood spreading under the tissues and is a normal post operative occurence. It may begin 2-3 days after your procedure and last for up to a week.
Antibiotics
If you have been placed on antibiotics, please take the medicine as directed. Antibiotics may be prescribed to help fight or prevent infection. If you experience a rash or other unfavorable reaction, discontinue use of the antibiotic and contact our office.
Nausea and Vomiting
If you experience nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, refrain from taking anything by mouth for one hour (including the prescribed medicine). After 1 hour, you can then try to slowly sip a light beverage such as Coke, Tea or Ginger Ale.You may then attempt a light beverage such as coke, tea or ginger ale. Once the nausea subsides, you may begin eating solid foods and your prescribed medicine. If nausea persists, please contact our office.
Other Potential Complications
- Prolonged numbness of the lip, chin or tongue may occur post operatively, is usually temporary and is generally not cause for alarm. Please be careful if you are experiencing numbness, as you could accidentally bite yourself and not feel the trauma. If you have any questions, please contact our office.
- A slight elevation of temperature is not uncommon after surgery, but if it persists, please contact the office. You can use Tylenol or Motrin to reduce the fever if it is making you uncomfortable.
- Use care when moving around from lying down to standing or even sitting. Pain medications, lack of food and dehydration can all cause dizziness after surgery. To avoid dizziness, move slowly and sit up for 1 minute prior to standing.
- Sometimes, patients will feel hard bumps or projections in their mouths after surgery. These are not the roots of your teeth, they are most likely the bony walls that supported your tooth. They should smooth out over time, but if not, we can treat them at your post operative appointment.
- Your lips may be dry and may crack after surgery. You should keep them moist with an ointment such as Vaseline or A&D Ointment.
- Pain when swallowing and a sore throat are not uncommon after surgery. Swollen muscles in your neck can cause discomfort, but it should resolve itself in 2-3 days. Stiffness in your jaw muscles could make it uncomfortable to open your mouth after surgery. This is normal and will subside in time.
Bleeding
A certain amount of bleeding is normal following a surgical procedure. Excessive bleeding which results in the mouth rapidly filling with blood can usually be controlled by placing the gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for 30 minutes may control excessive bleeding. If bleeding does not subside, contact our office for further instructions.
Swelling
Swelling is not uncommon after surgery. You can help to minimize the swelling by applying a cold compress on the face near the extraction site alternating on for 20 minutes then off for 20 minutes for the first 36 hours.
Diet
Immediately after surgery, we recommend a liquid diet until the effects of anesthesia have worn off. Avoid hot and spicy foods, carbonated and alcoholic beverages. During the first few days after surgery restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods such as soups, yogurt, juice, and smoothies. Avoid vigorous activities for three to four days after surgery. No heavy lifting. You may go back to your normal routine as tolerated. Do not suck on a straw, as it can cause the protective blood clot to dislodge. Once the anesthesia has worn off, we recommend a soft diet and that you chew away from the surgical area. Good nutrition is important for healing, so we suggest that you return to a high protein, high calorie diet as soon as you feel comfortable. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. You will feel better, be stronger and heal faster if you are able to maintain proper nutrition.
Pain
The amount and duration of pain may vary greatly from patient to patient. The pain medication prescribed by our office, when taken as directed, is generally adequate to control your symptoms. Medication may require 30-95 minutes to take effect and should not be taken on an empty stomach. For mild pain, over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) may be sufficient.
If you have been prescribed pain medication besides aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), do not drive, operate heavy equipment, work around machinery or tools or engage in any other activity that may be unsafe when groggy, as your reflexes and judgment will be affected by the medication. Medication should not be taken on an empty stomach. Post Operative Pain or discomfort will generally begin to ease after 72 hours and should continue to improve every day. If after three days your pain is the same or worse, it may require our immediate attention and you should contact our office.
Oral Hygiene
Rinsing of the mouth should be completely avoided for the first 24 hours after surgery. You may brush your teeth the night after surgery, but be sure to avoid the surgical area. After 24 hours, you should begin vigorously rinsing your mouth with a full glass of warm water, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda every 2-3 hours and especially after eating. This is important for proper hygiene as well as medicinal purposes(healing aid).
Activity
Keep physical activities to a minimum after surgery. Exerting yourself can cause throbbing or bleeding. If this occurs, discontinue exercise.
Additional Concerns
Most orthodontic exposure cases will have some type of chain/attachment device attached. If this should come loose during healing, there is no need for alarm. Please contact our office for further instructions.
