INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING SURGICAL PROCEDURES

IMPORTANT: If your surgery was done with IV sedation, you may not drive home and are not to drive or operate machinery for 24 hours. You should not drive or operate machinery for 12 hours after your last dose of a narcotic pain medication.

BLEEDING: To minimize ay problems with bleeding, DO NOT BRUSH YOUR TEETH, DO NOT SPIT, AND DO NOT RINSE YOU MOUTH FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS AFTER SURGERY. Normally, some oozing or blood-tinged saliva may persist for up to 3 days. You will taste blood up to 3 days. Should excessive bleeding occur, it may be controlled with pressure. Apply a folded gauze pad, tea bag, or folded paper towel over the area and bite firmly for at least one hour. This may need to be repeated for up to 4-6 hours.

PAIN: Pain medications are most effective when taken before the local anesthesia diminishes and normal sensation returns to the area. It takes up to 1 hour to achieve pain relief after you take a pain pill. It’s recommended you start the pain medication ASAP, preferably after having something to eat immediately after the prescriptions are filled. Try not to take pain pills on an empty stomach. Narcotic pain medications may cause nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, itching or constipation. Do not drive while taking narcotic pain meds. Dry socket is an unusual complication. If you have severe pain, however, that is not relieved by the pain medication we can help you out. Most people are quite sore after extractions, and it’s not uncommon for people to need to take Ibuprophen for up to 3-4 weeks after the procedure as need for pain. It’s expected that you should be happy with your pain medication regimen as long as the medications relieves the majority of your pain without interference to your daily life.

SWELLING: may occur immediately and increase gradually over 24-48 hours. Swelling from the surgical procedure will maximize at 48-72 hours. Swelling can be somewhat controlled by the use of ice and heat as follows.

a) Use ice for the first 12-24 hours applying it to the cheeks for 20 minutes and removing it for 20 minutes alternately.

b) Heat Swelling and stiffness may be relieved by warm, moist heat applied to the jaws on the 2^nd and 3^rd days following the surgery. The stiffness which can sometimes occur will usually be relieved by the heat application, the use of chewing gum at intervals, and gentle stretching exercises beginning the day after surgery.

NAUSEA: may result from a general anesthetic or the drugs prescribed for pain. Drinking a small glass of a carbonated beverage will generally control mild nausea.

DIET: liquids (such as milk shakes or smoothies) are recommended until the numbness wears off. Once the numbness wears of, you can try soft foods such as scrambled eggs, oatmeal, jello, pudding, or cream of wheat. Avoid hot, spicy foods. If you’ve had surgery on both sides of your mouth, your body will let you know when you can advance your diet to chewier foods. Most people will require a soft diet for the first week or more after surgery. If you have discomfort when eating certain foods, your body is trying to tell you that you’re not ready to advance your diet to that point yet. If you had surgery on one side of the mouth only, favor the other side while chewing for the first few days, and eat what you please but try and avoid hot liquids and spicy foods for a day.

SIDE EFFECTS: such as an ear ache, temporary ache of adjacent teeth, restricted mouth opening, stretching or cracking at the corners of the mouth or bruising of the cheeks, neck or around the eyes may occur postoperatively. These are temporary conditions that do not require treatment and should improve as healing progresses.

ACTIVITIES: for the first 24 hours should be minimal. Rest quietly with head elevated. Smoking should be discontinued for at least 3 days. Do not expect to return to work or normal activities immediately. As a rule, you may return to work once you no longer need your narcotic pain medications. Two to three days rest is recommended for wisdom tooth surgery and subsequently resuming activities as they are tolerated. Vigorous physical activities and sports should not be resumed until the surgical areas are comfortable, swelling is resolved and a normal diet is possible. Usually contact sports should not be resumed for approximately 1 week postoperatively. Musical wind instruments should not be played for at least 1 week to 10 days after most oral surgery.

If you have any problems, questions, or concerns, you can contact Dr. Fleischmann at (406) 443-3334

Women please note: Some antibiotics may interfere with the effectiveness of your birth control pills. Please check with your pharmacist.