Pre-surgery instructions
Before any oral surgical procedure you should:
- Eat a light and easily digestible meal the night before your appointment.
- If you are going to be sedated, do not eat or drink anything on the day of your appointment.
- Wear short sleeves and loose-fitting clothing.
- Arrange for a relative or friend to stay in the office with you and be ready to drive you home.
- You may not drive a car on the day of the surgery if you are to be sedated.
Post-surgery care
Proper care following oral surgery hastens recovery and prevents complications. Here's your guide for the first days after an extraction or surgical procedure.
Protect the blood clot
After an extraction, a blood clot forms in the tooth socket, an important part of normal healing. Do not smoke, rinse your mouth vigorously, or drink through a straw for 24 hours. Do not clean the teeth next to the healing socket for the rest of the day (brush and floss your other teeth thoroughly). Limit strenuous activity for 24 hours and get plenty of rest. If you have sutures, we'll tell you when to return to have them removed.
Bleeding
Fold a piece of clean gauze into a pad thick enough to bite on, place it directly on the site, and apply moderate pressure by closing your teeth firmly over it for about 30 minutes; replace the pad if it becomes soaked. A slight amount of blood may leak until a clot forms. Remember, a lot of saliva and a little blood can look like a lot of bleeding. If heavy bleeding continues, call us.
Swelling & pain
Some discomfort and swelling are normal. Apply cold compresses, an ice bag or cold, moist cloth, one-half hour on and one-half hour off, during the first day; switch to heat the next day if needed. For mild to average pain, use any non-aspirin medication you like; if a specific pain medication is prescribed, follow its instructions and don't mix medications without approval.
Medication
We may prescribe medication to control pain and prevent infection, use it only as directed. If it doesn't seem to be working, do not increase the dosage; call us. Please call immediately if you have prolonged or severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or fever.
Diet
Drink lots of liquids and eat soft, nutritious foods; avoid alcoholic beverages and hot liquids. A light diet is advisable during the first 24 hours. Begin eating solid foods the next day, or as soon as you can chew comfortably. For about two days, chew on the side opposite the surgical site. If you are troubled by nausea or vomiting, call us for advice.
Rinsing & hygiene
Do not rinse your mouth on the day of surgery. Starting the next day, gently rinse every 3–4 hours, especially after meals, with warm salt water (a quarter to full teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) and continue for several days. Do not rinse vigorously. During healing, small sharp bone fragments may work up through the gums; these are not roots; if bothersome, we are able to remove them for you.