PREOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
* PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MIN PRIOR TO YOUR SCHEDULED PROCEDURE TIME*
NO EATING OR DRINKING
If scheduled to undergo general anesthesia, we ask that you do not eat or drink (including water) at least 8 hours before surgery. If you do not follow our fasting requirements, your surgery may be cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.
MEDICATION
You are allowed to take essential oral medications (seizure, high blood pressure, etc.) as needed on the day of surgery with a small sip of water. If you are taking blood thinners (including baby aspirin), please stop 5 days prior to surgery unless otherwise directed by your physician.
**If you are having implant surgery please start your antibiotics 2 days before and the morning of with a small sip of water.**
BRING A DRIVER
You must be accompanied with a driver if you are going under general anesthesia. We ask that your driver stays from beginning to the end of the procedure.
COME PREPARED
Please wear a short-sleeve shirt and loose-fitting clothing the day of surgery. We also ask that you remove any nail polish before your procedure. This is done because the doctor needs to be able to see your natural fingernail to check your circulation.
POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS: IMPLANTS
DAY OF SURGERY
No rinsing, spitting, brushing or using a straw for the first 24 hours after surgery. This is to prevent the blood clot from dislodging.
NEXT DAY
You can brush your teeth the day after surgery but please keep the bristles away from sites until it begins to heal. Begin with gentle warm salt water rinses (1/2 tsp of salt in 8 oz of water) 3 times a day. Continue for one (1) week. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or mouthwash.
BLEEDING
Change the gauze every 45 min to 1 hour until bleeding slows down. If bleeding is actively persisting after a few hours, you may bite on a warm, moist tea bag to aid in clotting. It’s normal to have some bleeding (oozing around extraction site for up to 24 hours following surgery). Do not leave gauze in all day.
SWELLING
It is normal to have swelling the day of and up to 5 days after surgery. The day of your surgery you will want to use ice packs on the outside of the face to minimize early swelling. Do this for 30 minute periods, separated by 10-15 min. intervals. Use ice for the first 48 hours. Warm compress can be used as needed for swelling and discomfort after 48 hours.
SUTURES
If sutures were used, they are dissolvable. You will need to make an appointment for a suture removal if you were advised that they were NOT dissolvable.
DRIVING
Do not drive a car for 12 hours after a general anesthetic or with certain medications that were prescribed.
EATING
The patient is welcome to eat right away after surgery. We suggest being on a soft food diet for 2-3 days following surgery. We recommend a colder diet the first day. This will decrease any chance of excess bleeding. We advise that you do not eat or drink anything too hot the first day.
**If you had healing (caps) placed, please try to refrain from eating anything crunchy, crispy or chewy near the site to prevent it from getting loose. If for some reason it does get loose or comes off, please call to make an appointment as soon as possible so we can reattach it.**
SMOKING & ALCOHOL
Please refrain from smoking for at least 2 weeks to prevent the blood clot from dislodging, infection, and delay in healing. Please do not consume alcohol with medication.
EXERCISE
Limit vigorous exercise to up to a week as this will increase your blood pressure which may cause more bleeding from the surgical site or dislodge the blood clot.
PRESCRIPTIONS
- The numbing medication given during surgery typically lasts 3-5 hours. Please take pain medication within that time frame.
- Be sure to eat before taking pain medication to avoid nausea (make sure it is enough food to coat your stomach).
- Please resume your antibiotics.
- Please call the office if you have any other questions or concerns.
FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT: The doctor will need to see you in 2 weeks following your implant surgery to make sure you are healing appropriate. Please make an appointment today or call in the next few days to set it up.
POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS: EXTRACTIONS
DAY OF SURGERY
No rinsing, spitting, brushing or using a straw for the first 24 hours after surgery. This is to prevent the blood clot from dislodging.
