Post Operation Instructions

PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING TISSUE GRAFT PROCEDURE

What to expect following the surgery:

• Bleeding: Small amounts of blood in the saliva can make your saliva appear quite red. This is normal and maybe noticed the rest of the day after the procedure.
• Pain: Moderate discomfort may be noticed when the anesthetic first wears off and may continue for several days.
• Swelling: Applying an ice bag to the face over the operated area will minimize swelling. Apply for 15 minutes, and then remove for 15 minutes. Continue this for the first day. DO NOT APPLY COLD AFTER 48 HOURS.
• Sensation: There may be a temporary loss of feeling in the gum in the operated area. The teeth may also feel loose for a time. The teeth may be sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.

What to do following the surgery:

After leaving the office, rest and avoid strenuous activities for the remainder of the day; keeping blood pressure lower will reduce bleeding and aid healing.

Some discomfort is normal after surgery. To minimize pain, take 800mg of Ibuprofen (four pills) or a similar non-aspirin pain reliever every 8 hours until bedtime to maintain comfort. If pain medication is prescribed, take it as you need it. Do not exceed the dose on the label. Taking it with food or milk will help reduce upset stomach. Avoid driving and operating heavy machinery when taking pain prescriptions. Do not drink alcohol with taking prescription pain medications.

Nausea is most often caused by taking pain medications on an empty stomach. Reduce nausea by preceding each pain pill with soft food and taking the pill with a large glass of water.

Applying an ice bag to the face over the operated area will minimize swelling.

Apply for 15 minutes, and then remove for 15 minutes. Continue this for the first day.

Eat soft foods for the first 2-4 days. Maintain a good, balanced diet. Drink plenty of water. Do not drink through a straw. Avoid alcohol for 48 hours.

Avoid chewing directly over the operated area until the sutures are removed.

Brush all of your teeth after each meal, but avoid the operated area for two weeks. Take care to avoid pulling the sutures.
Do not rinse vigorously; do not use a Waterpik.

A saltwater solution (1/2 teaspoon salt + 1/2 teaspoon + 8 oz. water) held in your mouth for 2 to 3 minutes every hour may make your mouth more comfortable.

Do not use whitening toothpaste.

Avoid lifting the lip with your fingers to look at the area. It is possible to accidentally tear the sutures, open the incision, and delay healing.

Smoking should be stopped following the surgery. The cigarette smoke chemicals will substantially reduce the healing and success of the surgery in your body.

If you were given an antibiotic, take all of them as directed until they are gone. Women: some antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use alternate birth control methods for two months.

Return to your dentist’s office for removal of sutures or follow up checks as directed

Please call your dentist if you have:

• Uncontrollable pain
• Excessive or severe bleeding
• Marked fever
• Excessive warm swelling occurs a few days after the procedure
• Reactions to medications, especially rash, itching, or breathing problems

Following these instructions very closely will greatly help your comfort and promote uneventful healing of the area. If any of the instructions are not followed, you might have significantly more discomfort, and the procedure’s success may be affected.

Please call us with any questions or concerns.

In case of any unexpected problems not discussed below, such as rash, itching, or any other unusual symptoms, please call immediately.

BLEEDING

• To stop bleeding, maintain steady and firm pressure on the extraction site by biting on gauze.
• Replace the gauze as needed until there is little to no blood. This may range from 45 minutes to 2 hours. To promote clotting, you may also bite on a moistened tea bag.

AVOID DISTURBING THE EXTRACTION SITE

• Once the bleeding has stopped, DO NOT rinse your mouth or spit for 12 hours, this may dislodge the blood clot and start the bleeding again. The blood clot which forms over the extraction site is nature’s way of healing and must not be disturbed.

KEEPING THE SITE CLEAN PROMOTES HEALING

• To facilitate healing and soothe the wound, rinse your mouth with warm to hot salt water on the day after the extraction.
• Rinse gently and as often as you like with a salt solution made with ½ teaspoon of table salt in ½ glass of warm to hot water (as warm as you can stand).

PAIN

• Some pain is expected and can usually be controlled by the medication you would normally take for headaches and other minor pain. Should you have more significant pain, use the prescription medication according to the directions.

EATING AND DRINKING

• Avoid any hot foods or liquids and follow a soft diet for the first 24 hours.
• Avoid any harsh foods that may injure the extraction site until sufficient healing has taken place.

