Post-Op Instructions
Surgery of the oral cavity is similar to surgery to other parts of the body and requires careful attention to post- operative instructions. Only by doing so will minimize the amount of side effects.
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- After leaving the office or hospital, you must go directly home and keep physical activity down to a minimum for the remainder of the day.
- If you received intravenous sedation, neurolept anesthetic, or general anesthetic; you should not operate a vehicle or use hazardous devices on the day of surgery. Most insurance policies have a clause dealing with operating motorized equipment while impaired. A responsible adult should accompany the patient home and stay with them for the remainder of the day.
- Do not disturb the surgical area with your finger, by sucking on it, or by spitting. The blood clot, which forms over the surgical area, is part of the healing process and should not be disturbed.
- Do not rinse your mouth with salt water or brush your teeth for 24 hours following surgery.
- Start rinsing your mouth 24 hours after surgery. Use a salt and water mouth wash unless otherwise directed (recommended strength: one teaspoon to ½ litre of water). To cleanse the mouth and to help promote healing, rinse a minimum of 8 to 10 times a day, especially after eating or drinking. Keep rinsing until your next appointment unless otherwise directed. Use Peridex as prescribed.
- Swelling is to be expected in certain cases often reaching its maximum in about 72 hours, then disappearing spontaneously in a further 2 to 3 days. If you were given a compression band and gel packs: change cold packs hourly until bedtime on the day of surgery; 20 mins on and 1 hour off. You may continue to use cold packs for the first three days after surgery. On the fourth day following surgery, warm moist compresses may be used 20 minutes on and 1 hour off, as desired or until your follow-up appointment (if booked). Wet a small towel with warm water, wring it out and apply it to the outer cheek and jowl area.
- It is normal for the surgical area to ooze for 24 hours. After leaving the office or hospital, bite on the gauze pad over the surgical area for 1 hour (do not chew on the gauze and keep talking to a minimum). After 1 hour, remove the gauze. If excessive bleeding is present, fold the provided gauze into a firm pad, dampen slightly and place it directly over surgical area. Maintain gentle pressure for another hour then remove. This may be repeated if excessive bleeding remains present. If after 3 hours (and/or you run out of gauze) and excessive bleeding has not subsided, call for further instructions or, if you are from out of town, notify your local dentist. If you are lying down when gauze is in place, you should lie on your side with your head elevated at a 45 degree angle.
- If medication has been prescribed, take as directed. If you are taking pain medication such as Dilaudid or Percocet, you should avoid operating a vehicle or using hazardous devices. If no pain medication is prescribed, take 2 extra strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) every four hours if necessary and if not medically contraindicated.
- Antibiotics can reduce the efficiency of oral contraceptives. Consider using methods of contraception in addition to oral contraceptives.
- Cold or lukewarm liquids may be taken for the first 4 to 6 hours (or until freezing is gone) following your return home. Unless otherwise specified, maintain a soft diet for a few days. Do not drink through a straw. Avoid alcohol and hot drinks for 24 hours following surgery.
- Do not smoke. Smoking is associated with higher likelihood of post-operative pain as well as slower healing of surgical site.
- Bruising of the skin sometimes occurs and then disappears spontaneously in approximately 1 week. No treatment for this is usually indicated but warm moist compresses starting 24 hours after surgery as previously mentioned may help larger yellowish areas to resolve.
- Jaw exercises are very important. You must begin opening your mouth fully (3 ½ to 4 finger wide) once freezing has worn off and no more gauze is required, to stretch the muscles in your face. This will help minimize swelling and discomfort.
Starting Today: (1st day of surgery) 10 reps every 2 hours until bed. On the second day and for the next 7 to 10 days, 10 reps every waking hour. - Pain in the ear, slight difficulty in swallowing, and/or difficulty in opening the jaw completely are additional signs and symptoms, which may occur with varying frequency. These findings are usually normal. If these persist or continue to worsen, please call us.
- Begin brushing 24 hours after your surgery. You must brush gently on the operative site and stitches if you have any. This will remove plaque (bacteria) and prevent infection in the surgical areas.
- Begin using monoject syringe on Day 4 (e.g. if surgery is Monday, start syringing Thursday): upper sites: 1 – 2 flushes and lower sites: 2 – 3 flushes using salt water or tap water. The tip of the Syringe must be inserted directly into the incision and keep doing this until the incision has completely closed.
Additional instructions for socket preservation:
- No heavy strenuous physical activity until Dr. Mitton gives OK.
- Keep tongue away from surgical site(s).
- No pressure on surgical site.
- Maintain a soft non-chewing diet at surgical site(s).
- If you have a partial that fits, keep it in place at all times except when performing oral hygiene (even when sleeping). This will help protect area from tongue.
- Apply a small amount of Vaseline to the tip of tooth on the partial that comes in contact with the gingiva at the surgical site before insertion for 4 days.
- After 24 hours, brush entire surgical area and sutures with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste. Perform 8 – 10 salt water rinses each day until post-operative appointment.
- Use Peridex rinse and take medications as directed.
DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL US IF IN DOUBT REGARDINGTHE INSTRUCTIONS OR SHOULD PROBLEMS ARISE.
Telephone: (902) 892-7600
