Post-Oral Surgery Instructions
recovering from a procedure at tvos
Please Read These Instructions Carefully
Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so not all of these instructions may apply. Common sense will often dictate what you should do. However, when it doubt, follow these guidelines or call our office any time for clarification.
First Hour
Bite down gently, but firmly on the gauze packs that have been placed over the surgical areas, making sure they remain in place. Do not change them for the first 30 minutes unless the bleeding is not being controlled. If active bleeding persists after one hour, place enough new gauze to obtain pressure over the surgical site for another 30-60 minutes.
The gauze may be changed as necessary and may be damped and/or fluffed for more comfortable positioning.
Exercise Care
Do not disturb the surgical area today. DO NOT rinse vigorously or probe the area with any objects or fingers. You may brush your teeth gently. DO NOT SMOKE for at least 72 hours, since it is very detrimental to healing.
Oozing
Intermittent bleeding or oozing is normal. It may be controlled by placing fresh gauze over the surgical areas and biting down firmly for 30-60 minutes.
Steadying Bleeding
Bleeding should never be severe. If it is, it usually means that the packs are being clenched between your teeth rather than exerting pressure on the surgical areas. Try repositioning fresh packs.
If bleeding persists or becomes heavy you may substitute a tea bag (soaked in hot water, squeezed damp-dry and wrapped in a moist gauze) for 20-30 minutes. If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office.
Swelling
Often there is some swelling associated with oral surgery.
You can minimize this by using a cold pack or ice bag wrapped in a towel and applied firmly to face and cheek adjacent to the surgical area. This should be applied twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off during the first 24 hours after surgery. After 24 hours, it is usually best to switch from ice to moist heat. Peak swelling will be day 3 and taper off after that. After a week, if swelling comes back or never goes away, please call our office.
Pain
Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. We recommend Ibuprofen and Tylenol for pain. If this combination is not working, it can be supplemented with a prescription.
Remember that the most severe discomfort is usually within the first six hours after the anesthetic wears off; after that your need for medicine should lessen. If you had Exparel during your procedure it takes 12 hours to take effect and lasts up to 72 hours.
Nausea
Nausea is not an uncommon even after surgery, and it is sometimes caused by stronger pain medicines. Nausea may 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.
Diet
Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Temperature of the food doesn't matter, but avoid extremely hot foods. It is sometimes advisable, but not required, to confine the first day's intake to bland liquids or pureed foods (creamed soups, puddings, yogurts, milkshakes, etc.). Avoid foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn, etc., that may get lodged in the socket areas. Over the next several days you can progress to solid foods at your own pace. It is important not to skip meals! If you take nourishment regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort, and heal faster. If you are diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits as much as possible and follow instructions from your physician regarding your insulin schedule. Good nutrition is important and don't get dehydrated.
Sharp Edges
If you feel sharp edges in the surgical areas with your tongue, it is probably the bony walls which originally supported the teeth.
Occasionally, small slivers of bone may work themselves out during the first week or two after surgery. They are not pieces of tooth and, if necessary, we will remove them. Please call our office if you are concerned.
Mouth Rinses
Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is essential.
Use one-quarter teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8 ounce glass of warm water and gently rinse with portions of the solution, taking 5 minutes to use the entire glassful. Repeat as often as you like, but at least two or three times daily for the next five days. If you have had dentures placed, remove them twice daily and rinse them with warm saline.
Brushing
Begin your normal oral hygiene routine as soon as possible after 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.
Dry Socket
Apply warm compresses to the skin overlying areas of swelling (hot water bottles, moist hot towels, or eating pads) for 20 minutes on the 20 minutes off to help soothe those tender areas. This will also help decrease swelling and stiffness.
Hot Application
Normal healing after tooth extraction should be as follows; the first day of surgery is usually the most uncomfortable and there is some degree of swelling and stiffness. The second day you will usually be far more comfortable and, although still swollen, you can usually begin a more substantial diet. From the third day on GRADUAL, STEADY IMPROVEMENT should make the remainder of your post-operative course. If a DRY SOCKET occurs (loss of blood clot from socket, usually on the 3rd to 5th day), there is noticeable, distinct, persistent throbbing pain in the jaw, often radiating toward the ear and forward along the jaw to cause other teeth to ache. If you do not see steady improvement during the first few days after surgery, don't suffer needlessly. Call the office and report symptoms so you can be seen as soon as possible.
Do you still have questions about your recovery?
We are here to answer any questions that you may have. Our phone line is set up with after hours attendees at all times. So give us a call if you run into any complications.