Dental Surgery Post-Operative Instructions

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO YOUR RECOVERY (for 2 weeks)

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, PULL YOUR LIP DOWN TO LOOK AT YOUR HEALING GUMS/TISSUE AS IT WILL DAMAGE YOUR SUTURES AND WILL ULTIMATELY SLOW DOWN YOUR HEALING.

REMOVE GAUZE FROM THE MOUTH AS SOON AS THE BLEEDING HAS STOPPED!!!! DO NOT SLEEP WITH GAUZE IN MOUTH.

Common Expectations: Please remember you have had a surgical procedure, therefore it is normal to experience trace amounts of blood in your saliva. You have been provided with gauze squares that you may place in your mouth and apply slight biting pressure. This step usually stops the bleeding, but can be repeated if necessary.

Please refrain from all activity the day of surgery. It is recommended you have a “light day” for the next two days, then let your good judgement be your guide.

**** SLEEP WITH HEAD ELEVATED (OR IN A RECLINER) FOR THE FIRST 3 OR 4 NIGHTS. THIS WILL DRAMATICALLY HELP WITH SWELLING *****

AO4 Patients: If your prosthetic/appliance becomes loose – DO NOT wait until your next appointment. You must call ASAP to prevent damage to your appliance.

Prescribed Medications/Discomfort and Swelling: Please take all prescribed medications as directed. If your prescribed medication protocol includes a Medrol Dose Pack, take it as indicated on the prescription package. If you are prescribed a pain medication, we will also prescribe an anti-nausea tablet to take in conjunction with said
medication. If no pain medication has been prescribed; Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil tablets taken with a glass of water every 3-5 hours should suffice. The most current research supports taking Advil (ibuprofen) at the same time as Tylenol (acetaminophen) is much more effective for pain than opioids (Norco, Percocet Vicodin, etc.) If an emergency
arises and you cannot reach Dr. Wright (see back page), please call 911.

The average patient experiences some discomfort and swelling following surgery. Cold packs are best for immediate pain relief. The provided ice pack/wrap is placed immediately following surgery and should remain there until individual ice packs are thawed. After they have thawed, please remove the individual inserts and re-freeze them. This procedure should be repeated as often as possible for the first 24 hours.

Oral Hygiene and Home Care: Starting the day after surgery, we recommend you start a warm saltwater “slosh” (tilting head back and forth) followed by tongue swabbing the surgical site with the provided Perioscience gel, 3 to 6 times daily. This helps in accelerating the healing process of the tissue surrounding the affected areas. We ask that you please continue this action until we see you at your post-surgical follow-up appointment in two weeks. Beginning on day two, you may carefully resume your normal ultrasonic/waterpik routine, unless otherwise instructed. Most sutures will eventually begin coming out in seven to fourteen days, others before 30 days. We will let you know in the few cases we must use permanent sutures where when we will remove them for you.

We will remove any loose sutures at your two-week post-operative appointment. If you had implants placed, you could possibly have a protective membrane in this area. The membrane appears as a white mesh covering that serves to discourage the surrounding tissue from growing into the bone cavity. Try not to dislodge the membrane by cleaning or rinsing too vigorously. If applicable, you may have been given a MONOJECT SYRINGE. This is usually reserved for patients who have had their wisdom teeth removed, or surgical extractions where no bone grafting has been placed. If you have been given this syringe, beginning on day three, you may place warm saltwater inside the syringe. Next, hover the curved tip of the syringe over the extraction site, careful not to push the tip deep into socket, depress the plunger, and the force of the water coming out of the tip should effectively irrigate whatever food debris that may be lodged inside the socket. If the sockets become sore, irritated, or increasingly painful there is good reason to think you have food particles left behind and you may need to use the syringe after each meal, but not until day three. (Sloshing only until day 3) Your body has had zero calories for a long time and needs time to heal. Now is not the time for dieting!

Post-Surgical Dietary Suggestions: We suggest that you maintain a high-protein diet. We also recommend that you drink at least 4 large glasses of water per day, for the first two weeks following surgery. For the first 48 hours after surgery, eat small amounts every 2-4 hours especially when taking medications.
Drinks: Protein drinks like Ensure, Non-citric fruit juices, Gatorade, or whole milk
Dairy Products: Whole Milk, Yogurt, Soft or Grated Cheese. Yogurt will decrease the likelihood of a yeast infection associated with the use of antibiotics
Eggs: Soft Boiled, Scrambled or Poached
Meats: Ground or Shredded
Fruits/Vegetables: Mashed, Pureed or Baked

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

• For general questions and concerns, please call the office or text URGENT to 903-872-8422 and someone will get back with you as soon as possible.
• If an emergency arises, please call 911.