Post-Operative Care After Office Surgery
Proper oral hygiene after surgery is extermely important, since good care can help the healing process and prevent later complications such as infection. Please read these instructions and follow them carefully for a faster, easier recovery.
1. Almost all oral surgery causes swelling. Don't be too worried about the swelling it should be gone or greatly reduced in three to four ddays. If the swelling persists please call for a follow up examination.
2. An ice pack during the first 8 hours of surgery may be used to help keep the swelling to a minimum (on for 20 minutes, off 20 minutes).
3. You may rinse out your mouth gently with warm salt water several times a day starting the following morning.
4. Avoid very hot or very cold foods and liquids.
5. To minimize the pain when eating, avoid foods that require strenuous chewing. Liquids and soft foods cause less pain and minimize the chance of damage to tender areas. Please take plenty of fluids.
6. Take the medication your doctor has prescribed for pain but do not take it more often then necessary. If an antibiotic has been perscribed, it must be taken regularly to be effective.
7. Call your doctor immediately if you begin to bleed more than a small amount. A little bleeding is to be expected, espeecially on the first day. Gauze pads should be applied for a full 15 minutes.
After Tooth Extraction
After tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.
After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and retard the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours as this will increase blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.
Use the pain medication as directed. Call the office if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluid and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.
It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.
After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately at (631) 376.1560.
Post-Operative Care After Hospital Surgery
Proper oral hygiene after surgery is extremely important, since good care can help the healing process and prevent later complications such as infection. Please read these instructions and follow them carefully for a faster, easier recovery.
1. Almost all oral surgery cause swelling. Don’t be too worried about the swelling-it should be gone or greatly reduced in three to four days. If the swelling persists, please call for a follow-up examination.
2. An ice pack during the first 8 hours of surgery may be used to help keep the swelling to a minimum (on for 20 minutes, off 20 minutes).
3. You may rinse out your mouth gently with warm salt water several times a day starting the following morning.
4. Avoid very hot or very cold foods and liquids.
5. To minimize the pain when eating, avoid foods that require strenuous chewing. Liquids and soft foods cause less pain and minimize the chance of damage to tender areas. Please take plenty of fluids.
6. Take the medication your doctor has prescribed for pain but do not take it more often then necessary. If an antibiotic has been prescribed, it must be taken regularly to be effective.
7. Call your doctor immediately if you begin to bleed more than a small amount. A little bleeding is to be expected, especially on the first day. Gauze pads should be applied for a full 15 minutes.
Post-Operative Care After Lower Leg (Tibial) Surgery
- Treat with ice for the first 48 hours (20 minutes on/ 20 minutes off)
- Keep the leg elevated when sitting in a chair or while sleeping for 48 hours after your surgery.
- You will have a lower leg stocking in place when discharged from the office. Keep the stocking on for 5 days unless directed otherwise by your surgeon. You may remove this to shower. Please place it back on after showering.
- Showering and getting the leg wet is okay, 24 hours after surgery. There is a special bandage on the leg, do not remove this. Your surgeon will remove it at your first follow-up visit.
- Don’t be alarmed if there is a small amount of drainage on the leg dressing.
- Swelling of the leg can occur around the knee and/or ankle. The lower leg may become black and blue. This is okay and normal.
- Limit the amount of physical activity for the first few weeks after surgery. Avoid prolonged standing for the first two weeks after surgery.
- If you need to climb stairs do so in a tandem fashion. Try to limit the use of stairs during the first week after your surgery.
- NO STRENOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY UNTIL SIX WEEKS AFTER YOUR SURGERY.
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