Procedures - Post Operative

Post-Operative Instructions

Day 1: the First 24 Hours

1. Have you filled your prescriptions? If not do so now.
2. When you arrive home: for the first 30 minutes keep firm, continuous pressure on the gauze over the surgical site. Afterwards, remove the gauze. If the bleeding has not stopped, place fresh gauze in your mouth. Bite down with firm, continuous pressure for another half-hour. Some oozing may still occur and a pinkish tinge to your saliva is normal.
3. If the bleeding continues for several hours after the procedure, do not be alarmed. Have you kept continuous firm pressure over the area? Do not talk or spit. Remain at rest during this time. You may try using a moistened tea bag on the surgical site. Set a timer for 15 minutes. After this time gently remove the tea bag and repeat one time if needed. Tea bags have tannic acid, which promotes clotting. If these procedures are not effective, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE BEFORE 5:00 p.m. We are best able to help you if we are still in the office.
4. Rest with the head elevated, as in a recliner chair or with extra pillows.
5. Apply ice packs to the face over the surgical areas to reduce swelling. Follow a schedule of 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off. After 24 hours, ice is not effective.
6. In the first few hours after surgery, you may begin taking clear liquids. This will help to settle your stomach. DO NOT USE A STRAW as it may prolong bleeding and delay healing. Examples of clear liquids are water, ginger ale, ice tea, Gatorade, and apple juice. After clear liquids are tolerated, milk type products (yogurt, pudding, and ice cream) can be consumed.
7. After you begin drinking, you may take the first dose of a pain medication. Because local anesthesia was used, soreness will not be immediate. Many times Tylenol or Advil is effective initially. If the discomfort increases, take the prescribed pain medication as directed on the label. Continue to take the medication as needed throughout the day. In you feel nauseous after taking the pain medicine, DO NOT take another dose until the feeling has subsided. If it does not subside, call the office for a different prescription.
8. You may begin eating soft foods today if it is comfortable
9. DO NOT SMOKE. It is a major cause of slow healing.
10. Later in the day, you may gently clean your teeth, which are not close to the surgical site.

Days 2 and 3: 48 - 72 Hours

1. Eat a soft diet. Choose nutritious foods such as scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, bananas, juices, and soups.
2. Avoid hard foods that require chewing or that have small pieces, which could enter the surgical site. Examples are nuts, cold cereal, granola, popcorn, and chips.
3. After 24 hours start to rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Use 1/2-teaspoon salt to a glass of warm water. Rinse every two hours when awake and especially after meals.
4. Swelling is normal during this time. After 2 or 3 days the swelling will gradually begin to decrease.

Follow-Up Visit

Approximately 7 days after your surgery a follow up visit is usually required. At that any stitches still remaining will be removed and that surgical site will be evaluated to ensure that proper healing is taking place. If you are ever unsure about how you are progressing, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL THE OFFICE.

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