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Preparing for Surgery: Click here to download Pre-op Instructions Coming in for surgery can be scary for some people. We work hard to ensure that your procedure and recovery is as safe, comfortable and easy on you as possible. We may schedule a follow-up visit for you to make sure you are healing properly and to answer any questions you may have about your surgery. There is no charge for this follow-up visit. To better prepare for your surgery, please review the following information and feel free to ask any questions. Preparing for Surgery: Important: 1. Nothing to eat for 8 hours before surgery Medications: If you regularly take prescription medications or our office has prescribed medication for you, please take them as directed with a small amount of water. Transportation: If you are to receive sedation or general anesthetic, you MUST have an adult escort check in with you to drive you home or your surgery will be cancelled. Following an intravenous anesthetic you should not drive until the following day. Clothing: Please wear short sleeved loose-fitting clothing and no make-up. Teeth should be brushed before surgery. Do not wear contact lenses. Smoking: Smoking delays healing and increase your risk of a "dry socket" or post-operative infection. Try not to smoke for 24 hours before surgery and for 3 days after surgery.
Preparing for Surgery: Post-op Instructions: Click here to download printable Surgery After-Care Instructions Post-operative care is very important. Unnecessary pain and swelling can be minimized and the chance of complications can be diminished if the instructions are followed carefully. Although you will be given specific instructions for your particular procedure, here are some general guidelines. At Home: As soon as you get home, either lie down with a pillow supporting your head or recline in a comfortable chair or sofa. Rest until the effects of anesthesia have worn off. Do not stand up quickly or try to be active. If you feel faint or dizzy, lie down with your feet elevated until the feeling passes. An adult must stay with the patient until the anesthetic has completely worn off. Swelling: Keep your head elevated during the first day, either with pillows or by sitting upright. Apply ice to the outside of the face over the surgery areas. This may prevent some swelling from the surgery. Ice should only be used for the first 24 hours after surgery. It is normal for your jaw to swell following surgery. Swelling usually peaks at 48 hours and gradually subsides over 7 to 10 days. Bleeding: It is normal to have a slight amount of bleeding for as long as 24 hours after surgery. Immediately after surgery, you should bite on a piece of gauze, applying constant pressure to the area. This helps a blood clot form. Remove this gauze after 60 minutes. Most of the bleeding with be stopped by then and the gauze should be left out. If bleeding continues or is excessive, you may bite gently on a tea bag (black, such as Lipton or Rose) moistened in warm water and placed over the area. This may be repeated. If bleeding continues or seems to be a problem, you should contact our office immediately. Pain: As the anesthetic wears off, you may have some tenderness and soreness in your gums and jaw. For your comfort take the pain medication that has been prescribed for you. It is important that pain medication be taken with juice or food to prevent an upset stomach. Take the medication for discomfort only as needed. If you develop hives, a rash, or feel you are having a reaction to any medication, please discontinue the medication and call our office. Diet and Eating: Jaw stiffness that lasts 2-3 days is normal. It will gradually subside. Soft foods such as soup, milk shakes, ice cream, cottage cheese and yogurt will be the easiest to eat after surgery. Avoid hard or crunchy foods suchy as carrots, popcorn or nuts until they are comfortable to eat. A well-balanced soft diet will help you heal rapidly. Do not skip meals, and remember to drink plenty of liquids. Make sure that your diet contains at least eight large glasses of water per day. If you continue to eat regularly, you will feel better and have less discomfort. Rest & Activity: Get plenty of rest during the first 2 days after surgery. No vigorous physical activity is recommended for 2-3 days following surgery. When taking pain medications do not drive, operate dangerous machinery, or engage in activities that require your full attention. Oral Hygeine: Keep your mouth clean by brushing as well as you can. Brush your teeth gently around the surgery area. Do not be alarmed by slight bleeding after gentle brushing. On the day after surgery, start using warm salt water rinses with 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup water. Salt water rinses should be used at least 6-8 times per day until healing is complete. Smoking: Try not to smoke for at least 3 days after surgery. Smoking delays healing and increases your risk of a "dry socket" or post-operative infection. Smoking may also increase your discomfort after surgery. Nausea: Post-operative nausea is often caused by pain relief medications. If this happens, try to discontinue this medication and take small portions of clear liquids or juices every 30 minutes for 3-4 hours. This usually will end the nausea. Bland foods such as soda crackers, dry toast, tea, Jell-O, and bouillon may also be helpful. If nausea persists, please contact our office. What to Expect: - Swelling usually peaks 48 hours after surgery and then gradually subsides. - Muscle stiffness may cause difficulty opening the mouth and chewing. This begins to improve after 48 hours but may take 10-14 days to resolve. - Bruising may occur on the outside of the face 2-3 days after surgery. This will gradually resulve after 7-10 days. - You may experience ear discomfort, a slight sore throat, or elevated temperature during the first day or two after surgery. - If a lower wisdom tooth was extracted, numbness or "paresthesia" of the tongue, lip or chin may occur after surgery. This is usually a temporary condition which will gradually correct itself. - There may be an opening to the tooth socket where a tooth was removed. If food becomes lodged in this area, rinse gently with warm water. This space will gradually fill in with new tissue within 4-6 weeks. PLEASE NOTE: About EOS |
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Surgery Instructions: pre- and post-op 