Post-operative care for the surgical removal of multiple teeth will be similar to those described under impacted teeth. Some additional concerns are as follows:
- A small amount of bleeding is normal following the surgery. Please avoid hot liquids, exercise and keep your head elevated during the first 24 hours. If bleeding occurs, place a gauze pad over the area and bite down firmly for 30 minutes. If the bleeding continues, bite down firmly on a moistened tea bag for thirty minutes. The tannic acid in the tea bag will help contract bleeding vessels and reduce bleeding. To minimize further bleeding, do not become excited, sit upright, and avoid exercise. If bleeding does not subside, contact our office for further instructions.
- Use ice packs on the same side of face as the surgical area. Apply ice for the first 36 hours.
- The removal of multiple teeth is different from a single extraction. All of the following symptoms are considered normal:
- Swelling- Swelling around the surgical site is not uncommon and may not reach it’s peak until two days following surgery. You may even experience swelling and discoloration around your eyes and even down your neck.
- A sore throat is not uncommon because the throat muscles are close to the extraction area. This is normal and should subside in 2-3 days.
- Your lips may be dry and may crack after surgery. You should keep them moist with an ointment such as Vaseline or A&D Ointment.
- A slightly elevated temperature for 24-48 hours is not unusual. If the temperature continues, please contact the office.
If immediate dentures were placed at the time of surgery, you should make every attempt to keep them in place until you can visit your restorative dentist so that they can make appropriate adjustments. 24 hours after surgery, you may remove for no longer than 5 minutes to begin your oral rinses. Moderate amounts of blood around the sides of the denture is not uncommon in the first 48 hours after surgery. If bleeding seems excessive, you can remove the denture and follow our instructions for controlling a post operative hemorrhage.
- Sore spots can develop when immediate dentures are inserted. In most cases, we recommend that you visit your restorative dentist within 24-48 hours after surgery to avoid severe denture sores, which could prolong the healing process.
- After 48 hours, we suggest that you remove and clean you denture every 3 hours. Do not leave you prosthesis out for more then 5 minutes during the day. Failure to wear your dentures continuously might prevent you from being able to replace it until after all swelling subsides (4-7 days)
- You must sleep with your prosthesis during the first week following surgery. After that, we suggest that you not sleep with your denture for the next four weeks while your oral mucosa completes healing.
Post operative care is very important after the placement of osseointegrated dental implants. You can avoid unnecessary pain and swelling and other complications by following our instructions. The following is a general overview of instructions that we normally recommend following placement of dental implants:
- Take care not to disturb the surgical site. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. We recommend eating a soft diet and chewing on the opposite side from the surgical area. for the first week.
- For the second stage surgery (the uncovering of your implant) there will be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue. This abutment should be secure and will be used by your restorative dentist to complete the final prosthetic phase of treatment.
Antibiotics
We typically prescribe antibiotics for all our dental implant cases to combat infection, so please take the medicine as directed. If you experience a rash or other unfavorable reaction, discontinue use of the antibiotic and contact our office.
Oral Hygiene
Good hygiene is important for good healing. We recommend that you begin rinsing your mouth with the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse the night before and the morning of your surgery. After 24 hours, you should rinse your mouth twice a day with Peridex, after breakfast and before bed. Additionally, you should rinse your mouth with a warm salt water rinse at least 6 times a day, especially after eating. It is fine to brush your teeth and the abutments, just use a gentle touch around the surgical area.
Wearing your Prosthesis
You should not wear your partial denture, flipper or full denture immediately after surgery and for up to 10 days after surgery. Each patient will be given specific instructions during their pre-operative consultation, but if you have any questions, please contact the office.
- Your surgeon may place sutures to help reduce bleeding and promote healing. Do not be alarmed if they become dislodged. Your sutures will be removed about a week after surgery. There should be no discomfort with this procedure and there is no need for anesthesia.
- Your pain and swelling should generally begin to ease after 48 hours and should continue to improve every day. If after two days your pain is the same or worse, it may require our immediate attention and you should contact our office.
- There may be a cavity or defect in the surgical area after surgery, especially if a tooth was removed. It is normal and should resolve itself over the next month and fill in with new tissue. It is important to keep the area clean with salt water rinses and brushing.
- No two patients are alike, and no two recoveries are the same. If you feel you have a problem, we encourage you to contact our office immediately.
- Following the removal of a tooth a dry socket may occur. A dry socket occurs when the blood clot becomes dislodged prematurely from the tooth socket. Symptoms of pain at the surgical site and even pain to the ear may occur 2-3 days following surgery. Contact our office if this occurs.
- If you regularly exercise, please use care when returning to exercise after surgery. Your daily nutritional intake may be reduced and you may experience light headedness. If you do, discontinue exercising and contact our office if the dizziness continues.
- Remember that our office is ready and willing to aid you during your recovery phase. If you are unsure of anything with regards to your recovery, do not hesitate to contact our office. We provide 24 hour/day, 365 day/year coverage by one of the four Board Certified Oral Surgeons.