Download printable instructions here. Requires Adobe Reader.
Please Note:
Antibiotics and other medications may interfere with the effectivesness of oral contraceptives for one complete cycle of birth control pills.
Swelling after surgery is progressive and can increase through the third day. After 3 days the swelling should begin to subside.
Do not disturb the surgical area. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the area on the day of surgery. There will be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gum tissue.
Immediately Following Surgery
- Firm Gauze Pressure for 1 Hour: A gauze pad, rolled into a tight ball, should be placed over the surgical site and kept in place for a half hour to one hour. This will put pressure over the surgical area. After this time, the gauze pad should be removed and discarded. If additional bleeding occurs, repeat this step until the bleeding subsides.If still bleeding after 2 hours, stack and fold 3 fresh gauze and apply to the wound for 1 hour at a time until bleeding stops.
- Apply Cold Packs to Face: Apply bags of ice or frozen peas to each side of face. Hold bags in place with an ACE wrap, scarf, or towel. Alternate cold packs 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off for the first 48 hours.
- Elevate Head of the Bed: Keep head elevated on a recliner or couch while sleeping for the first 24-48 hours to minimize swelling. Do not lay flat on a bed, as increased facial swelling will occur.
- No Smoking/Alcohol: Do not smoke or drink alcohol for at least 2 weeks. Smoking/alcohol slows healing and increases the risk of infection and severe dry socket pain.
- No Spitting: Do not spit for the first 24 hours. Spitting can dislodge a blood clot, triggering bleeding and severe dry socket pain. If you feel like you need to spit, gently rinse water in your mouth and then let the water passively fall into the sink.
- No Straws: Avoid straws for 24 hours. Using a straw can dislodge a blood clot, triggering bleeding and severe dry socket pain. Eat smoothies and milkshakes with a spoon, or drink from a cup.
- Diet: Day 1 – Cool, soft foods (i.e. ice cream, yogurt, smoothies, milkshakes – use a spoon, no straws). Days 2 to 7 – Soft, room temperature food (i.e. pasta, scrambled eggs, red beans, rice, mashed potatoes). Avoid hot and spicy foods. Make sure soup has been cooled to room temperature.
- Medication: Take all medications with food to help prevent nausea. Use medications as directed by prescriptions. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery after IV sedation, or if you are taking narcotic medications (i.e. codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, tramadol) or nausea medication (promethazine), as they impair judgement and cause drowsiness.
- Rinsing: Begin gentle rinsing on Day 2 after each meal. You may be prescribed Peridex (Chlorhexidine), or you may use over-the-counter alcohol-free mouthrinse or water. Rinsing keeps the mouth clean and decreases the risk of infection. Do not spit. Instead, gently rinse and then let the rinse passively fall into the sink.
- Oral Hygiene: Use a soft bristle toothbrush (avoid electric toothbrush) to brush teeth normally, and brush delicately around the surgical site. Gently rinse with prescribed Peridex (Chlorhexidine) or over-the- counter alcohol-free mouthrinse or water, as directed by Dr. Jackson.
- Activity: Frequent rest is important after surgery. Do not exercise for 1 week after surgery, as exercise can cause painful throbbing or bleeding at the surgical site.
- Swelling: For the first 4-5 days after surgery, it is normal for you to experience swelling, pain, and even bruising, which then gradually disappear.
- Discoloration: In some cases, discoloration of the skin follows swelling. The development of black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days post-operatively. Moist heat applied to the area may speed up the removal of the discoloration.
- Nausea and Vomiting: In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour including the prescribed medicine. You should then sip on coke, tea or ginger ale. You should sip slowly over a fifteen-minute period. When the nausea subsides you can begin taking solid or liquid foods and the prescribed medicine.
Other Complications
- If numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue occurs there is no cause for alarm. As stated before surgery, this is usually temporary in nature. You should be aware that if your lip or tongue is numb, you could bite it and not feel the sensation. So be careful. Call our office if you have any questions.
- You should be careful going from the lying down position to standing. You were not able to eat or drink prior to surgery. It was also difficult to take fluids. Taking pain medications can make you dizzy. You could get light headed when you stand up suddenly. Before standing up, you should sit for one minute then get up.
- Occasionally, patients may feel hard projections in the mouth with their tongue. They are not roots; they are the bony walls which supported the tooth. These projections usually smooth out spontaneously. If not, they can be removed by your doctor.
- If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with lip ointment such as Vaseline or Neosporin.
- Sore throats and pain when swallowing are not uncommon. The muscles get swollen. The normal act of swallowing can then become painful. This will subside in 2-3 days.
- There may be a slight elevation of temperature for 24-48 hours. If a temperature continues, notify the office. There may be a slight earache.
- Stiffness (Trismus) of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days following surgery. This is a normal post-operative event which will resolve in time.
Emergency
- If following surgery you feel the need for emergency treatment, please (1) come to our office if it is during office hours, (2) if the office is closed call the office to get the emergency number in order to reach the oral surgeon or (3) if you are unable to contact the oral surgeon go the nearest hospital emergency room for treatment.
Finally
- Sutures may be placed the area of surgery to minimize post-operative bleeding and to help healing. Sometimes they become dislodged, this is no cause for alarm. Just remove the suture from your mouth and discard it. The sutures are usually dissolvable and should fall out or disappear in 3-7 days. If you have a suture that is not dissolvable, it will usually be removed by your doctor. There is no need for you to be nervous, this is not a painful procedure.
- The pain and swelling should subside more and more each day following surgery. If your post-operative pain or swelling worsens or unusual symptoms occur call our office for instructions.
- There will be a cavity where the tooth was removed and an irregularity of the gum tissue over the area. Over the following month, the cavity will gradually fill in with the new tissue and the overlying tissue will smooth over. In the mean time, the area should be kept clean especially after meals with salt water rinses or a toothbrush.
- Your case is individual, no two mouths are alike. Do not accept well intended advice from friends. Discuss your problem with the persons best able to effectively help you: our doctors or your family dentist.
