The removal of impacted teeth is a serious surgical procedure. Post-operative care is very important. Unnecessary pain and the complications of infection and swelling can be minimized if the instructions are followed carefully.
CAUTION: If you suddenly sit up or stand from a lying position, you may become dizzy. If you are lying down following surgery, make sure you sit for one minute before standing.
A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by first rinsing or wiping any old clots from your mouth, then placing a gauze pad directly on the area and biting firmly continuously for 60 minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite continuously on a moistened tea bag for 60 minutes. The tannic acid in the tea bag helps to form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels. To minimize further bleeding, do not become excited, sit upright, and avoid exercise. If bleeding does not subside, call for further instructions.
The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. The swelling will sometimes not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until two to three days post-operatively. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. Two plastic bags filled with ice, or ice packs should be applied to the sides of the face where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be left on continuously 20 minutes on, 10 minutes off while you are awake. After 48 hours, ice has no beneficial effect. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Forty-eight hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face is beneficial in reducing the size of the swelling.
You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, one or two Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 6 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter, comes in 200 mg tablets. Two to three tablets may be taken every 6 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescribed pain medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.
The prescribed pain medicine may make you groggy and will slow down your reflexes. Do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. After the initial 48 hours following surgery, pain or discomfort should subside more and more every day. If pain persists, it may require attention and you should call the office.
A dry socket occurs when the blood clot breaks down prematurely from the extraction site. A dry socket will typically present with a throbbing pain approximately 3 days after the extraction. It is normal to have some discomfort 2-3 days post-operatively. However, if pain persists or intensifies, please call our office. A dry socket can be diagnosed and treated easily by our doctors.
Drink liquids after general anesthesia or IV sedation. Do not use straws for the first 48 hours after your surgery. The sucking motion can cause more bleeding by dislodging the blood clot. You may eat anything soft by chewing away from the surgical site(s). Please avoid any hot food or drink while you are still numb from your surgery. High calorie, high protein intake is very important. Try to maintain a normal diet. You should prevent dehydration by taking fluids regularly. Your food intake may be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. At least five to six glasses of liquid should be taken daily. Try not to miss a single meal. You will feel better, have more strength, less discomfort, and heal faster if you continue to eat.
No rinsing of any kind should be performed until the day following surgery. You can brush your teeth the night of surgery. The day after surgery you should begin rinsing gently at least four times a day with a cup of warm water mixed with one teaspoon of salt especially after eating.
In some cases, discoloration of the skin follows swelling. The development of black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal postoperative occurrence, which may occur two to three days post-operatively. Moist heat applied to the area may speed up the removal of the discoloration.
If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the tablets or liquid as directed. Antibiotics may be given to help prevent infection. It is important to continue taking the antibiotics until completed even though your symptoms may have improved. Discontinue antibiotic use in the event of a rash or other unfavorable reaction. Call the office if you have any questions.
Effectiveness of oral contraceptives will be affected by some medications including antibiotics. You should use an alternative form of birth control during the month in which these medications are prescribed.
In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour including the prescribed medicine. You should then sip on clear liquids or clear soda. You should sip slowly over a 15-minute period. When the nausea subsides, you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medicine.
Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced. Exercise may weaken you. If you get light headed, stop exercising.
CAUTION: If you suddenly sit up or stand from a lying position, you may become dizzy. If you are lying down following surgery, make sure you sit for one minute before standing.
Sutures may be placed in the area of surgery to minimize post-operative bleeding and to help healing. Sometimes they become dislodged. This is no cause for alarm. Just remove the suture from your mouth and discard it. The sutures will generally dissolve in 2-5 days.
The pain and swelling should subside more and more each day following surgery. If your post-operative pain or swelling worsens or unusual symptoms occur, call the office for instructions.
There will be a cavity where the tooth was removed. The cavity will gradually fill in with new tissue over the next month. In the meantime, the area should be kept clean especially after meals with salt-water rinses or a toothbrush.
Your case is individual. No two mouths are alike. Do not accept well-intended advice from friends. Discuss your problem with the persons best able to effectively help you: your oral surgeon or your family dentist.
Brushing your teeth is okay – just be gentle at the surgical sites.
If you are involved in regular exercise, be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced. Exercise may weaken you. If you get light headed, stop exercising.
After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for two to three days, or a reaction to the medication, call the office immediately at (608) 756-8744 in Janesville, (608) 325-7177 in Monroe, or (815) 525-4700 in NorthPointe.
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Dr Terry Cisler, Dr Thomas Kuerschner, Dr Richard Meister, and Dr Jason Swantek at Premier Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery your Southern Wisconsin Oral Surgeons
and your Northern Illinois Oral Surgeons, provide Dental Implants, Wisdom Teeth Removal, Corrective Jaw Surgery, Bone Grafting.
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