Bite down gently but firmly on the gauze packs that have been placed over the surgical areas, making sure they remain in place.
Do not change gauze for the first 1 ½ hours. If active bleeding persists after 1 ½ hours, place enough new gauze to obtain pressure over the surgical site for another three hours.
The gauze may be changed every 3 hours and may be dampened or fluffed for more comfortable positioning.
Things to Avoid
Do Not Rinse, Spit, or Suck From a Straw Today or for the Next 48 Hours.
Do not disturb the surgical area today.
Do not rinse vigorously or probe the area with an object or your finger.
Do not smoke for at least 48 hours, as it is very detrimental to healing.
Do not drink carbonated beverages for at least 48 hours.
Oozing
Intermittent bleeding or oozing is normal. It may be controlled by placing fresh gauze over the surgical areas and biting down.
Alternate gauze every three hours until bed time. DO NOT sleep with gauze in your mouth.
Bleeding
Bleeding should not be severe. If it is, it usually means the gauze packs are being clenched between your teeth, rather than exerting pressure on the surgical areas.
Try repositioning fresh gauze packs.
If bleeding persists or becomes heavy, you may substitute a BLACK tea bag (soaked in hot water, squeezed damp-dry and wrapped in moist gauze) for 1 hour.
If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office: (575) 622-4455.
Swelling
Often, there is some swelling associated with oral surgery. Swelling usually peaks at the third post-operative day.
You can minimize swelling by using a cold pack or ice bag wrapped in a towel and applied firmly to face or cheek adjacent to surgical area.
Cold packs should be applied twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off during the first 12-24 hours after surgery.
After 24 hours, it is usually best to switch from ice to moist heat to the same areas.
Pain
Patients experience the most discomfort during the first 6 hours following surgery.
Start with one pain pill 1 ½ hours after procedure and drink half a glass of water with the pain pill. In 3 hours, take the alternating pain pill.
Continue alternating pain pills every 3 hours as needed for pain.
If one pain pill feels too strong, cut it in half and take with water.
As always, check the specific instructions on the bottle that Dr. Ahghar or Dr. Usher has prescribed.
Nausea
Nausea is common after surgery, and is sometimes caused by the pain medications prescribed.
Take all medications with food (yogurt, milk, etc.). Take any nausea medication prescribed.
Diet
Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Temperature of the food doesn’t matter, but avoid extremely hot foods.
Do NOT eat spicy foods. Also avoid chips, nuts, popcorn or anything that may become logged in the surgical site.
Avoid citrus foods or beverages.
It is sometimes advisable, but not required, to confine the first day’s intake to bland liquids or pureed foods like creamed soup, pudding, yogurt or milkshakes. Over the next several days, you can progress to solid foods at your own pace.
It is important not to skip meals. If you eat regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort and heal more quickly.
If you are diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits as much as possible and follow instructions from us or your physician regarding your insulin schedule.
Sharp Edges
If you feel sharp edges in the surgical areas with your tongue, it is probably the bony walls that originally supported the teeth.
Occasionally, small slivers of bone may work themselves out during the first week or two after surgery.
They are not pieces of tooth. If necessary, we will remove them. Please call the office if you are concerned.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS:
Additional Medications
If you were prescribed an antibiotic, begin taking that today as directed on the bottle.
DO NOT use commercial mouthwash, because it has too much alcohol and may burn fresh wounds.
Brushing
Begin your normal oral hygiene routine on day 2.
Soreness or swelling may not permit vigorous brushing of all areas, but make every effort to clean your teeth within the bounds of comfort.
Hot Application
Apply a warm compress to the skin overlying areas of swelling (hot water bottle, most hot towels) for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off to help sooth tender areas.
This will help decrease swelling and stiffness.
Day Four
If instructed, begin using the plastic syringe, if provided, to rinse the bottom extraction sites.
Fill with warm water and place the tip near extraction site to ensure all debris is removed during the healing process.
Continue using a plastic syringe for 4-6 weeks or until sockets are filled with bone.
If you have any questions regarding your post-operative care, please call the office at (575) 622-4455.
If you experience an after-hours EMERGENCY associated with your surgery please call: (575) 347-1884.
First Few Hours After Surgery
Bite down gently but firmly on the gauze packs that have been placed over the surgical areas, making sure they remain in place.
Do not change gauze for the first 1 ½ hours. If active bleeding persists after 1 ½ hours, place enough new gauze to obtain pressure over the surgical site for another three hours.
The gauze may be changed every 3 hours and may be dampened or fluffed for more comfortable positioning.
Bleeding should not be severe. If it is, it usually means the gauze packs are being clenched between your teeth, rather than exerting pressure on the surgical areas.
Try repositioning fresh gauze packs.
If bleeding persists or becomes heavy, you may substitute a BLACK tea bag (soaked in hot water, squeezed damp-dry and wrapped in moist gauze) for 1 hour.
If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office: (575) 622-4455.
Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Temperature of the food doesn’t matter, but avoid extremely hot foods.
Do NOT eat spicy foods. Also avoid chips, nuts, popcorn or anything that may become logged in the surgical site.
Avoid citrus foods or beverages.
It is sometimes advisable, but not required, to confine the first day’s intake to bland liquids or pureed foods like creamed soup, pudding, yogurt or milkshakes. Over the next several days, you can progress to solid foods at your own pace.
It is important not to skip meals. If you eat regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort and heal more quickly.
If you are diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits as much as possible and follow instructions from us or your physician regarding your insulin schedule.
Sharp Edges
If you feel sharp edges in the surgical areas with your tongue, it is probably the bony walls that originally supported the teeth.
Occasionally, small slivers of bone may work themselves out during the first week or two after surgery.
They are not pieces of tooth. If necessary, we will remove them. Please call the office if you are concerned.
Apply a warm compress to the skin overlying areas of swelling (hot water bottle, most hot towels) for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off to help sooth tender areas.
If you have any questions regarding your post-operative care, please call the office at (575) 622-4455.If you experience an after-hours EMERGENCY associated with your surgery please call: (575) 347-1884.