SWELLING AND HEALING

• Some swelling is expected. To minimize swelling, apply cold compresses (ice cubes wrapped in a cloth) for 15 minutes and 15 minutes off the area for 4-6 hours. DO NOT APPLY COLD AFTER 48 HOURS.
• Do not disturb the wound by touching with fingers, toothpick, or tongue as this may irritate or cause infection. Avoid using a straw or smoking for as long as possible, at least 48 hours, as the drawing or sucking action could disturb the blood clot.

Please call us with any questions or concerns.

• 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 biting pressure 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 normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag, a plastic bag, or towel filled with ice cubes on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously as much as possible for the first 36 hours. DO NOT APPLY COLD AFTER 48 HOURS.
• Diet: Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be taken on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.
• Pain: You should begin taking pain medication when you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, 1 or 2 tablets of Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed.
• Oral Hygiene: Mouth cleanliness is essential to good healing. Clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal beginning the day after surgery. Brush your teeth as best as you can. Rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) six times a day. Continue this procedure until healing is complete. Try to avoid pulling on the chain or messing with it at all.
  • REMEMBER: A CLEAN WOUND HEALS BETTER AND FASTER.
• Activity: Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, increased pain or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced. Exercise may weaken you. If you get lightheaded, stop exercising.

PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING IMPLANT PLACEMENT

• Bleeding: Small amounts of blood in the saliva can make your saliva appear quite red. This is normal and maybe noticed the rest of the day after the procedure.
• Smoking: Smoking should be stopped following surgery. The cigarette smoke chemicals will substantially reduce the healing and success of the implant in your body.
• Pain: Some discomfort is normal after surgery. To minimize pain, take 600 mg of Ibuprofen (three pills) or a similar non-aspirin pain reliever every 4-6 hours until bedtime to maintain comfort. If pain medication is prescribed, take it as you need it. Do not exceed the dose on the label. Taking it with food or milk will help reduce upset stomach. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery when taking pain prescriptions. Do not drink alcohol while taking prescription pain medications.
• Nausea: This is most often caused by taking pain medication on an empty stomach. Reduce nausea by preceding each pill with soft food and a large glass of water.
• Swelling: Applying an ice bag to the face over the operated area will minimize swelling. Apply for 15 minutes, then remove for 15 minutes. Continue this for the first day. DO NOT APPLY COLD AFTER 48 HOURS!
• Numbness: The local anesthetic will cause you to be numb for several hours after you leave the office. Be very careful not to bite, chew, pinch, or scratch the numb area. Sometimes the implant procedure causes residual numbness or tingling for six weeks or longer.
• Brushing: Do not brush your teeth for the first 8 hours after surgery. After this, you may brush your teeth gently, but avoid the area of surgery for 2 weeks.
• Rinsing: Avoid all rinsing or swishing for 24 hours after your procedure. After 24 hours, you may begin gently rinsing with a saltwater solution (1/2 teaspoon salt + ½ teaspoon baking soda + 8 oz. of water).
• Diet: Eat soft foods for the first two days. Maintain a good, balanced diet. Return to normal regular meals as soon as possible after the first two days. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol for 48 hours.
• Activity: After leaving the office, rest and avoid strenuous activities for the remainder of the day. Keeping blood pressure lower will reduce bleeding and aid healing.
• Antibiotics: If you were given an antibiotic prescription, take all of them as directed until they are gone. Women, some antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use alternate birth control methods for two months.
• Sinus: If your sinus was involved in the procedure, you should avoid blowing your nose or playing a wind musical instrument for one week. Use of decongestant medications might be recommended.
• Removable appliances, dentures: your dentist will give you specific instructions about our prosthesis. To avoid putting any pressure on the new implants before they have healed, your denture might need to be adjusted or significantly modified. In certain cases, you will need to go without your dentures for a period (days or weeks) after the implants are placed. Sometimes a temporary removable appliance is made for cosmetic purposes until a new non-removable one can be made.
• Return to your dentist’s office for removal of sutures or follow-up checks as directed.

PLEASE CALL YOUR DENTIST IF YOU HAVE:

• Uncontrollable pain
• Excessive or severe bleeding
• Marked fever
• Excessive warm selling occurs a few days after the procedure
• Reactions to medications, especially rash, itching, or breathing problems

Following these instructions very closely will greatly help your comfort and promote uneventful healing of the area. If any of the instructions are not followed, you might have significantly more discomfort, and the procedure’s success may be affected. Please call us with any questions or concerns.