Post-Operation Help and Care

Post Dental Implant Surgery

Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There will be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gum tissue.

  • Bleeding

    Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding can be controlled by binding on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, please call for further instructions.

  • Swelling

    Swelling is a regular occurrence after the surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag or a plastic bag or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously, as much as possible, for the first thirty-six hours.

  • Diet

    Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and beverages should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

  • Pain

    You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, one or two Tylenol or Extra-Strength Tylenol may be taken every three to four hours. Ibuprofen may be taken instead of Tylenol. First severe pain that prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the mentioned medications if you are allergic or have been instructed by your doctor not to take them.

  • Oral Hygiene

    Good oral hygiene is essential to a good healing period the night of surgery. Use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after surgery, it should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds and then spit it out. Warm salt water rinses should be used at least four to five times a day as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem period be gentle initially when brushing around the surgical areas.

  • Activity

    Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising.

Post Wisdom Teeth Removal

The removal of impacted wisdom teeth is a serious surgical procedure. Post-operation care is critical. Unnecessary pain and the complications of infection and swelling can be minimalized if the instructions are followed carefully.

  • Immediately Following Surgery

    The gauze pad placed over the surgical area should be kept in place for an hour. After this time, the gauze pad should be changed every hour until the bleeding stops.

    Vigorous mouth rinsing or touching the wound area following surgery should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that is formed to become dislodged.

    Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you begin to feel discomfort. This will usually coincide with the local anesthetic becoming diminished.

    Restrict your activities on the day of surgery and return to normal activity when you feel comfortable.

    Place ice packs to the sides of your face where surgery was performed.

  • Bleeding

    It is expected for there to be bleeding following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon either. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by first rinsing or wiping away old clots from your mouth, then placing a gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for one hour. Repeat this if necessary. If bleeding continues, place a moistened tea bag for 30 minutes. The tea bag's tannic acid helps form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels.

  • Swelling

    The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and size of the face is not uncommon. This is the body's normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. The swelling will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until two to three days post-operatively. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. Two bags filled with ice or ice packs should be applied on the sides of the face where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be left on continuously while you are awake. After 36 hours, ice has no beneficial effect. Swelling or jaw stiffness can persist for several days because it is a normal part of the surgery.

  • Pain

    For moderate pain, one or two tablets of Tylenol or extra-strength Tylenol may be taken every three to four hours or ibuprofen taken every four to six hours. For severe pain, take the tablets prescribed as directed. The prescribed pain medicine will make you groggy and slow down your reflexes. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking this medication. Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day. If pain persists, it may require attention, and you should call the office.

  • Diet

    After the operation, liquids should be initially taken. Do not use straws and drink only from a glass. The sucking motion can cause more bleeding because it removes the blood clot. You may eat anything soft by chewing away form the surgical sites. High-calorie high protein intake is very important. Nourishment should be taken regularly. You should prevent dehydration by drinking water regularly. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. Try not to miss a single meal. You will feel better, have more strength, and have less discomfort if you continue to eat.

  • Keep Your Mouth Clean

    No rinsing of any kind should be performed until the day following surgery. You can brush your teeth the night of surgery but rinse gently. The day after surgery, you should begin rinsing at least five to six times a day, especially after eating with a cup of warm water mixed with salt.

  • Discoloration

    In some instances, 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 normal post-operation.

  • Nausea and Vomiting

    In the event of nausea or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour, including the prescribed medicine. You should then step on coke, tea, or ginger ale. You should sip slowly for over 15 minutes. When nausea subsides, you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medication.

  • Other Complications

    If numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue occurs, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal part of the surgery, so be aware when you are eating.

    Slight elevation of temperature immediately following surgery is not uncommon. If the temperature persists, please notify the office.

    It would be best if you were careful going from the lying down position to standing. Taking pain medications can make you dizzy. You could get lightheaded 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 boney walls that support the tooth. These projections usually smooth out spontaneously.

    Sore throats and pain when swallowing are not uncommon. The muscles get swollen, and this will subside in two to three days.

Post Impacted Tooth Surgery

Do not disturb the wound. If surgical packing was placed, leave it alone. The pack helps to keep the tooth exposed. If it gets dislodged or falls out, do not be alarmed.

  • Bleeding

    Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding, which results in your mouth filling rapidly with blood, can frequently be controlled by binding with pressure on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes.

  • Swelling

    Swelling is a normal post-operation period to minimize swelling, applying an ice bag or a plastic bag or towel filled with ice cubes on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply ice continually as much as possible for the first thirty-six hours.

  • Diet

    drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a regular diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

  • Pain

    You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, Tylenol or ibuprofen can do the trick. Take as recommended. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as instructed.

  • Oral Hygiene

    Mouth cleanliness is essential to successful healing. Clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal, beginning the day after surgery. Brush your teeth the best you can, and be sure to rinse with warm salt water a couple of times a day.

  • Activity

    Keep physical activities to a minimum post-surgery. If you consider doing exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this does occur, you should stop exercising.

Post Tooth Extraction

After tooth extraction, it's important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin healing the wound. That's why we ask you to bite on the gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still continues, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another half hour. You may have to do this a couple of times.

After The blood clot forms, it is essential not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids the healing period. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol, or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and slow the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next day or two.

After the tooth is extracted, you may feel some pain and experience swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied in the area will reduce swelling to a minimum. Be sure to take pain medication as prescribed.

It is essential to make sure you resume the regular, healthy dental routine after 24 hours.

Post Multiple Teeth Extraction

Bleeding is expected to occur after removing multiple teeth. To help reduce or slow bleeding, place a gauze pad over the bleeding area and apply binding pressure for 30 minutes. If it continues, replace the gauze pad and bite down for another 30 minutes.

Use ice packs on the same side of the face as you had the surgery. Apply ice for 36 hours post-surgery. Use the ice 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for swelling relief.

Be sure to use over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication as directed.

Drink plenty of water and fluids. Do not drink from a straw, only a glass.

Do not rinse your mouth for the first day after surgery or while there is bleeding. After the first day, use warm salty water to rinse every few hours and after meals.

Restrict your diet to soft foods that are easy for you to eat and swallow.

If you have any questions about the post-operation process for your surgery, call your closest center.