It is natural that temporary changes will occur in the mouth following a surgical procedure. You should be functioning normally in just a few days. In the meantime, you should follow a few simple rules to help promote healing, prevent complications, and make yourself more comfortable.
The length of time you experience numbness varies, depending on the type of anesthetic you’ve received. While your mouth is numb, you’ll want to be careful not to bite your cheek, lip or tongue. The numbness should subside within a 24-hour period.
The surgeon will place a gauze pack on the surgical site to limit bleeding and confine the blood while clotting takes place. This gauze pack should be left in place for 30 minutes after you leave the doctor’s office. Do not chew on the pack. There may be some bleeding or oozing after the pack is removed. If so follow this procedure:
A slight amount of blood may leak at the surgical site until a clot forms. However, if heavy bleeding continues, please call our office at (503) 581-0223.
The clot that forms in the surgical site is an important part of the normal healing process. You should therefore avoid activities that might disturb the clot. Here’s how to protect it:
Swelling is expected following oral surgery and is likely to peak about 48 hours post-surgery before resolving. To minimize swelling and discomfort, apply an ice bag or cold moist cloth immediately following surgery over the affected area—30 minutes on and 30 minutes off—for eight hours. When using an ice bag, cover it with a soft cloth to avoid skin irritation. After 24 hours, application of cold compresses offers little benefit. However, if swelling persists after four days or a fever develops, call our office.
The surgeon may prescribe medication to control pain and infection. Be sure to take some fluids or food prior to taking pain medication. Use medication only as directed; if the pain medication does not seem to be working for you, do not increase the dosage. If you have prolonged or severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or fever, call the office for further assistance at (503) 581-0223.
After oral surgery, begin taking clear liquids – slowly – then progress to soft nutritious foods as tolerated. Avoid alcoholic beverages and hot liquids. Do not use straws; do not skip meals. Take any prescribed food supplements as directed. If you are a diabetic, maintain your diet and take medication as usual. If you are troubled by nausea and vomiting, call our office for advice. Food suggestions:
The day following surgery, rinse your mouth gently with a solution of one half teaspoon of salt dissolved in a glass of lukewarm water. Repeat this after each meal for several days in order to remove food debris from the surgical site. It is important to brush and floss after surgery; however, be careful not to disturb the clot forming in the surgical site. Brushing the tongue with a soft bristled brush will help to eliminate the bad breath and unpleasant taste that is common after oral surgery.
The syringe is to aid you in cleaning your surgical wound, thereby assisting nature's healing process. You may start this care on the fifth day after your surgery. To begin, place the curved tip in a glass of plain water and draw back on the plunger until syringe is full. Insert into wound and empty the warm water from the syringe. Do this exercise at least twice a day. You may wish to do it more often. There is no set number of days this must be done. You will begin to notice when food and debris no longer collect in the wound. This will guide you in knowing when to stop.
Keep your head elevated by using pillows or a reclining chair for 24 hours post-operatively. It is also important to get 8 – 10 hours of sleep a night to promote healing and well-being.
If any of the following complications occur, please notify our office:
Dry socket is an occasional unpleasant complication following the removal of a tooth. It occurs when the blood clot fails to organize and disintegrates from the wound, producing increasing pain and an unpleasant odor with drainage. Bone will be exposed in the wound. Dry socket is an inflammatory process and is most often not infectious. It typically develops two to five days post-operatively, most commonly after the removal of lower molar teeth and impacted teeth.
Even after following the home care instructions, dry socket can develop. The causes of this condition are not completely known. Increased frequency is associated with:
If your surgeon feels you may be at risk, a medicated surgical dressing will be placed at the time of surgery.
The surgeon inserts a medicated surgical dressing into the affected area to promote both pain relief and healing. This dressing will be changed and/or removed when appropriate. Healing of the wound usually begins three to five days following onset of symptoms. It is uncommon for dry sockets to persist longer than five days. Antibiotics will be prescribed if an infection occurs.
When dry socket occurs it’s important to know that the wound will ultimately heal properly.
Mid-Valley Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery | 1565 Liberty Street SE | Salem, OR | Tel 503.581.0223 | Fax 503.581.6794
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