Moderate discomfort, bleeding, bruising, & swelling occur with most oral surgery procedures. The symptoms begin within the first 12 hours following the surgery & start to decrease after 48 hours. Careful attention to the following instructions will help prevent complications, minimize discomfort, & promote proper healing. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at any time, (540) 373-0602.
DO NOT DISTURB THE AREA
- Avoid the following - smoking, spitting, sucking through a straw, blowing your nose, swishing with mouthwash, drinking alcohol or carbonated beverages, & excessive activity. Any of these actions may cause the blood clot in the site to dislodge, causing a "dry socket,” which could result in severe & unnecessary pain.
- After 24 hours, begin rinsing with warm salt water rinses to help heal and clean the socket.
BLEEDING
- Keep slight pressure on the gauze for at least 30 minutes. Do not change the gauze during this time; it needs to remain undisturbed while a clot forms in the extraction socket. After 30 minutes you may remove it.
- Small amounts of blood in the saliva can make your saliva appear quite red; this is normal & may occur for the rest of the day after the procedure.
PAIN
- You have been given the Dental Pain Management Protocol handout. It is important to start this regimen before the anesthesia wears off. If you are taking Plavix or Coumadin, do NOT take Ibuprofen/Aspirin products.
- If you have been given a prescription for pain medication - take only as instructed on the label. Avoid driving/operating heavy machinery & drinking alcohol when taking pain prescriptions.
ANTIBIOTICS
- If given an antibiotic, it is important to take all of the antibiotics as directed and until they are gone.
- If you experience any adverse reaction to the medication, such as nausea, rash, or itching, discontinue the medication immediately & contact the office.
SWELLING
- Applying ice packs to the face at the extraction site can minimize swelling - apply for 20 minutes & then remove for 20 minutes. This should only be done for the first 24 hours.
- Resting, with the head elevated on a couple of pillows, will help decrease the swelling.
- You may develop bruising, which is a normal post-operative event & will resolve in 5-7 days.
DRY SOCKETS
- Are a result of the inability of a proper blood clot to form causing delayed healing of the extraction site.
- Presenting symptoms such as foul odor, pain in the ear, chin, adjacent teeth, & jaw may occur.
- The discomfort usually begins the third or fourth day after the surgery & can last for many days.
SINUS INVOLVEMENT
- In some cases, a tooth may be sitting in or around your sinus, causing sinus exposure or perforation when the tooth is removed. In this case, forceful nose blowing, sneezing through your nose, or playing a wind musical instrument should be avoided for one week.
- An antibiotic & decongestant (Sudafed) will be prescribed for use for at least 7-10 days to help this healing.
GRAFTING
- If bone grafting or socket preservation materials were placed, you may notice some white material or small particles of grafting material working their way out. This is normal, but you should do your best to avoid disturbing the area as it heals.
