Patient Instructions
Pre-Operative Instructions
- Nothing to eat or drink for at least 8 hours before appointment (including water).
- If you take daily medications, please contact our office for further instructions.
- A parent or legal guardian must accompany minors.
- An adult driver must accompany patient, since driving is prohibited for 24 hours after surgery.
- Please wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing. Please remove jewelry.
- Any questions? Please call our office.
Post-Operative Instructions
Rarely is postoperative bleeding a problem. Do not spit, rinse or drink through a straw the day of surgery. However, a small amount of blood following surgery is to be expected. This may occur during the first 48 hours after the procedure, especially upon opening, chewing, or during sleep. Blood may ooze and mix with saliva. Do not mistake this for extensive bleeding. TO CONTROL BLEEDING: Immediately after surgery, keep the gauze pad over the surgical site and bite firmly for one hour. If bleeding continues, wipe the extraction site and remove any excessive clot if present. If bleeding continues while you are biting firmly, reposition the gauze directly over the area that is bleeding and bite firmly. If bleeding persists, you should contact our office.
For mild discomfort take aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or one of the other over the counter pain medications. For more severe pain, take the prescribed medication as directed. You may supplement the prescribed medication with one of the over the counter pain medications, taken midway between the prescribed medication times.
Swelling around the surgical area may follow certain procedures. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery. The maximum swelling will occur 48 hours (2days) after the surgery and only then will it slowly resolve. For the first 48 hours you want to apply ice, 15 minutes on then 15 minutes off. After 48 hours you then want to apply heat, 15 minutes on then 15 minutes off, to help reduce the swelling and relax stiff muscles.
On the day following surgery, if there is no further bleeding, rinse your mouth with a glass of warm water to which 1/2 teaspoon of salt is added. Repeat after meals and at bedtime for the next few days.
You may brush your teeth the day of surgery, but with care in the area of the surgery. Bleeding may occur during brushing. This is normal. If it does not stop a short time after you have finished brushing follow the directions above.
Muscle stiffness and soreness which limits movement of the jaw can be minimized by gently opening and closing your mouth every hour or so (stretching a little further each time) beginning one hour after surgery, or as soon as you remove the gauze from your mouth. This is to be continued for one week.
Proper diet is essential for normal healing. Drink plenty of liquids, have a soft diet and advance your diet to more solid foods as tolerated. Avoid chewing in the area of the surgery. Do not drink alcohol while you are on the medications.
Soft diet suggestions: Nothing very hot, very cold or spicy
- Protein Drinks
- Milk
- Juice
- Soup
- Eggs
- Potatoes
- Pastas
- Pancakes
- Yogurt
- Ice Cream
- Pudding
- Jell-O
- Cottage Cheese
- Bananas
- Applesauce
- Tuna
Some patients may experience nausea and/or vomiting following treatment. This may be due to the medications being taken, swallowing of blood or the anesthetic used during surgery. It may help to avoid dairy products the day of surgery and to drink ginger ale or a cola. If the nausea and/or vomiting persist, call this office so that we may prescribe you a medication to stop the nausea and/or vomiting.
Some black, blue, green or yellow may occur at the surgical site or at the intravenous injection site. It sometimes extends down the neck or under the eye. This is a normal reaction and will resolve by itself in a week or so.
Occasionally after extractions of lower teeth, some numbness, loss of sensation or tingling of the lower lip, jaw, tongue or teeth may occur.
On the third to fifth day following extractions, you may develop a bad taste, sore throat, earache or an increase in pain. If symptoms persist for more than a day, please call this office so that we may treat your discomfort. Smoking will increase the chance of a dry socket. Do not smoke for 48 hours after surgery.
Occasionally after involved surgery, tiny bone splinters work their way through the gum tissue. This may cause a sharp sensation at the site of your surgery. If it becomes a problem, please call us, so that we can remove the bone spicules.
The teeth adjacent to the surgical site may ache after the surgery; this is a temporary condition and will go away in a couple of days.
Sutures (stitches) may have been placed in order to minimize post-operative bleeding and facilitate healing, some will dissolve, and others will have to be removed. We will schedule a post-operative appointment if necessary.
If the corners of your mouth are dry, when your lips are stretched they may crack and bleed. You should keep your lips moist with lip balm or Vaseline.
There may be a slight elevation of temperature for 24 to 48 hours after your surgery. If this continues, notify this office.
Upon discharge from this office, please contact your general dentist for regular check-ups.