Post-Operation Instructions
Dr. Myers and Dr. Hartman perform many types of oral surgery procedures both in the office and, when necessary, in a hospital setting. You can help ensure a speedy recovery with minimal discomfort by following these postoperative instructions.
Bleeding Control for All Procedures
A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected after oral surgery. Even following Laser Surgery,
there may be a small amount of bleeding. It is normal for bleeding and oozing to persist for 24-48 hours post surgery.
There are four methods Wood, Myers & Hartman Oral Surgery recommend to control bleeding immediately after surgery.
These methods are listed below.
- We recommend the use of gauze pads. The gauze pads should be placed directly over the surgical site/socket. Firmly bite down on the gauze pad for approximately 30 minutes. This puts pressure on the site which aids to slow down the bleeding. The gauze should be changed every 30 minutes. When the gauze looks pink in color, not bloody, discontinue gauze use. Gauze pads should be removed before eating, drinking, or going to bed.
- In addition, bleeding can also be reduced by resting for the remainder of the day and keeping your head in an elevated position above the level of your heart. Refrain from strenuous activity that might cause your blood pressure to rise and bleeding to ensue.
- Ice packs can be applied to your outer cheeks. This will decrease the swelling and blood flow. Kindly use ice packs throughout the first 48 hours by alternating 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off (except when sleeping).
- For persistent bleeding, you may also use a slightly moistened tea bag (Regular or Decaf black tea) to help promote clotting. Wrap the tea bag in a piece of gauze, place on the socket and apply pressure for 30 minutes.
Pain Medications
One of the keys to successful pain management is to take pain relievers before the numbness has worn off. It
is easier to keep pain away than to get it to go away. Begin taking the prescribed narcotic medicine as soon
as you get home. Prescribed narcotic pain medications may include Vicodin, Vicoprofen, Percocet, or Tylenol #3.
Take the pain medicine with a full 8 ounces of clear liquid. DO NOT drive or operate machinery if you are taking
narcotic pain medicine.
If you begin experiencing nausea, stop taking the narcotic pain relievers. Try taking a non-prescription
pain reliever such as AdvilŽ, MotrinŽ, Ibuprofen, or TylenolŽ. You may take the non-prescriptions pain relievers
if you do not want to take the narcotics. You make take up to 600 mg of Advil/Motrin/Ibuprofen or 1000 mg of Tylenol
up to 4 times a day.
Please do not use Aspirin for pain relief, as it may prolong bleeding.
Antibiotics
IF YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN ANTIBIOTICS FOR AN INFECTION PLEASE START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Otherwise, the first dose of antibiotic should be taken the night of surgery with a
little solid food. If you are experiencing nausea or your stomach is upset, please
wait until the first day after surgery to begin your antibiotics. Antibiotics may cause
a side reaction such as hives, itching, persistent nausea or vomiting. Should any of
the aforementioned reactions occur, please stop taking them and call the office (763-1970).
If you have been prescribed a MOUTH RINSE you may start using it the day after your procedure.
Use the rinse gently in the morning and at night for one week. Salt water and other
mouthwashes are not recommended.
Diet
General Anesthesia Patients: For the remainder of your surgical day,
please eat and drink cold, water-based items such as Gatorade, soda, iced tea,
Jell-O, popsicles, Italian ice, and slushies. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS for the
first 24 hours after surgery.
When bleeding has stopped, and you are NOT nauseous, you may have a small amount
of soft, bland food. Do not eat or drink dairy products for the remainder of the
surgical day. Tomorrow you may resume a normal diet beginning with soft foods.
Soft foods are anything you are able to cut with a fork (pasta, macaroni and cheese,
pudding and lukewarm soups). Please do not use straws and avoid very hot food or drink
for the next 3-4 days to allow proper healing of the surgical site(s).
Local Anesthesia Patients: You may start eating soft foods, including dairy products,
as soon as the bleeding stops. Please do not use straws and avoid very hot food or
drink for the next 3-4 days.
Swelling
Swelling is a normal process which usually reaches its maximum 48 hours after surgery.
Everybody is different; do not compare your swelling to others. Keeping your head elevated
for the first 48 hours will help reduce the amount of swelling. An ice pack should be applied
to the outside of the face 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off for the first 48 hours. On the
third day after surgery, a heating pad may be helpful to reduce some of the swelling and pain.
Smoking
Smoking will delay healing, increase pain and increase the risk of a dry socket.
Please try to refrain from smoking for at least 48 hours following your surgery.
