Following surgery, try not to disturb the wound. You may have surgical packing in place to keep the tooth exposed. Do not bother the packing, but also do not worry if it falls out on its own.
Bleeding
You may experience some minor bleeding or red saliva for the first 24 hours following your surgery. If you have excessive bleeding, bite down on a piece of gauze for half an hour. Ensure that the gauze pad is placed directly over the incision site. If bleeding persists or cannot be controlled, contact our office.
Swelling
Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. The best way to control swelling is by applying ice to the side of the face where the procedure took place. For the first 48 hours after surgery, use ice continuously, as much as possible, while you are awake.
Diet
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid hot foods and beverages. On the day of surgery, stick to soft foods and liquids, then advance to a normal diet as soon as you feel comfortable doing so.
Pain
We recommend that patients begin taking their pain medications as soon as they notice the effects of the local anesthesia wearing off.
If you experience mild to moderate pain, you may take over-the-counter ibuprofen and/or Tylenol as indicated.
For more severe pain, take the pain medications that are prescribed by your surgeon, and use them as directed.
Oral Hygiene
Keeping your mouth clean is an important part of the healing process. Beginning immediately after surgery, resume brushing your teeth as normal, and be sure to clean your mouth after every meal. We recommend using a warm salt water rinse six times per day until your mouth is fully healed.
Activity
The day after your surgery, we advise keeping physical activity to a minimum. Physical activity may result in bleeding or throbbing.
