After Your Oral Surgery

POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS-Oral Surgery

Pain Management: Most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. It is important to eat food prior to taking pain medication (see Diet below). If you do not achieve adequate relief with pain medication, you may supplement each pain pill with an analgesic such as ibuprofen (unless you are taking Vicoprofen which has ibuprofen in it). It is important that you stay ahead of the pain by taking a pain pill every four hours through the first day of surgery. Remember, discomfort and swelling may increase for the first three or four days.  On day two through five you can switch to 600mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours.  You can use your Vicoprofen between doses if you have more severe pain.  If you develop hives or rash, or diarrhea discontinue all medication and immediately contact our office.

Nausea:  If you experience nausea, stop taking pain medications and liquid foods.  Wait one hour.  If nausea has passed slowly restart the liquids.  If nausea continues it may help to drink one ounce of a carbonated beverage.  If this helps continue with clear broths or tea.  If nausea subsides continue with soft diet so you can restart pain medication.

Bleeding: It is normal to have intermittent oozing for the first 24 hours. Bleeding can be controlled by placing at least two folded gauze packs over the wound and biting to place pressure on the wound for 30-45 minutes at a time. Remove gauze when eating and replace when finished.  If bleeding persists you may substitute a tea bag (dipped in water and squeezed damp-dry) for 30 minutes. If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office. Do not sleep with gauze in your mouth.

Activity:  It is important that you stay home and rest for the first three days.  You can begin physical activity on the 4th day after surgery (day one being your day of surgery).

Swelling: Swelling can be minimized by using an ice pack (placed in the jaw wrap for 48 hours) and placing it on the affected side(s) for approximately 30 minutes every hour for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours, you can begin applying a warm compress to the affected side(s) for approximately 30 minutes of every hour to help soothe tender areas.  Sleeping with 2 pillows may also help.

Oral Hygiene: To minimize the risk of infection, begin gentle salt water rinses after the first 24 hours. Use approximately 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gently rinse two to three times daily until your follow-up appointment. You must use the syringe provided after five days. Draw lukewarm water into the syringe, place the tip of the syringe down into the extraction socket, and gently flush the socket until clean, three times per day until your follow-up appointment. Do this until you are certain that the extraction socket has closed completely.

Diet: Eat soft foods for the first few days (soup, mashed potatoes, overcooked pasta, bananas, and yogurt). Avoid hot foods, acid foods (tomato and orange juice) and spicy foods. Milk shakes or smoothies are also good if they do not have seeds.  Do not use a straw for the first week after surgery. Avoid foods that will injure the area such as nuts, popcorn, potato chips, etc. No tobacco, alcohol, alcohol-based mouth rinses, or peroxide-based products such as whitening toothpastes for at least 7 days.

Travel:  It is important not to travel for 1 week.  A change of pressure (elevators, mountains or airplanes) may be uncomfortable and cause oral or nasal bleeding.

Orthodontic Retainers/Night Guards:  You may wear your retainer if it is comfortable.  You may need to refrain from wearing your retainer for a few days.

Telephone Support 24/7:  Englewood: 303-806-8600, Aurora: 303.755.3353.  If you have any questions please call our office.  Our surgical assistants are available to answer your questions Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.  For after hours support, please call the same number and the answering service will have our doctors will return your call.  We encourage you to call if you have questions or if you feel something is not right during office hours to get immediate assistance.

Oral Surgery Post Operative Instructions

After Your Dental Implant

POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS- Dental Implants

Pain Management: Most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. It is important to eat food prior to taking pain medication (see Diet below). If you do not achieve adequate relief with pain medication, you may supplement each pain pill with an analgesic such as ibuprofen (unless you are taking Vicoprofen which has ibuprofen in it). It is important that you stay ahead of the pain by taking a pain pill every four hours through the first day of surgery. Remember, discomfort and swelling may increase for the first three or four days.  On day two through five you can switch to 600mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours.  You can use your Vicoprofen between doses if you have more severe pain.  If you develop hives, rash, or diarrhea discontinue all medication and immediately contact our office.
 
Nausea:  If you experience nausea, stop taking pain medications and liquid foods.  Wait one hour.  If nausea has passed, slowly restart the liquids.  If nausea continues it may help to drink one ounce of a carbonated beverage.  If this helps continue with clear broths or tea.  If nausea subsides continue with soft diet so you can restart  pain medication.  

Bleeding: It is normal to have intermittent oozing for the first 24 hours. Bleeding can be controlled by placing a folded gauze pack over the wound and biting to place pressure on the wound for 30-45 minutes at a time. Remove gauze when eating and  replace when finished.  If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office. Do not sleep with gauze in your mouth.

Swelling: Swelling can be minimized by using an ice pack and placing it on the affected side(s) for approximately 30 minutes every hour for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours, you can begin applying a warm compress to the affected side(s) for approximately 30 minutes of every hour to help soothe tender areas.  Sleeping with 2 pillows may also help.

Oral Hygiene: To minimize the risk of infection, begin gentle salt water rinses the following day.   Use approximately one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gently rinse three or four times daily for a week.  DO NOT RINSE VIGOROUSLY FOR THE FIRST WEEK.  Continue using the Peridex mouth rinse starting the day after surgery, twice daily for one more week.  DO NOT use any other mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide—these agents are harmful to the healing process.

Do not probe the area with any object.  You may brush gently.  Do not use an electric tooth brush or water pick around the implant.  If a healing cylinder is placed (a small titanium post that is showing through the gum area) you may brush it gently like a normal tooth.

Diet: Do not intentionally chew on the implant during the healing time of two to three months.  If possible, chewing should be done on the opposite side.  If multiple implants are placed, use a softer diet during healing.  Eat soft foods for the first few days (soup, mashed potatoes, overcooked pasta, bananas, and yogurt). Avoid hot foods, acid foods (tomato and orange juice) and spicy foods. Milk shakes or smoothies are also good if they do not have seeds.  Do not use a straw for the first week after surgery. Avoid foods that will injure the area such as nuts, popcorn, potato chips, etc. No tobacco, alcohol, alcohol-based mouth rinses, or peroxide-based products such as whitening toothpastes for the first two weeks.

Travel:  It is important not to travel for 1 week.  A change of pressure (elevators, mountains or airplanes) may be uncomfortable and cause oral or nasal bleeding.

Telephone Support 24/7:   Englewood: 303-806-8600, Aurora: 303.755.3353.  If you have any questions please call our office.  Our surgical assistants are available to answer your questions Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.  For after hours support, please call the same number and the answering service will have Dr. Stone return your call.  We encourage you to call if you have questions or if you feel something is not right during office hours to get immediate assistance.

Dental Implant Post Operative Instructions