Post Oral Surgery Instruction

THINGS TO EXPECT:

• Swelling:   This is normal following a surgical procedure in the mouth.  It should reach its maximum in 24 to 48 hours and diminish by the fourth post-operative day.

• Discomfort: The most discomfort you will experience will be during the period when sensation returns to your mouth.

• Hemorrhage: Bleeding or “oozing” for the first 12 to 24 hours is to be expected.

THINGS TO DO:

1.      Bleeding.  Bite on the sponges placed in your mouth at the end of the procedure for at least one hour.  If bleeding is more than slight, follow these directions:  with gauze, remove all excess blood clot.  Place a dampened gauze over the bleeding area only.  Hold this pack in place firmly for twenty minutes, so that no blood escapes.  Repeat this procedure as necessary.   

2.      Swelling.  The swelling that is normally expected is usually in proportion to the surgery involved.  This swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice or cold packs.  Apply ice to the side of the face over the operated site.  Place pack on face for fifteen minutes, and then remove for fifteen minutes.  Continue for a few hours.  Prolonged use of ice is of no value.

3.      Diet.  After waiting one hour, one should be able to take fluids by mouth.  A liquid or soft diet may be necessary for the first two days.  This would include soups, soft drinks, cereals, mashed potatoes, etc.  An adequate fluid intake of at least two quarts a day is essential.

4.      Medications.  Take all medications as directed.  This is essential.  The medications are prescribed principally to control pain and to prevent infection.

5.      Mouth Rinse.  Do not rinse on the day of surgery.  Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water (one teaspoon to an 8-ounce glass) following meals is advisable.  This will speed healing by maintaining a clean wound.

THINGS NOT TO DO:

1.      Do not apply heat to the face at any time.  This will increase the swelling.

2.      Avoid spitting.  This creates a negative pressure in the mouth and tends to dissolve the blood clot - in turn, this leads to additional hemorrhage.

3.      Avoid strenuous physical activity for twenty-four hours.  This includes bowling and swimming and other sports in which one becomes winded.  Physical activity causes the blood pressure to rise - and may cause a renewal of the hemorrhage.

IMPACTED TEETH:

·        The removal of impacted teeth is quite different from the extraction of erupted teeth.

·        The following conditions are not uncommon with removal of impacted teeth.

·        Difficulty in opening your mouth

·        Pain while swallowing

·        Earache on the side of surgery

·        If a lower impaction was removed, you may have numbness of the lower lip on the side from which the tooth was removed.  This is almost always a temporary condition.  It is not disfiguring, just annoying.  It may last from a few days to many months.

·        After removal, the adjacent teeth may realign themselves, causing some discomfort.

·        Sores may develop at the corners of the mouth.  These should be covered with a mild ointment (Vaseline).