Immediately Following Surgery

Keep the gauze pad over the surgical area in place for a half hour. After that, remove and discard it and repack as necessary.

Avoid activities that can dislodge the clot and cause bleeding, including touching the surgical site and vigorously rinsing your mouth.

As the local anesthetic wears off, you will begin to feel discomfort. Take your prescribed pain medication right away, easy to control pain before it starts then to chase pain control once started.

Restrict your activities the entire day of surgery. Resume normal activity when you feel comfortable, typically after 72 hours.

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

Bleeding

Slight bleeding– After surgery, slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in your saliva is uncommon.

Excessive bleeding– Blood-tinged saliva may create the appearance of a lot of bleeding but is no cause for concern. If you experience quantities of dark blood, this needs attention. Gently rinse or wipe any old clots from your mouth. Place a gauze pad over the area and bite firmly for 30 minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding persists, bite on a moistened tea bag for 30 minutes. Tea contains tannic acid, which contracts bleeding vessels and helps form a clot. You can further minimize bleeding by sitting upright, avoiding over-excitement, and avoiding exercise. If excessive bleeding persists, call our office.

Swelling

Swelling is usually proportionate to the surgery involved. Swelling is normal body’s reaction to surgery; it is normal body’s inflammatory response. It could be diffused around mouth, cheeks, eyes, and sides of your face. Typically swelling starts or becomes noticeable the day after surgery and reaches its maximum two to three days post-operatively.

After surgery, minimize swelling my immediately using ice packs. Two plastic sandwich bags filled with ice, or ice packs, should be applied to the sides of the face where surgery was performed. Cold compress for 15 minutes on to face and 15 minutes off for 6-7 hrs during day,Use ice packs continuously while you are awake. After 36 hours, ice has no benefit. If swelling or jaw stiffness persists for several days, it is a normal reaction to surgery. Instead of ice packs, start applying moist heat to the sides of the face to reduce swelling. Call the office for follow up appointment if need to be seen sooner than one scheduled.

Pain

Moderate pain – Take one or two tablets of Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every three to four hours. Or take two to four 200 mg tablets of ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) every three to four hours.

Severe pain– Take the prescribed medication as directed. It will make you drowsy, so avoid driving a vehicle or operating machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain or discomfort should improve each day. If it persists, call our office.

Dry socket– This occurs when the blood clot is prematurely dislodged from the tooth socket. Sudden, severe pain at the surgical site and even in your ear may occur two to three days after surgery. Call our office if this occurs.

Diet

After general anesthesia or I.V. sedation, drink plenty of liquids directly from the glass. Liquids will prevent dehydration. Drink at least five to six glasses of liquid daily Avoid using a straw as the sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot and cause the surgical site to bleed. If bleeding restarts 48 hrs post-surgery call office ASAP.

You may start with soft food but chew away from the surgical sites. Consume high-calorie, high-protein liquids or soft foods. Stay nourished and compensate for your limited food intake by drinking plenty of fluids. Proper nourishment will help you feel better, have more strength and less discomfort, and heal faster.

Oral Hygiene

Don’t rinse your mouth until the day following surgery (24 hours after surgery). You can brush your teeth the night of surgery. The day after surgery, mix a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water. Rinse at least five to six times daily, especially after eating and use prescription Medicated mouth wash Peridex as directed by your doctor

Bruising

Bruising can result in skin discoloration as blood spreads beneath the tissues. This is normal and may occur two to three days after surgery. Apply moist heat to help remove discoloration. It will eventually fade and will change colors and your skin will return back to normal colour.

Antibiotics

>Take the tablets or liquid as directed to help prevent infection. Discontinue use if you develop a rash or have an adverse reaction. Call our office if you have any questions. If in case of emergency like unable to swallow / Breath/ swelling of tongue/ lip and cheek report to nearest emergency room ASAP.

Nausea and Vomiting

If you experience nausea or vomiting after surgery, do not take anything by mouth, included your prescribed medication, for at least an hour. Slowly sip on cola, tea, or ginger ale over a 15-minute period. When nausea subsides, you can eat and take the prescribed medicine.

Surgical Site

Sutures– Sutures (stitches) at the surgical site minimize post-operative bleeding and promote healing. If they become dislodged, remove and discard them. Otherwise, the sutures will be removed approximately one week after surgery. There is no discomfort associated with removing them, so no anesthesia or needles are needed to remove them.

Surgical site– There will be a visible hole, where the tooth was removed. It will gradually heal and fill in with new tissue over the next month. Meanwhile, keep it clean, especially after meals. Use salt-water rinses or a toothbrush. WE will provide you with monojet syringe to risne and keep the surgical site clean with instructions to use the syringe.

Numbness– If you experience numbness in your lip, chin, or tongue, don’t be alarmed. This is normal and usually temporary. Be careful to avoid biting your lip, cheeks, or tongue.

Mild fever– A mild fever immediately following surgery is not uncommon. If it persists, take Tylenol or ibuprofen to reduce the fever.

Dizziness– Be careful when standing up from the lying down position. Your lack of nourishment before and after surgery can make you dizzy, and so can pain medication. Before standing, sit for one minute.

Dryness – The corners of your mouth are often retracted and stretched during surgery. Keep your lips moist with an ointment or with OTC antibacterial cream .

Sore throat– Swollen muscles can cause a sore throat or pain when swallowing. This will subside in two to three days.

Stiff jaw muscles– For a few days after surgery, it may be difficult to open your mouth. This is normal post-operative stiffness that will resolve in time.

Exercise– Avoid exercise the day of surgery and do not exercise for 42-72 hours. Exercise may dislodge the blood clot, weaken you, or cause dizziness. Resume exercise as directed by your doctor.

List of soft foods: 50 Soft Foods To Eat After Dental Surgery

1. Applesauce
2. Avocado
3. Baby food
4. Baked beans
5. Bananas
6. Biscuits – soaked or soft biscuits only
7. Bread – soaking in a soup can make for a delicious, filling snack
8. Broth – warm, not hot
9. Cheesecake
10. Clams
11. Cold cereal – soaked until soft
12. Cookies – soaked in milk
13. Cottage cheese
14. Custard
15. Deli meats
16. Eggs
17. Fish
18. Greek yogurt
19. Ground chicken
20. Hummus
21. Ice cream
22. Jello
23. Juice
24. Macaroni and cheese
25. Mangos
26. Mashed potatoes
27. Mashed vegetables
28. Meatballs
29. Meatloaf
30. Milkshakes – make sure to consume using a spoon, not a straw
31. Mousse
32. Oatmeal – warm oatmeal can be a filling, nutritious food that doesn’t require effort to chew
33. Popsicles
34. Pudding
35. Pumpkin
36. Rice
37. Risotto
38. Salmon
39. Semolina
40. Sherbet
41. Smoothies – avoid including nuts, seeds, or ice
42. Soups
43. Spaghetti
44. Sweetbreads
45. Tapioca
46. Tea
47. Tofu
48. Vegetables – only steamed or well-cooked
49. Waffles – can be soaked
50. Yogurt