Post Op for Oral Surgery

Bleeding: Slight bleeding after surgery is not unusual. Your saliva may be tinged with blood for up to twenty-four (24) hours. Leave gauze in place over the surgery site for at least two (2) hours, maintaining firm biting pressure. A gauze pack will be placed over the site after surgery. Do not forcefully spit or irritate the surgery site. This may cause further bleeding. If bleeding persists, you may control it with pressure (moisten a clean gauze and place it directly over the surgery site. Apply moderate biting pressure for approximately 1/2 hour. Repeat if necessary). Note: Sinus bone graft patients may experience bleeding through the nose for up to 24 hours after surgery.

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Pain: Discomfort and pain are common for the first few days after surgery. Take pain medications as needed. The first day, it is recommended to take medication even with minimal pain, as it is easier to prevent pain than decrease it. Pain medications are most effective when taken before local anesthesia diminishes and normal sensation returns.

 

Post-surgery Pain Management recommendation: Take 3 200 mg ibuprofen every 4-6 hours along with 2 Extra Strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) every 4-6 hours.

• Do not exceed 4x per day for 10 Days

• Ibuprofen and acetaminophen must be taken together

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Swelling: After surgery, swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and side of face is very common. This is the body's normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. Swelling usually will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until 2-3 days post-operatively. However, you may minimize swelling by using ice packs immediately. Apply an ice pack to the outside of your face over the surgery site for twenty (20) minutes on, twenty (20) minutes off for the first twenty-four (24) hours. Prepare several cold packs by placing damp washcloths in small zip-lock freezer bags. Place these in your freezer for use after surgery. Frozen peas in polyvinyl bags also work well. After twenty-four (24) hours, you can apply moist heat to the area, as ice can increase swelling. Sleeping with your head elevated above the level of the heart for the first two post-operative nights tends to lessen swelling.

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Bruising: Bruising is also very common after surgery. Bruising may be present over the surgery site and to the lower chin area. Black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration develops as blood spreads beneath the tissues. This is a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days post-operatively and last up to 14 days. Moist heat applied to the area may help the discoloration resolve faster.

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Nausea: Nausea may result from anesthesia medications or pain medications. To minimize this possibility, avoid taking any medications on an empty stomach. Take all medication with a small amount of food. If you feel nauseated or sick to your stomach, drink clear liquids such as ginger ale, 7UP, apple juice, or broth; toast and crackers may help alleviate the symptoms.

 

Diet: After surgery, drink lots of clear liquids and eat soft nutritious foods. Avoid acidic foods such as tomatoes, orange juice, and citrus fruits until the surgery site has healed (2 weeks). Do not drink through a straw for at least 48 hours. If you had surgery on only one side of your mouth, favor the other side while chewing for the first few days.

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Oral Hygiene: Do not neglect oral hygiene, as food and debris can promote inflammation and/or infection. You may rinse and brush your teeth starting the day after surgery. Brush your teeth as usual and rinse using Chlorhexidine (prescription mouth rinse) or warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt per 12oz of water) after each meal beginning the day after surgery. DO NOT RINSE VIGOROUSLY. Discontinue any mouth rinse containing alcohol (ex: Listerine) for the first two weeks following surgery. Do not brush the surgical area directly until your two-week post op appointment.

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Activity: Limit strenuous activity for the first 2-3 days following surgery. This will reduce bleeding and minimize swelling. Strenuous work or exercise may promote bleeding and increase swelling which may be damaging to the surgical site and result in delayed healing.

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Fever: After surgery, it is normal for the body temperature to be slightly elevated for 24hrs. Please contact the office if there is a high temperature or if a low-grade temperature persists after the first 24 hours.

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Smoking/Alcohol: Smoking and alcohol use will delay healing and predispose you to infection, which can result in the failure of the implant or bone graft. This will result in possible surgical intervention, delay in treatment, and possible loss of implant/bone graft. Do not smoke or use alcohol until the incision line is completely healed (about 2 weeks).

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Sutures: Sutures are placed in 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. If sutures are still present at your 2-week post-op appointment, we will remove them.

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Medications: It is very important that you take all your prescribed medications from your physician as directed. DO NOT DISCONTINUE ANY MEDICATIONS (especially blood thinners) UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO BY YOUR PHYSICIAN. Additionally, take all medications that our office prescribes for you. Each medication has a specific role in the post-operative period of your surgery, which will decrease the possibility of infection, swelling, and pain. Stop the antibiotic if a rash develops or an upset stomach persists. Report this immediately to our office. Women, please note: If you are currently taking birth control pills, be aware that taking antibiotics will decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pills and alternative methods should be utilized.

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Wearing your prosthesis: Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should not be used immediately after your surgery, unless specifically instructed otherwise. If you have a temporary “flipper” to wear for esthetics, do not insert it until the numbness in the area is gone. When it is inserted, it should not touch the gums in any area of the surgery. If it does, this may cause ulceration of the wound edges and breakdown of the suture margins. This can lead to loss of the implant or bone graft. If you have questions about the fit of your flipper, partial or complete denture, do not wear it until our office can see you.

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Numbness: Be cautious until the anesthesia wears off, as you have no feeling in the surrounding area and you may unknowingly injure yourself. After surgery, you will have prolonged numbness in the surgical area. Use caution when eating or drinking hot fluids, as you may injure the soft tissues. Ideally, eat and drink on the opposite side until the numbness subsides. If numbness persists after 24 hours, please contact our office.