Instructions to Patients

PRE-OPERATIVE SEDATION INSTRUCTIONS

  • No smoking for at least 24 hours before and 48 hours after surgery. Ideally, cut down or stop smoking as soon as possible prior to the day of surgery.
  • To reduce the chances of nausea do not eat or drink anything (including water) for at least six hours prior to your appointment.
  • If your surgery is in the morning do not eat or drink anything between bedtime and your scheduled appointment.
  • If your surgery is in the afternoon a light breakfast before 7:00 AM is encouraged.
  • Unless specified by your dentist, all medications taken on a routine basis should be continued without interruption.
  • Please swallow with a minimal amount of water.
  • A responsible adult, over 18 years of age, must accompany you to the office and remain there throughout the entire procedure. Following the sedation, this responsible adult must escort the patient home and a responsible adult should remain with the patient for the next 24 hours.
  • Minors (persons under the age of 18 years) must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
  • For intravenous sedation, patients should wear clothing that is not restricting to the neck or arms. Patients should wear loose-fitting tops so that sleeves can be rolled to the shoulder.
  • Contact lenses must be removed prior to the sedation. No nail polish on one index finger please.
  • Following the sedation, patients should refrain from driving or engaging in any activity that requires alertness for the next 24 hours.
  • Family or friends are not allowed in treatment room during procedures.
  • If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat,  respiratory problems, stomach or upset bowels, or fever please notify the office as soon as possible prior to appointment.

FAILURE TO FOLLOW ANY OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN CANCELLATION OF APPOINTMENT

POST-OPERATIVE/SEDATION INSTRUCTIONS

POST-OPERATIVE CARE IS VERY IMPORTANT. UNNECESSARY PAIN AND COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS INFECTION AND SWELLING CAN BE MINIMIZED IF THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE  FOLLOWED CAREFULLY.

All patients are unique and no two mouths are the same. Healing time and level of discomfort will vary among patients. Instructions given to you at your appointment are for you and your procedure so if there is any confusion or if you or a care giver has a question on any pre- or post-operative/sedation instructions, please contact our office at 325-643-6323.

ANESTHETICS

  • The length of time you experience numbness varies depending on the type of anesthetic you’ve received. While your mouth is numb you will want to be careful not to bite your cheek, lip, or tongue. The numbness should subside within a few hours.

BLEEDING

We have placed a gauze pack on the extraction site to limit the amount of bleeding and to help a good blood clot to form. This gauze pack should be left in place for 30-45 minutes. Avoid chewing on this pack. There may still be some bleeding after the pack is removed  If so follow these procedures:

  • Fold a new pack out of the clean gauze, which was provided. Dampen the pack with water if possible and place it over the extraction site.
  • Apply moderate pressure by closing your teeth firmly over the pad. Maintain this pressure for about 30 minutes. Change the pack as needed.
  • Do not suck on the extraction site
  • If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened black tea bag for thirty minutes. The tannic acid in the black tea helps to form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels. To minimize further bleeding sit upright. If bleeding does not subside, call our office for further instructions.
  • An extraction site can bleed slightly for several hours; however, heavy bleeding for several hours should be reported to our office. (Remember a lot of saliva and a little blood can look like a lot of bleeding)

THE BLOOD CLOT

After an extraction, a blood clot forms in the tooth socket. this clot is important especially in avoiding DRY SOCKET. Here is how to protect the clot:

  • Do not smoke, drink through a straw, rinse mouth vigorously, or spit heavily for 24 hours. All of these can dislodge the clot. Smokers have a higher incidence of dry socket.
  • Do not drink alcoholic or carbonated beverages for 24 hours.
  • Do not clean teeth next to the extraction site for the rest of the day. Do brush the rest of your teeth as normal with very limited spitting and no rinsing.
  • Limit strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after surgery. This will reduce bleeding or chance of dislodging the clot.
  • If we placed sutures you should reschedule to have them removed in 7 to 10 days.

MEDICATIONS

We will prescribe the medications that are best for you depending on your situation. We try to avoid prescribing narcotic type medications. Use the medication prescribed for you as directed. If you experience any adverse reactions to a medication stop taking the medication and call our office or your pharmacy for directions. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone.

Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken unless your physician has instructed you otherwise. Ibuprofen bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets. 2-3 tablets may be taken four times daily, not to exceed 3200 mg daily for an adult. Call the office for individuals under 18. Ibuprofen has anti-inflammatory properties as well as being a pain medication. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be taken if preferred or advised by your doctor. Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic to them or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. Do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day. If pain persists, it may require attention and you should call the office.

SWELLING & PAIN

Swelling is a normal body reaction after a surgery. You can reduce swelling by using an ice pack or cold compress to your face for the first 24 hours after surgery. After 24 hours use only moist heat to area if needed. Increasing pain, bad taste or foul smelling breath could be a sign of dry socket or infection If these occur contact our office.

DISCOLORATION

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 post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days post-operatively. Moist heat applied to the area may speed up the removal of the discoloration.

DIET

After the extraction, drink lots of liquids and eat soft, nutritious foods. Try chewing on the opposite side of the extraction site for 24-48 hours. Avoid carbonated, alcoholic or very hot beverages for 24 hours. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. Try not to miss any meals, you will feel better, have more strength, less discomfort and heal faster if you continue to eat and stay hydrated.

RINSING

After the extraction begin gently rinsing the area especially after meals to keep the area as clean as possible. Remember not to rinse vigorously to avoid dislodging the clot. You may rinse with plain water or warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt to 8 oz. warm water). Avoid using over the counter mouth rinses during this time. If you feel you need a mouth rinse during this time, one can be prescribed.

I V SEDATION

If an IV sedation was administered during your surgery, you may be drowsy for several hours after the surgery. Avoid driving a vehicle or operating hazardous equipment until the day after the surgery. Limit activity until drowsiness is gone. If nausea occurs take the mediation for nausea as directed or try laying flat with legs slightly elevated with cool rag on forehead. If nausea continues contact our office

Finally, all patients are unique and no two mouths are the same. Healing time and level of discomfort will vary among patients. Instructions given to at your appointment are for you and your procedure so if there is any confusion or if you or a care giver has a question on any pre- or post-operative/sedation instructions, please contact our office.