FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:

  • NO tobacco (this includes vaping or electronic cigarettes).
  • NO alcohol or carbonated beverages.
  • NO drinking through straws.
  • NO spitting or vigorously swishing.
  • NO sneezing through the nose.
  • NO acidic food or beverages (orange juice, tomato juice).
  • NO spicy food or beverages.
  • NO foods containing small seeds.
  • NO nuts, chips, popcorn, or other crunchy foods.
  • NO extremely hot foods or beverages; consume foods and beverages that are at room temperature.
  • Frequent “sloshing” with lukewarm saltwater rinses is encouraged (gently tilt the head back and forth)
  • Keep fingers and tongue away from the surgical area.
  • Do NOT pull on lips or cheeks to look at surgical sites as this may damage any sutures or grafting that
    has been placed and hinder the healing process.
  • Have proper post-surgery nutrition (2,000-3,000 calories daily) ready prior to surgery to ensure proper caloric
    intake and prevent a medical emergency due to caloric deficiency.

INSTRUCTIONS AND REMINDERS:

Keep your denture in place for the first 48 hours after surgery (including while sleeping) unless there is excessive bleeding or soreness. Your denture acts as a bandage to help control bleeding and limit swelling.

  • Within the first 48 hours after surgery, briefly remove the denture 3x daily to gently slosh (tilt head back and forth) with salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of water) and then apply Perioscience gel with tongue or cotton-tip applicator to upper and lower gum tissue.
  • Cleanse the denture by gently brushing (with a soft toothbrush) using toothpaste or a denture cleanser and rinsing under water.
  • Immediately place the denture back inside the mouth as swelling may occur and you may be unable to reinsert the denture and to ensure proper healing.
  • On day 3, you may begin removing your denture at night, thoroughly cleaning it, and storing it in water.
  • Nightly removal and proper cleaning of dentures is very important to your overall health and aid in preventing a fungal infection.

The removal of many teeth at one time is quite different than the extraction of 1 or 2 teeth. Because the bone must be shaped and smoothed prior to the insertion of a denture, the following conditions may normally occur:

  • Minor bleeding can last up to 2–3 days. Biting pressure on the denture will promote clotting and decrease bleeding. Do not chew with the denture, as this can create a pumping action that can increase bleeding.
  • Swelling usually reaches a maximum in 2–3 days. For the first 1–2 days, ice applied to the outside of the face over the areas of extraction can help reduce swelling. Sleeping with the head elevated can minimize swelling.

PAIN AND MEDICATIONS:

  • If applicable, please take all prescribed medications as directed.
  • Continue either prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication as necessary.
  • Remember that narcotics can make you drowsy, so no driving, no operating machinery, and no alcoholic beverages while you are taking medications.
  • When immediate dentures have been inserted, sore spots may develop. Your bite often feels imperfect. Increased saliva production, speech difficulties, a feeling of gagging, and trouble swallowing are not uncommon. You may experience some of these problems. They can all be overcome as you get used to the new dentures and as your dentist adjusts them to fit your mouth.
  • You will be scheduled for a 1-2 week post-surgery follow-up appointment to begin making the necessary adjustments and relieve sore spots, and even the bite.
  • If no pain medication has been prescribed; Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil tablets taken with a glass of water every 3-5 hours should suffice. Do not take it if you have a known allergy or a medical condition that prevents you from taking these medications.
  • 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 the office, please call 911.

NUTRITION AND ACTIVITIES:

  • For the rest of the first week after surgery, limit your diet to soft, nutritious foods and drink plenty of liquids.
  • Please stay well-nourished and well-hydrated to promote faster healing.
  • Reminder: 15% of natural chewing function is all that we can hope to expect from dentures.
  • For the first 48 hours after surgery, eat small amounts every 2-4 hours especially when taking medications.
  • Avoid strenuous activity and do not exercise for at least 3–4 days after surgery. Your regular caloric and fluid
    intake has been reduced, so you may get light-headed, dizzy, or weak.
  • If given IV or oral sedation, the patient cannot drive or operate machinery until the following day.

REMINDERS:

  • One soft and one hard realign if needed/requested are included with your new denture to maximize proper fit and comfort after surgery. Any additional realigns and denture fabrication are full price. With your help, we will work as a team to decide if and when the realigns are needed.
  • Soft realign: Typically takes place anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after surgery and delivery of denture. This soft realignment is on a patient-to-patient basis. Patient must inform the office if denture is not fitting well in order to begin realignment. Once soft realign is placed, do not pick out the soft realign material or brush it a week after placement.
  • Hard realign: Refabrication of denture to ensure proper fit. The procedure includes taking new scans and fabricating a new denture. This procedure can be done anywhere from 9 months to a year out from immediate delivery of the denture.

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.