INSTRUCTIONS AFTER DENTAL SURGERY

1. Eating

-eat cool, soft food

-eat a high calorie, high liquid diet for day 1 and 2.

-eat on the other side of the mouth until healing has occurred.

 

2.Oral Hygiene

-Day1: brush non-surgical areas only

-Day 2: use a warm salt water rinse

-Day 3: resume regular oral hygiene

 

3. No drinking while taking pain medication

-the alcohol may interact with the medication.

 

4. No sucking through a straw or smoking for 24 hours

-this will create negative pressure within the mouth and prevent a proper blood clot from forming.

 

5. Limit activity for 12 hours

-no running marathons until your body has recovered from the surgery.

 

Post Operative Complication

How long will it last and

when do I call the Dentist?

What can I do to prevent or decrease the complication?

1. Bleeding

-usually 24 hours, but only minor oozing after 4 hours

-call if bleeding is constant and heavy and doesn’t seem to be decreasing

 

-bite on a gauze or tea bag (change every half hour until bleeding stops)

-limit activity for 12 hours

-no sucking straws or smoking for 24 hours

 

2. Pain

-peaks at 12 hours

-rarely longer than 2 days

-call if pain persists beyond 2 days and/or if pain medication is not helping

 

-keep head elevated and cover pillow with a clothe to absorb any bleeding

-take the prescribed medication and follow the instructions given on the bottle

 

3. Swelling

-maximum swelling seen at 2-3 days

-subsides within 1 week

-call if swelling still enlarges after day 3.

 

-Day 1: use a cold pack for 20 min. on and

20 min. off throughout the day

-Day 2: do nothing

-Day 3: warm pack can be used to

decrease swelling

 

4. Bruising

 

-occurs soon after and lasts for around a week

-no need to call: your body will take care of the bruising.

 

-nothing to be done: your body will take

care of the bruise

5. Sore Jaw

-up to 7 - 10 days

-call if jaw muscles are tender or if your mouth is still hard to open after 7 to 10 days.

 

-massage them gently with a warm moist facecloth

-eat foods that are easy to chew such as eggs, pasta, or bananas.

 

6. Dry Socket

-severe pain due to improper

blood clot over surgical area

 

-occurs on day 3 or 4 after Surgery

-call if pain begins on day 3 or 4 and it can’t be controlled with medications

 

-do not smoke or suck through a straw for

24 hours

Back to Resources