Post-operative care is very important. Unnecessary pain and complications such as infection and swelling can be minimized if these instructions are followed carefully.

Immediately Following Surgery

• The gauze pad placed over the surgical area should be kept in place until the bleeding subsides. You may change the gauze when it becomes saturated or after you eat/drink.
• Vigorous mouth rinsing and/or touching the wound area following surgery should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged. Begin the prescription mouth rinse the evening after your surgery.
• Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you begin to feel discomfort. This will usually coincide with the local anesthetic becoming diminished. Take the narcotic and Ibuprofen with food and in staggered doses to avoid nausea.
• Restrict your activities the day of surgery and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable, usually 3-5 days.
• Place ice packs to the sides of your face for 24 hours after surgery. Refer to the section on swelling for a more thorough explanation.

Bleeding

A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by placing a gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for thirty minutes. Repeat if necessary.

If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened black tea bag for thirty minutes. The tannic acid in the black tea helps to form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels. To minimize further bleeding, sit upright and avoid exercise or excitement. If bleeding does not subside within 24-48 hours or if you are uncomfortable with the amount of bleeding, call our office for further instructions.

Swelling

The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and sides 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 a day or two following surgery and will not reach its maximum until 3-4 days postoperatively. The swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs.

Two baggies filled with ice, or ice packs, should be applied to the sides of the face where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be left on continuously while you are awake. After 24 hours, ice has no beneficial effect.

If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. On the second or third day following surgery, the application of heat to the sides of the face is beneficial in reducing the size of the swelling. Continuing the use of heat for 7 days after surgery will help to hasten healing.

Pain

You will be given a prescription for Ibuprofen to help with inflammation and pain. We recommend that you take a dose of the Ibuprofen within 2-3 hours after surgery WITH FOOD to stay ahead of the discomfort that will start once the local anesthetics begin to wear off.

For severe pain, the prescribed narcotic medication should be taken as directed. Do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more sand more every day. If pain persists, it may require attention and you should call the office. Do not take any prescribed medications if you are allergic to them, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. Take the narcotic and Ibuprofen with substantial food and in staggered doses to avoid nausea.

Antibiotics

If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the tablets or liquid as directed. Antibiotics will be given to help prevent infection. Discontinue antibiotic use in the event of a rash or any other unfavorable reaction and contact our office immediately. Call the office at (704) 865-0081 if you have any questions.

Diet

Immediately after IV sedation, only liquids should be consumed. Drink from a glass and do not use straws for 2 weeks. The sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot, which causes dry socket.

You may eat anything soft by chewing away from the surgical sites. A high calorie, high protein intake is very important. Our staff can provide suggested diet instructions. Nourishment should be taken regularly.

You should prevent dehydration by taking fluids regularly. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. At least 5-6 glasses of liquid should be taken daily. Try not to miss any meals.

You will feel better, have more strength, less discomfort and heal faster if you continue to eat.

CAUTION: If you suddenly sit up or stand from a lying position you may become dizzy. If you are lying down following surgery, make sure you sit up for one minute before standing.

Keep the mouth clean

The evening after surgery you should begin rinsing at least 4-5 times a day, especially after eating, with the prescription mouth rinse or a 1:1 hydrogen peroxide/water rinse. If you were given a prescription for mouth wash, Chlorhexidine, this should only be used twice a day per the instructions.

Discoloration

In some cases, 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 a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days post-operatively.

Heat applied to the area may speed up the removal of the discoloration.

Nausea and Vomiting

In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour, including the prescribed medicine. You should then sip on coke, tea, or ginger ale. You should sip slowly over a fifteen-minute period. When the nausea subsides you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medicine. Taking the narcotic and Ibuprofen with substantial food and in staggered doses will help to prevent nausea.

Other Complications

• If numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue occurs there is no cause for alarm. As reviewed in your consultation, this is usually temporary in nature. You should be aware that if your lip or tongue is numb, you could bite it and not feel the sensation. Call Dr. Eaton at (704) 865-0081 if you have any questions.
• Slight elevation of temperature immediately following surgery is not uncommon. If the temperature persists, notify the office.
• You should be careful going from the lying down position to standing. You could get lightheaded from low blood sugar or medications. Before standing up, you should sit for one minute before getting up.
• Occasionally, patients may feel hard projections in the mouth with their tongue. They are not roots; they are the bony walls that supported the tooth. These projections usually smooth out spontaneously. If not, they can be removed by Dr. Eaton. Please call the office if they are bothering you.
• If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as vaseline.
• Sore throats and pain when swallowing are not uncommon. The muscles get swollen. The normal act of swallowing can then become painful. This will subside in 2-3 days.
• Stiffness (Trismus) of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days following surgery. This is a normal post-operative event which will resolve in time.

Finally

Sutures are placed in the area of surgery to minimize post-operative bleeding and to help healing.

Sometimes they become loose or dislodged. This is no cause for alarm. Just remove the suture from your mouth and discard it. The sutures will dissolve in 7-10 days unless they come out before then.

The pain and swelling should subside more and more each day following surgery. If your post-operative pain or swelling worsens or unusual symptoms occur, call our office for instructions.

There will be a void where the tooth was removed. The void will fill in with new tissue gradually over the next month. In the meantime, the area should be kept clean, especially after meals, with hydrogen peroxide/water rinses (1:1 ratio). Brushing your teeth is okay – just be gentle at the surgical sites.

Your case is unique, no two mouths are alike. Discuss any problems with Dr. Eaton or your family dentist.

A dry socket is when the blood clot gets dislodged prematurely from the tooth socket. Symptoms of throbbing pain at the surgical site and even pain near the ear may occur 5-7 days following surgery. Call the office if this occurs.

If you are involved in regular exercise, be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced. Exercise may weaken you. If you get light headed, stop exercising.