Immediate Denture Patients
Try to keep your dentures in place for the first 24 hours. If your denture must be
removed, clean it with a toothbrush, rinse mouth gently with mouth rinse and replace
immediately. Continue to place gauze between upper and lower teeth and bite firmly
to control bleeding. Excessive salivation, gagging, or a feeling of fullness is normal
due to your prosthesis.
Implant Patients
Please do not bite down on anything hard with your new implant. We will make an appointment
to see you back in 2 weeks. Ice is recommended, as you might experience some swelling.
Laser Surgery Patients
Patients having laser surgery usually do not have stitches. Initially, the surgical area will
appear black. As the area heals it will have the appearance of an ulcer and will be red or white in color.
There is a chance you might have some bleeding after surgery. If so, apply gauze pad to area
with gentle pressure. Change the gauze every 30 minutes until it looks pinkish in color. We will
make an appointment to see you back in 1 week if a biopsy was performed.
Wisdom Teeth and Multiple Tooth Extractions
If you have been prescribed VICODIN:
To help reduce pain and swelling with the above procedures we recommend using a THREE hour pain
regimen over the next two days. Take the prescribed Vicodin pain medicine as soon as you get home.
Then three hours later, take 600 mg AdvilŽ/MotrinŽ/Ibuprofen. Three hours later take the prescribed
Vicodin again. The first night after surgery, wake the patient up in the middle of
the night to take their pain medicine. This will help to keep a therapeutic level of pain medicine
until the morning and to prevent break through pain.
- Follow the same pain regimen on day two.
- On day three you may want to start decreasing the amount of prescribed Vicodin. AdvilŽ/MotrinŽ/Ibuprofen may be taken 600 mg every four to six hours. Note: Over-the-counter AdvilŽ/MotrinŽ/Ibuprofen is supplied 200 mg PER tablet. Take the prescribed Vicodin for pain ONLY if the AdvilŽ or TylenolŽ is not sufficient to control your pain.
If you have been prescribed VICOPROFEN: Take the prescribed Cicoprofen pain medicine as soon as you get home. You may then continue taking one Vicoprofen tabblet every 4-6 hours as neede for pain. Since Vicoprofen contains Ibruprofen, there is no need to take additional AdvilŽ/MotrinŽ/Ibuprofen. The first night after surgery, try to wake up in the middle of the night to take their pain medicine. This will help to keep a therapeutic level of pain medicine until the morning and to prevent break through pain.
- Follow the same pain regimen on day two.
- On day three you may want to start decreasing the amount of prescribed Vicoprofen. AdvilŽ/MotrinŽ/Ibuprofen may be taken 600 mg every four to six hours in place of Vidoprofen. Note: Over-the-counter AdvilŽ/MotrinŽ/Ibuprofen is supplied 200 mg PER tablet. Take the prescribed Vicoprofen for pain ONLY if the AdvilŽ or TylenolŽ is not sufficient to control your pain.
Sutures used for tooth extractions will typically dissolve in approximately 1 7 days.
Bone Grafting
Depending on the amount of bone grafting, significant swelling and bruising is expected to occur. Patients
who had bone grafting procedures performed will have a follow up appointment 2 weeks from the procedure date.
At that time, sutures will be removed and the site will be checked to make sure you are progressing as expected.
Please start the mouth rinse the day of surgery.
Sinus Lift
Patients having a sinus lift performed are advised to use ice packs to the outer face for the first 48 hours.
There WILL BE significant swelling and possible bruising involved. Dr. Myers and Dr. Hartman suggest the
following to facilitate your healing process.
- Use MUSINEX DŽ or SUDAFEDŽ to help dry your sinuses so that you will have less pressure build up. If you feel the need to blow your nose, just wipe it but please do not forcefully blow.
- Sneezing could also cause sinus pressure. If you do feel as though you need to sneeze, do so with your mouth open. This will help to reduce the amount of pressure on your sinuses.
- Please be aware that it is normal to have a small amount of bleeding from your nose. You may also feel some bone grafting fragments through your nasal cavity.
- Please refrain from smoking for at least 48 hours to help promote proper healing.
- Do not use STRAWS for 1 week post op.
- Please use the same pain regimen listed under the heading Wisdom Teeth and Multiple Tooth Extractions.
You will have an appointment 2 weeks after surgery for follow up.
In case of problems
If you feel you are experiencing excessive bleeding, pain, or nausea, please call 763-1970. If after hours, either Dr. Myers
or Dr. Hartman will return your call as soon as possible.
Thank you for allowing us to care for you!