NEXT DAY
You can brush your teeth the day after surgery but please keep the bristles away from sites until it begins to heal. Begin with gentle warm salt water rinses (1/2 tsp of salt in 8 oz of water) 3 times a day. Continue for one (1) week. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or mouthwash.
BLEEDING
Change the gauze every 45 min to 1 hour until bleeding slows down. If bleeding is actively persisting after a few hours, you may bite on a warm, moist tea bag to aid in clotting. It’s normal to have some bleeding (oozing around extraction site for up to 24 hours following surgery). Do not leave gauze in all day.
SYRINGES
For wisdom teeth extractions syringes can be used to flush out impacted food 1 WEEK following surgery. Warm salt water is recommended to use in syringe.
SWELLING
It is normal to have swelling the day of and up to 5 days after surgery. The day of your surgery you will want to use ice packs on the outside of the face to minimize early swelling. Do this for 30 minute periods, separated by 10-15 min. intervals. Use ice for the first 48 hours. Warm compress can be used as needed for swelling and discomfort after 48 hours.
SUTURES
If sutures were used, they are dissolvable. You will need to make an appointment for a suture removal if you were advised that they were NOT dissolvable.
BONEY EDGES
Small bone pieces will often work out of the surgery site for several months. Please make an appointment if it does not work free on its own.
DRIVING
Do not drive a car for 12 hours after a general anesthetic or with certain medications that were prescribed.
EATING
The patient is welcome to eat right away after surgery. Please take gauze out when eating and replace it with new gauze if needed. We suggest the patient be on a soft food diet for 2-3 days following surgery. We recommend a colder diet the first day. This will decrease any chance of excess bleeding. The patient is not to have hot food the first day of surgery.
SMOKING & ALCOHOL
Please refrain from smoking for at least 2 weeks to prevent the blood clot from dislodging, infection, and delay in healing. Please do not consume alcohol with medication.
EXERCISE
Limit vigorous exercise to up to a week as this will increase your blood pressure which may cause more bleeding from the surgical site or dislodge the blood clot.
PRESCRIPTIONS:
- The numbing medication given during surgery typically lasts 3-5 hours. Please take pain medication within that time frame.
- Be sure to eat before taking pain medication to avoid nausea (make sure it is enough food to coat your stomach).
- If you received antibiotics, please start the next day after surgery and take the full amount until finished even though symptoms have disappeared.
- Refills will only be given during office hours when patient’s medical records are available.
POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS: EXPOSE AND BOND
DAY OF SURGERY
No rinsing, spitting, brushing or using a straw for the first 24 hours after surgery. This is to prevent the blood clot from dislodging.
NEXT DAY
You can brush your teeth the day after surgery but please keep the bristles away from sites until it begins to heal. Begin with gentle warm salt water rinses (1/2 tsp of salt in 8 oz of water) 3 times a day. Continue for one (1) week. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or mouthwash.
FOLLOW UP
Please schedule a follow up appointment if there was a packing placed. Otherwise, please schedule with your orthodontist for continued care.
BLEEDING
Change the gauze every 45 min to 1 hour until bleeding slows down.It’s normal to have some bleeding (oozing around extraction site for up to 24 hours following surgery). Do not leave gauze in all day.
SWELLING
It is normal to have swelling the day of and up to 5 days after surgery. The day of your surgery you will want to use ice packs on the outside of the face to minimize early swelling. Do this for 30 minute periods, separated by 10-15 min. intervals. Use ice for the first 48 hours. Warm compress can be used as needed for swelling and discomfort after 48 hours.
SUTURES
If sutures were used, they are dissolvable. You will need to make an appointment for a suture removal if you were advised that they were NOT dissolvable.
PRESCRIPTIONS
If you were given prescriptions, follow the directions on the bottle. If you received antibiotics, please start the next day after surgery and take the full amount until finished even though symptoms have disappeared. Be sure to eat before taking pain medication to avoid nausea (make sure it is enough food to coat your stomach). If nausea persists, you can try to take half of your pain medication. Refills will only be given during office hours when patient’s medical records are available.
