Post-Op Instructions for Extractions and Exposure of an impacted Tooth

It is very important to follow these instructions in order to provide you with the best possible healing after surgery to remove a tooth/teeth.

After Surgery:

DO NOT disturb the wound. Avoid rough rinsing, spitting, or touch the would on the day of surgery. You need to avoid trauma over the surgical site. DO NOT drink through a straw. This could dislodge the blood clot that forms. Keep your head elevated (above your heart). This will help keep the swelling down to a minimum. Place ice packs to the dies of your face where surgery was performed. Some minor bleeding (a little bit of blood in saliva can look like blood) is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding can be controlled by biting on gauze placed directly on the wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues you may rinse your mouth with ice cold water and bite on a tea bag. If bleeding persists, please call our office for further instructions, at Dr. Block.

Diet:

Keep yourself hydrated. Drink a glass of water every hour. Your diet should be very soft foods, nothing you can hear yourself chew. Chew small pieces of food on the non-operated side of your jaw. Stay on the diet for at least 2 weeks after surgery.

Prescriptions:

You should begin taking the pain medication before the local anesthesia wears off. For moderate pain, 1 or 2 Advil or ibuprofen can be taken every six hours. Advil or ibuprofen can be taken between the narcotic doses, if necessary. For severe pain, use the prescribed medication. DO NOT take any medication if you are allergic to it, or if you have been instructed by your doctor to not take it. Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection. If you have any questions, please call the office or pharmacist.

Health/Oral Hygiene:

Good oral hygiene is essential for good healing. After surgery rinse with diluted Listerine (1 part Listerine to 4 part water) Be sure to brush your teeth, but avoid the extraction site. Sutures will dissolve within 1-2 weeks. Keep exercise to a minimum immediate after surgery. If you exercise and raise your heart rate and blood pressure, bleeding may occur. Remember to make sure your nutrition is adequate to avoid problems during activity during the healing period.

Nausea & Vomiting

In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour including the prescribed medicine. You should then sip on Coke, tea, or ginger ale. You should sip slowly over a 15-minute period. When the nausea subsides, you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medicine.

Other Complications

• If numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue occurs there is no cause for alarm. As stated before surgery, this is usually temporary in nature. You should be aware that if your lip or tongue is numb, you could bite it and not feel the sensation. So be careful. Call Dr. Block if you have any questions.
• A slight elevation of temperature immediately following surgery is not uncommon. If the temperature persists, notify the office. Tylenol or ibuprofen should be taken to reduce the fever.
• You should be careful going from the lying down position to standing. You were not able to eat or drink prior to surgery. It was also difficult to take fluids. Taking pain medications can make you dizzy. You could get light headed when you suddenly stand up. Before standing up, you should sit for one minute and then get up.
• Occasionally, patients may feel hard projections in the mouth with their tongue. They are not roots; they are the bony walls, which supported the tooth. These projections usually smooth out spontaneously. If not, they can be removed by Dr. Block.
• If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as Vaseline.
• Sore throats and pain when swallowing are not uncommon. The muscles get swollen. The normal act of swallowing can then become painful. This will subside in two to three days.
• Stiffness (trismus) of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days following surgery. This is a normal post-operative event that will resolve in time.

Finally

Sutures are placed in the area at the time of surgery to minimize post-operative bleeding and to help healing. The sutures will dissolve in about 1-2 weeks.

They can become dislodged. There is no cause for alarm. Remove the suture from your mouth and dislodge it. You want to keep your exercise to a minimum in the 2 week post-operative period. Exercising will increase your heart rate which can cause you to bleed more.

If you have questions regarding your post-operative treatment, please call the office at Center for Dental Reconstruction in Metairie LA Phone Number 504-833-3368.