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Contact UsTooth Extraction | Implant Placement | Sinus Precaution
Gauze Packs
We have placed gauze packs over the surgery sites and have asked you to bite on them.
Pressure on the gauze will help slow the bleeding down. The gauze will need to be
changed out about every 30-45 minutes. Some patients may be taking medication to thin
their blood, therefore they may bleed a little more and require the gauze to be changed
out more frequently. If you are comfortable biting on the gauze packs after the feeling
returns to the area, continue to do so. Please remove the gauze when you eat or drink
something (So you don't swallow the gauze). We have seen some really good healing when
the gauze packs are used until bedtime the night of surgery. Just take them out before
bedtime. They act as a protective bandage, controlling both swelling and bleeding.
For that reason we ask you to "take it easy" the first day.
If bleeding seems excessive, remove any blood clots that may have formed outside the
tooth sockets, then bite on a dampened tea bag placed directly over the bleeding site.
(The tannic acid in the tea helps blood clot.) If bleeding continues an hour after the
tea bag is used, then moisten gauze and place in freezer for 20 minutes, then bite on
the gauze for 30 minutes. This should stop the bleeding.
Medication To Reduce Discomfort
We have either written a prescription for a medication to reduce discomfort and
inflammation or suggested one for you to get at the pharmacy. We may have also written
a prescription for a narcotic pain medicine. If necessary take the prescription medication
as directed to control the discomfort. Please take the other (non-narcotic) medication for
7 days as directed. We suggest taking the non-narcotic first and then the narcotic pain
medication 30 minutes later or as needed for severe discomfort. Please take your pain
medication before your numbness wears off. Remember that postoperative numbness may last
up to 24 hours depending upon the anesthetic used. This will control discomfort and actually
help the healing by reducing inflammation. Remember not to drive or operate machinery or tools
while taking narcotics. Also, mixing alcohol and narcotics can be very dangerous!
Ice It!
Using an ice pack (ice cubes in a small zip-lock bag wrapped in a damp cloth) against your
face next to the area of surgery helps prevent swelling and discomfort. This is useful for
the first 24 hours after surgery. Be sure to alternate sides, if surgery was done on both
sides, every 20-30 minutes. The day following surgery the swelling may or may not be significant.
If the swelling is significant you may use warm moist heat to help reduce it. Use cold ice packs
to prevent swelling; use heat to help treat swelling once it has occurred. The less swelling, the less pain.
Mouth Care
It is very helpful to rinse and soak the areas of surgery with warm saline. Stir ½ teaspoon
of salt into 8 ounces of very warm water, use it all to clean and soak the area of surgery.
Begin doing this the day following surgery. Do not use mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide for 1
week following surgery. Please brush all of your other teeth only avoiding the area near surgery
for two days. Then gently include those areas beginning the third day after surgery. You can
expect some bleeding and if you have sutures, they may come loose or come out while brushing. This is normal.
If you've had wisdom teeth removed, you'll be more comfortable if you keep your mouth fairly still.
Refraining from opening widely will usually result in better healing of the incision. If you've had
upper molars or wisdom teeth removed, please don't blow your nose for at least a week. Air pressure
can seriously disrupt healing because the sinuses are very close to the roots of these teeth.
Diet
Balanced nutrition is essential to good healing. Chewing is difficult and not desirable for the first
few days following surgery. You should increase your fluid intake the first few hours after surgery
to prevent dehydration. Do not use a straw, alcohol, alcoholic products or carbonated beverages for
7 days. The following things are recommended: Day of Surgery: All cool or luke warm things that don't
need to be chewed such as yogurt, ice cream, pudding, jello, milk shakes, sherbet, Instant Breakfast
milkshakes, applesauce, low-fat milk, fruit juices. Drink at least 8 ounces (1 cup) of liquid every
hour that you are awake. Next Day: eggs, grits, mashed potatoes, warm cream or broth soups, pasta such
as macaroni and cheese, spaghetti with tomato sauce (no meat). Day Three: begin to add soft foods to
the diet following this rule: "If it hurts, don't eat it!"
We Care About You!
If there are questions or concerns about your healing or about your recovery from anesthesia or surgery at any time, please call us! Please make every effort to keep your post-operative check-up.