Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so not all of the instructions may apply.

Common sense will often dictate what you should do. However, when in doubt follow these guideline1 call our office any time for clarification.

POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE READ BOTH SIDES OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

DAY OF SURGERY FIRST HOUR

Bite down gently but firmly on the gau e pac!s that have been placed over the surgical areas, ma!ing sure they remain in place. "o not change them for the first hour unless the bleeding is not controlled. #f active bleeding persists after one hour, place enough new gau e to obtain pressure over the surgical site for another $%-&% minutes. 'he gau e may be changed as necessary and may be dampened and(or fluffed for more comfortable positioning. "o not disturb the surgical area today. "o NOT rinse vigorously or probe the area with any ob)ects or your finger. *ou may brush your teeth gently. DO NOT SMOKE for at least +, hours, since this is very detrimental to healing. #ntermittent bleeding or oo ing is normal. #t may be controlled by placing fresh gau e over the surgical areas and biting down firmly for $%--% minutes.

EXERCISE CARE

OOZING

STEADY BLEEDING

Bleeding should never be severe. #f it is, it usually means that the pac!s are being clenched between your teeth rather than e.erting pressure on the surgical areas. 'ry repositioning fresh pac!s. #f bleeding persists or becomes heavy you may substitute a tea bag /soa!ed in hot water, squee ed damp-dry and wrapped in a moist gau e0 for 1% or $% minutes. #f bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office. 2ften there is some swelling associated with oral surgery. *ou can minimi e this by using a cold pac! or ice bag wrapped in a towel and applied firmly to face or chee! ad)acent to the surgical area. 'his should be applied twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off during the first 11 to 1+ hours after surgery. #f you have been prescribed medicine for the control of swelling, be sure to ta!e it as directed. 3fter +, hours, it is usually best to switch from ice to moist heat to the same areas.

ELLING

PAIN
4nfortunately most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. *ou will usually have a prescription for pain medication, and if you ta!e the first pill before the anesthetic has worn off, you will be able to manage any discomfort better. 5ffects of pain medicines vary widely among individuals. #f you do not achieve adequate relief, you may supplement each pain pill with an analgesic such as ibuprofen, 'ylenol or 3dvil.. Some patients may even require two of the pain pills at one time during early stages /but that may add to the ris! of upset stomach0. 6emember that the most severe discomfort is usually within the first si. hours after the anesthetic wears off7 after that your need for medicine should lessen. 3ntibiotics and other medications may interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. 'herefore, you will need to use some additional form of birth control for one complete cycle of birth control pills after the course of the antibiotics or other medications is completed.

NAUSEA
8ausea can be a common event after surgery, and it is sometimes caused by stronger pain medicines. 8ausea may be reduced by preceding each pain pill with a small amount of soft food then ta!ing the pill with a large volume of water. 'ry to !eep ta!ing clear fluids and minimi e the pain medications, but call us if you do not feel better, or if repeated vomiting is a problem, Cola drin!s that have less carbonation may help with nausea.

DIET
5at any nourishing food that can be ta!en with comfort. 'emperature of the food doesn9t matter but avoid e.tremely hot foods. #t is sometimes advisable, but not required, to confine the first day9s inta!e to bland liquids or pureed foods /creamed soups, puddings, yogurt, mil! sha!es, etc,0 3void foods li!e nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn, rice, etc.7 that may get lodged in the soc!et areas. 2ver the ne.t several days you can progress to solid foods at your own pace. #t is important not to s!ip meals: #f you ta!e nourishment regularly you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort and heal faster. #f you are a diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits as much as possib1.eand follow instructions from us or your physician regarding your insulin schedule.

SHARP EDGES
#f you feel sharp edges in the surgical areas with your tongue, it is probably the bony walls which originally supported the teeth. 2ccasionally small slivers of bone may wor! themselves out during the following wee! or two after surgery. 'hey are not pieces of tooth and if necessary we will remove them. ;lease call the office if you are concerned.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD DAYS !OUTH RINSES

<eeping your mouth clean after surgery is essential. 4se one-quarter teaspoon of salt dissolved in an , ounce glass of warm water and gently rinse with portions of the solution, ta!ing five minutes to use the entire glassful. 6epeat as often as you li!e, but at least two or three times daily for the ne.t wee! or two.

BRUSHING
Begin your normal oral hygiene routine as soon as possible after surgery. Soreness and swelling may not permit vigorous brushing of all areas, but please ma!e every effort to clean your teeth within the bounds of comfort.

HOT APPLICATIONS
3pply warm compresses to the s!in overlying areas of swelling or bruising /hot water bottle, hot moist towels, heating pad0 for 1% minutes on and 1% minutes off to help soothe tender areas. 'his will also help decrease swelling and stiffness.

SYRINGE
#f you were given an irrigation syringe at your first office chec!-up visit, start using it the wee! after surgery to !eep soc!ets clean. =ill it with warm water and irrigate any open soc!ets gently, especially after eating. 9>

DRY SOC"ETS
8ormal healing after tooth e.traction should be as follows? 'he first day after surgery is usually the most uncomfortable and there is some degree of swelling and stiffness. 'he second day you will usually be far more comfortable and, although still swollen, can usually begin a more substantial diet. =rom the third day on GRADUAL# STEADY I!PROVE!ENT should mar! the remainder of your post-operative course. #f a DRY SOC"ET occurs /loss of blood clot from soc!et, usually on the $rd to &th day0, there is a noticeable, distinct, persistent throbbing pain in the )aw, often radiating toward the ear and forward along the )aw to cause other teeth to ache. #f you do not see steady improvement during the first few days after surgery, don9t suffer needlessly. Call the office and report any symptoms so you can be seen as soon as possible 1t is our desire that your recovery be as smooth and pleasant as possible. =ollowing these instructions will assist you, but if you have questions about your progress, please call the office where you had your surgery. ;lease try to call during office hours, however a 1+-hour answering service is available for after hour contact with a doctor. Calling during office hours will afford a faster response.