Below is a list of pre-sedation instructions that you will need to follow before your appointment.
- BRUSH YOUR TEETH VERY THOROUGHLY the morning of your appointment. Remember not to swallow any of the water!
- DO NOT eat or drink anything 8 hours before your scheduled appointment.
- You must plan to have a responsible adult drive you to and from your appointment. Please plan to have someone stay with you to monitor you throughout the day of your surgery.
- Please dress in loose clothing with access to your arms.
As you are recovering from your procedure please plan for the following things.
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated.
- Have soft foods on hand. (ice creams, yogurts, broth and soups are examples of soft foods)
- Have plenty of ice packs available. Bags of frozen peas seem to work the best and they are easy to conform to your face and jaw.
Care of the Mouth Following Oral Surgery
Surgery of the mouth is similar to surgery in other parts of the body and requires careful attention to post operative instructions
WOUND CARE: Do not disturb the wound. Do not rinse your mouth or use a mouthwash the day of surgery. If you smoke, please refrain from doing so for at least four days following surgery. Avoid probing the wound. A waterpik should not be used during the early healing period. The above activities will cause complications with wound healing.
SWELLING: Facial swelling may occur following extractions and oral surgery procedures. To help minimize swelling, apply an ice pack to the face for 20 minutes; remove for 20 minutes; alternating back and forth throughout the first day after surgery. To be most effective, the applications of the ice packs should begin as soon as possible. The maximum amount of facial swelling occurs two days following the surgery. Once present, it can remain swollen for upwards of 7 days; discomfort may persist for 10 days.
PAIN: A variable amount of pain follows most extraction and oral surgery procedures. If you are given a prescription for pain tablets, please use as directed. Many times analgesics are prescribed on a scheduled basis. Excessive or increased pain after the third day following surgery is not normal. Should this occur, please call the clinic at your earliest convenience. You may need to return to the clinic for further evaluation.
BLEEDING: A slight amount of bleeding or oozing is to be expected up to 24 hours or more. These conditions are no cause for alarm. Following your oral surgery, a small sterile gauze compress was placed on the wound and you are asked to maintain steady biting pressure on the gauze.
If excessive bleeding should occur, the following procedure should be done:
- Gently wipe excess blood from mouth.
- Place a clean, sterile gauze pad directly over the area which is bleeding and maintain a steady, firm bite on the gauze for 30 minutes. If not successful, repeat procedure with gauze soaked in a strong solution of tea (or bite on a tea bag) for another 30 minutes.
- Remain quiet, sit upright, and apply an ice pack to the face; do not spit.
- If the previously mentioned measures do not succeed, call the clinic.
NAUSEA: Nausea is not uncommon event after surgery, and it is sometimes caused by stronger pain medications. Nausea can be reduced by preceding each pill with a small amount of soft food, then taking the pill with a large volume of water. Try to keep taking clear fluids and minimize the pain medication, but call us if you do not feel better or if repeated vomiting is a problem. Cola drinks that have less carbonation may help with nausea.
DISCOLORATION: Facial discoloration (black and blue bruising) may occur following extraction and oral surgery procedures. Discoloration is normal and is no cause for alarm. It may persist as long as several weeks.
JAW STIFFNESS: For several days following surgery, begin using warm salt water rinses after meals and several times during the day as directed by the doctor. Gently swish for 30 seconds and release fluids from the mouth. Do not spit. One-half teaspoonful of table salt and a full glass of warm water is recommended.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY/REST: Keep physical activity to a minimum. Avoid athletic and strenuous activities and get plenty of rest.
STITCHES: Following many extractions and oral surgery procedures, stitches are placed in the tissues. Your doctor will advise you if a return appointment for stitch removal is necessary.
DRY SOCKET: Despite the best of care, a small percentage of the patients who have teeth removed will develop what is commonly known as “dry socket.” A “dry socket” is a condition where the wound healing sequence is disturbed or altered after removal of a tooth. A “dry socket” usually develops about 3-10 days after removal of a tooth. Typically a patient will note increased pain at the extraction site. The aching pain, which steadily worsens, may radiate along the jaw and into the ear. If you exhibit these symptoms please call our clinic at your earliest convenience. You may need to return to the clinic for further evaluation. Smoking increases the risk of developing a dry socket.
BRUSHING: Resume your normal oral hygiene routine within 24 hours following surgery. Soreness and swelling may not permit vigorous brushing of all areas, but please make every effort to clean your teeth within the bounds of comfort.
NUMBNESS: Local anesthetics may be effective for as long as 24-48 hours. Should you experience numbness beyond this period, please notify the clinic.
Additional instructions apply for any implant or bone/soft tissue grafting procedures. Frequently, the stitches for these procedures and NOT dissolvable. We need additional time for the wound to heal to protect the underlying implant or graft. The stitches will need to remain in wound for up to four weeks. During this period:
- PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB THE WOUND AND SUTURES. It will be a natural tendency for your tongue to touch and play with the sutures. This will cause early wound breakdown and exposure of the implant or graft, resulting in a higher failure rate.
- Keep all chewing limited to the opposite side or no non-operated areas of the mouth.
- Do not brush over the fresh would for at least two weeks. Following the second day, gentle rinsing is allowed but not too vigorously.
- As the swelling subsides, it might feel like the stitches are loosening up. Please do NOT cut them.
- Partial dentures or flippers should not be used immediately after surgery until your post-operative appointment unless specifically instructed otherwise. Even when worn, they should be utilized as little as possible during the first two weeks of the healing period. When it is placed it should not touch the gums in the area of the surgery. If it does, this can cause ulceration of the wound edges and breakdown of the suture margins. This can lead to failure of the graft or implant. When you are at home, please take them out.
- Depending on the site and bone quality, your doctor sometimes attaches a temporary tooth to the implant. This tooth is for esthetics only and should NOT be used for chewing or function until the implant is fully healed, about three months.
Instructions Following Endodontic Treatment
Endodontic treatment for the tooth has been completed. The canals inside the roots have been cleaned and permanently sealed. Although the nerves inside the tooth have been removed, there are still many nerves outside the roots. These outside nerves have been inflamed and may continue to be sensitvie for a short time after the root canal treatment. One 800mg tablet of Ibuprofen or 3 to 4 tablets of over the counter Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, ect.) taken four times a day for the next 3-4 days usually helps control the sensitivity. Frequent rinsing with warm salt water for the next two days will also help. If we have prescribed other medications, be sure to take as directed.
You may need to return to the office for a final restoration on the tooth.
Please verify with our front office staff if the tooth has been restored with a final restorations, if so no further treatment is necessary at this time.
If you have any questions concerning your treatment, please feel free to call our office.
