Postoperative Instructions - Minor Jaw Surgery (Wisdom Teeth, Implants, etc.)

1. Gauze packing in mouth may be removed about 40 minutes after surgery. If bleeding persists, replace the gauze packs by folding a piece of gauze into a small roll and placing it over the extraction site, biting down firmly for 30-40 minutes. Some bleeding is expected for the first 24-36 hours after surgery. If bleeding persists or is excessive, clean out any large blood clots which have collected beyond the surgical site with moist gauze or cloth, then place a moistened teabag for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues after this, please notify our office.

2. Do not spit or use a straw or rinse your mouth for 24 hours after surgery. If there is something in your mouth like bloody saliva, don't spit it out but "drool" it out into a basin or sink for the first 24 hours. The day following surgery begin warm saltwater rinses 6 or more times a day (use only 1/4 teaspoon salt per glass of warm water). continue the saltwater rinses for at least 1 week.

3. Place an ice pack on the face over the surgery area the day of surgery and the day after surgery. The ice should be applied for 10-20 minutes at a time., this will help reduce the degree of swelling. Swelling is normal after surgery: It often becomes more evident two days following the day of surgery and will gradually subside during the next several days.

4. Pain after surgery is normal and is usually most severe for the first few hours after surgery. As soon as you get home, get something to eat. Take your pain medicine (1 to 11/2 tablets) before the sensation of numbness is gone. This should be repeated as needed for pain every 3-6 hours. Patients should completely use up antibiotics unless otherwise instructed. (i.e., Take the "full course".)

5. Since anesthetics and pain tablets make most people unsteady or dizzy, patients should be careful when getting up and moving about.

6. A reasonable diet must be maintained -- even on the day of surgery. Try yogurt, pasta, fish, eggs, mashed or baked potatoes, cooked soft vegetables, tamales, soft meat, stews, soups or milkshakes. Patients should avoid hot liquids for 12 hours after surgery. Lukewarm foods and liquids are OK.

7. For constipation, take your laxative of choice.

8. It is possible that a few days after surgery a severe earache and throbbing of the side of the jaw may develop. If this should happen, a patient may take the pain tablets as directed on the bottle until it is convenient to come in to the office. This condition is probably irritation of the bone in one of the sockets and delayed bony healing.

9. Infrequently a patient may find that after several weeks swelling may suddenly recur. This may be an infection. The patient should call the office and make an appointment to be seen.

10. Most stitches will dissolve within a few days to a week.

11. SORE ARM may occur for a few days or longer where intravenous anesthesia has been administered.

12. Smoking is very detrimental to wound healing. DO NOT SMOKE for a minimum of 48 hours, but preferably for 5 days.