DRIVING
Do not drive a car for 12 hours after a general anesthetic or with certain medications that were prescribed.
EATING
The patient is welcome to eat right away after surgery. We suggest the patient to be on a soft food diet for 2-3 days following surgery. We recommend a colder diet the first day. This will decrease any chance of excess bleeding. The patient is not to have hot food the first day of surgery.
SMOKING & ALCOHOL
Please refrain from smoking for at least 2 weeks to prevent the blood clot from dislodging, infection, and delay in healing. Please do not consume alcohol with medication.
EXERCISE
Limit vigorous exercise to up to a week as this will increase your blood pressure which may cause more bleeding from the surgical site or dislodge the blood clot.
POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS: EXTRACTION WITH BONE GRAFT
DAY OF SURGERY
No rinsing, spitting, brushing or using a straw for the first 24 hours after surgery. This is to prevent the blood clot from dislodging.
FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS
- Please do everything you can to not disturb the tooth extraction/bone graft site.
- Do not do any vigorous rinsing (very gentle warm salt water rinsing recommended)
- Do not use mouthwash, water picks and keep toothpaste and bristles away from the extraction site.
- It is common to have small granules come out from the graft site.
- Your stitches do not dissolve so you will need to make a follow up appointment in 2 weeks to have them removed.
BLEEDING
Change the gauze every 45 min to 1 hour until bleeding slows down.It’s normal to have some bleeding (oozing around extraction site for up to 24 hours following surgery). Do not leave gauze in all day.
SWELLING
It is normal to have swelling the day of and up to 5 days after surgery. The day of your surgery you will want to use ice packs on the outside of the face to minimize early swelling. Do this for 30 minute periods, separated by 10-15 min. intervals. Use ice for the first 48 hours. Warm compress can be used as needed for swelling and discomfort after 48 hours.
DRIVING
Do not drive a car for 12 hours after a general anesthetic or with certain medications that were prescribed.
EATING
The patient is welcome to eat right away after surgery. We suggest the patient to be on a soft food diet for 2-3 days following surgery. We recommend a colder diet the first day. This will decrease any chance of excess bleeding. The patient is not to have hot food the first day of surgery. Please remove gauze when eating.
SMOKING & ALCOHOL
Please refrain from smoking for at least 2 weeks to prevent the blood clot from dislodging, infection, and delay in healing. Please do not consume alcohol with medication.
EXERCISE
Limit vigorous exercise to up to a week as this will increase your blood pressure which may cause more bleeding from the surgical site or dislodge the blood clot.
PRESCRIPTIONS
- The numbing medication given during surgery typically lasts 3-5 hours. Please take pain medication within that time frame.
- Be sure to eat before taking pain medication to avoid nausea (make sure it is enough food to coat your stomach).
- If you received antibiotics, please start them the next day. Please follow the directions on the bottle and make sure to finish them to prevent infection.
- Please call the office if you have any other questions or concerns.
POSTOPERATIVE FOOD SUGGESTIONS
DAY OF SURGERY
- Milkshakes
- Fruit Smoothies
- Frozen Yogurt
- Pudding
- Cottage Cheese
- Applesauce
- Ice Cream
- Jell-O
- Soup ( Warm not hot)
- NO STRAWS FOR 24 HOURS POST SURGERY
DAY 2 POST SURGERY
- Cream of Wheat
- Oatmeal
- Eggs
- Rice
- Mac and Cheese
- Mashed Potatoes
- Pasta (Any kind)
- Cream of Rice
BEVERAGE SUGGESTIONS
- Water
- Gatorade
- Milk
- Fruit Juices
- Soda
- Hot Beverages
- Hot Food
- Spicy Food
- Crispy, Crunchy, Chewy Food
- NO STRAWS FOR 24 HOURS POST SURGERY