Once your surgery is completed, you must follow all the instructions given to you in order to heal properly and have a good outcome.
The following instructions are your obligation. Use this as a checklist of progress to heal. Included are normal post surgical experiences and key to health considerations that may be cause of concern.
You are now on the right track to a beautiful smile. You have just had major oral surgery and is very important that you follow the below instruction to ensure the successful of your surgery. Please do not disturb the surgery area. To avoid disturbing the surgery area, please avoid rinsing, spitting or touching the surgery area. There may be a metal healing abutment or white healing caps that may protrude through the gingival (gum) tissues. The following instruction will assist you during your recovery time.
Typical Post-Operative Symptoms:
Bleeding
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva and extraction socket is normal for the first 24 hours. Excessive bleeding can be controlled by continually biting down on the gauze that we have provided for you.
- Place the gauze over the bleeding site for 30 minutes
- If bleeding continue bite down on a tea bag for 10 minutes.
- If the bleeding does not stop after the use of a tea bag please call the office at once.
Swelling
Tightness and stiffness in treated areas; bruising, swelling, redness, tingling, burning or intermittent shooting pain. These are normal experiences as the skin and tissues and sensory nerves heal. Pain medication will help you cope with any discomfort. Moderate swelling is normal of the first 2-3 days, which will gradually go away within the next 5-7 sometimes 10 days. Consistent sharp pain should be reported to our office immediately. Please be aware the type of surgery that you may swell within the next 24 hours or two weeks from today, every case is different.
Skin firmness, hypersensitivity or lack of sensitivity; this is normal and will gradually resolve over time.
Shiny skin or any itchy feelings: Swelling can cause the skin in treated areas to appear shiny. As the healing process advances, you can also find a mild to severe itchy feeling. An antihistamine like Benadryl can help to alleviate severe, constant itchiness. If the skin becomes red and hot to the touch please contact our office immediately.
Difficulty in swallowing and the inability to open your mouth widely occurs commonly after a surgery secondary to the swelling of the tissue in the area. Chewing soft foods and moving your lower jaw help this to gradually improve as the swelling and discomfort go away. Place an icepack on for 30 minutes, then 10 minutes off for the first 24 hours then the discontinue the ice pack.
Diet
- Immediately after surgery you may have soft serve ice cream only.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and to prevent the “Hang-Over” of sedation medications.
- Avoid hot/spicy/acidic liquids and foods
- If the patient is very hungry that night she/he may have any kind of broth, but it must be room temperature only. Apple sauce and Jello can also be part of a healthy diet after surgery.
- Ensure (cold) drink is also good to have that night.
After the delivery fitting of temporary acrylic All-on-Four teeth; the patient is restricted to the following diet for the next 3/6 months of implant healing:
- Soft food diet, such as soft breads, shredded chicken, oatmeal, peas, apple sauce etc. Any food item that can easily be picked up with a fork is okay to eat. If you find yourself using a knife to cut your food, this is restricted and could damage your temporary acrylic teeth and also jeopardize the healing of the implants.
- Patient is to wear their night guard nightly after delivery of night guard is given. This guard helps protect the teeth from fractures and or breaking the temporary acrylic teeth device and ensures the complete healing of implants. THIS IS IMPORTANT
- Patient is to use Water Pik daily. 2X daily is required along with the use of Water Pik after every meal to flush away any debris. This is important to keep device hygienically clean.
Avoid
Mouth wash for 1 month after surgery. Patient may use a warm salt water solution by mixing 1 part salt and 3 parts water. Dentist may prescribe a prescription mouth rinse if needed.
Vigorously rinsing mouth after surgery, this opens sutures and can result in pain or delayed healing of tissues.
For 3 weeks after surgery/placement of implants; patient is to AVOID caffeine products as this will promote bleeding and delay healing of tissues.
Pain
Every patient is different and some people experience pain on a different level. To minimize the pain please follow the instructions below.
- Pain medication and antibiotics have been given to you through the IV, so there is no need to take the prescribed medication, unless otherwise instructed by the doctor.
- The first night you will not take any of the medication that we prescribe to you. If you are experiencing pain you may take a combination of 1 or 2 Tylenol along with ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or you may take whatever you normally take over the counter medication for the pain.
- At 6:00 a.m. you may start taking the prescribed medication that has been prescribed by the doctor.
Post Sedation Instructions
- Patient should not drive a motor vehicle for 24 hours after sedation.
- DO NOT operate any hazardous devices/machinery for 24 hours after sedation.
- A responsible adult person 18 years or older should remain with the patient for at least 24 hours following surgery or until she/he has fully recovered from the effects of the sedation.
- Patient should not go up and down the stairs unattended. If possible, have the patient stay on the first floor until she/he is recovered.
- After leaving the dental office, patient should not be left unattended. Patient may seem normal and recovered, but the effects of the medication can last for several hours after the appointment has ended. Do not allow the patient to make important decisions for the remainder of the day following her/his sedation appointment.
- Always hold a patient’s arm when walking as they may have problems with balance while under the effects of the sedation medications.
- Call the office if you have any questions or concerns. If you feel that your symptoms warrant a physician and you are unable to reach us, go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Asymmetry
Both sides of your body heal differently. One side of your body may look or feel quite different from the other in the days following the surgery. This is normal.
Contact Information
- A high fever, (over 101) severe nausea and vomiting, continued dizziness or incoherent behavior, such as hallucinations.
- Any pain that cannot be controlled by your pain medications.
- Bright red skin that is hot to the touch
- Excessive bleeding from the mouth
- Be sure to follow all the above instructions, as directed to help prevent any problems. If a rash or GI distress occurs, please discontinue and call us at: (312) 951-8338