Post Operative Instructions following Extraction/ Oral Surgery

What can I expect after surgery?

• Minor bleeding and "oozing" for 1-2 days.

• Pain and discomfort slowly improving in 1-5 days.

• Swelling for 1 week becoming worse on the 2nd and 3rd day after surgery.

• Tightness and stiffness to the jaw and joint areas.

What are my post-operative instructions?

• After the first 24 hours following surgery, rinse gently with warm salt water after every meal. This can continue for 1-2 weeks. Brush gently avoiding the extraction sites for 1-2 weeks.

• You may be biting on gauze when you leave the clinic. This gauze should remain for 30 minutes. After that, you may take the gauze out and observe the extraction area. If it is bleeding like a fresh wound (bright red, dripping blood), bite on additional fresh gauze for approximately 30 more minutes.

• Repeat as necessary until the area is slight oozing and blood is dark and clotting.

• Remember, a little blood and a lot of saliva will look like a lot of blood, usually it is just a lot of saliva.

• Do not smoke, spit, drink through a straw, or drink carbonated beverages for 3 days after surgery.

• No rinsing for the first 24 hours.

• Use an ice pack to reduce swelling and pain. Ice packs can be applied for 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off for the first 24 hours (while awake). After the first 24 hours, discontinue ice and use warm moist heat.

• Your first day will consist of soft, cool foods such as: Jello, pudding, yogourt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese and ice cream. Soup is fine if it is at room temperature.

• Around day 3-4, you may resume regular diet as tolerated, but should your jaw start to ache, resume soft diet for a couple more days to rest the jaw muscle.

• You may be given pain medication or be directed to use an over-the-counter pain medication. Either will help with discomfort and painful swelling (inflammation). Be sure to take as directed.

• You may be given a prescription for antibiotics. Be sure to take them as directed.

• Unless otherwise instructed, continue taking any medications prescribed by your primary care physician.

• After oral surgery procedures, pain is best managed with scheduled doses of NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen (upto 2400mg daily) and Acetaminophen (upto 4000mg daily).

• You will be given appointment to return to the clinic for post-operative check. This will usually be 1-2 weeks after surgery.

When should I call my doctor?

• If you have increased swelling or bruising.

• If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.

• If you have any side effects to medications: such as rash, nausea, headache, vomiting, increased irritability, or constipation.

• If you have an oral temperature over 100.5 degrees. Check to make sure you are getting enough liquids. Dehydration can cause the body temperature to rise.