POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

• If the patient was sedated, a responsible adult must remain in the waiting room and drive the patient home after surgery. They should be prepared to stay with the patient for the remainder of the day.

• Pressure must remain on the gauze packs for about 2 hours. When the gauze is removed, the patient may start drinking liquids/soft foods and may continue taking their medications. Drinking at least 8 ounces of liquids before taking medications is recommended to prevent nausea. -

• No vigorous oral rinsing, spitting, or use of a straw for the next 24 hours.

• Tobacco products should be avoided for several days after surgery to reduce chance of infection and increase healing.

• Take all medications as prescribed. Do not take on any empty stomach. Do not mix medications with alcoholic beverages.

• Apply an ice pack to the face for the next 24 hours. Thirty minutes on/thirty minutes off. After 24 hours of ice, you may apply moist heat to help decrease the stiffness/soreness of the jaw and face

• A small amount of bleeding is not unusual for up to 2 days after the surgery. If heavy bleeding occurs, place a tea bag or folded gauze at the bleeding site and apply firm pressure for 30 minutes. If bleeding does not lessen, call 205-556-2323 or 800-225-6882 for assistance. There will be a doctor on call.

• The day after surgery you may brush your teeth, avoiding surgical sites. Begin rinsing with salt water (glass of warm water with ¼ - ½ teaspoon added salt) 3 - 4 times per day, especially after meals. A slight odor or foul taste after surgery may be expected up to one week.

• If the patient is having a throbbing or aching pain 3 days after surgery, the patient may have a dry socket or other problems. Call the office for further instructions.

• Some swelling is anticipated. This usually peaks about 36 hours after surgery and normally starts to resolve at this point. The use of intermittent ice packs will assist with the swelling. Keep head elevated when at rest.

• If you develop swelling or bruising at an IV site, warm compresses may be applied.

• If stitches are present, you may feel sharp edges in the surgical areas with your tongue. It is probably the bony walls which originally supported the tooth. Small fragments of bone may loosen and work themselves out through the gums. These are not pieces of tooth. You may contact the office if they become an annoyance.

• If stitches are present, they should dissolve with 1 - 2 weeks. - While taking any narcotic pain reliever or other medication that makes you sleepy, you should avoid driving a vehicle, operating machinery, or use of firearms. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Patient should get up slowly to prevent fainting.

• Patient should be on a liquid/soft food diet for 48 - 72 hours unless otherwise instructed. (Jello, ice-cream, pudding, yogurt, strained and cream soups, applesauce, Ensure, Gatorade). To avoid lip or cheek biting, wait until local anesthetic has worn off before chewing. Numbness of lips and/or tongue may be experienced for a variable period of time.

Rest with head elevated. Patient should get up and down slowly. Getting up too fast could result in fainting. If faintness occurs, lie down whenever possible until you regain strength.