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Oral Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, Warminster PA

Surgical Instructions

I. Preoperative Instructions for Patients Undergoing
Intravenous / General Anesthesia

  1. You may not have anything to eat or drink (including water) for eight (8) hours prior to the appointment unless instructed to take certain medications prior to surgery.
  2. A responsible adult must accompany the patient to the office, remain in the office during the procedure, and be able to drive the patient home.
  3. The patient should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following the anesthesia experience.
  4. Please wear loose fitting clothing with sleeves which can be rolled up past the elbow, and low-heeled shoes. Contact lenses must be removed prior to surgery.

The removal of impacted wisdom teeth and surgical extraction of teeth is quite different from the extraction of erupted teeth. The following conditions may occur, all of which are considered normal:

  1. The surgical area may swell.
  2. Swelling peaks on the 2nd or 3rd post -operative day.
  3. Trismus (stiffness) of the muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a period of days.
  4. You may have a slight earache.
  5. A sore throat may develop.
  6. Your other teeth may ache temporarily. This is referred pain and is a temporary condition.
  7. If the corners of the mouth are stretched out they may dry and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with cream or ointment.
  8. There will be a space where the tooth was removed. After 24 hours this area may be rinsed following meals with warm salt water until it is healed. This cavity will gradually fill in with new tissue. This process takes approximately 12 weeks.
  9. There may be a slight elevation of temperature for 24 to 48 hours. If temperature is 101.5 or greater, please notify us.
  10. It is not unusual to develop bruising in the area of an extraction.

Please take all prescriptions as directed.

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

II. Care of Mouth After Oral Surgery

  1. Do not rinse, spit or use a straw for 24 hours after surgery.
  2. Keep fingers and tongue away from socket or surgical area.
  3. Use ice packs on surgical area (side of face) for first 48 hours, apply ice 20 minutes on - 10 minutes off. Bags of frozen peas work well. Keep a towel between ice and skin. Do not use ice if the area was swollen or infected prior to surgery.
  4. For mild discomfort take Tylenol or Ibuprofen every four hours.
  5. For severe pain use the prescription given to you or call the office.
  6. Drink plenty of fluids. (Do not use a straw)
  7. After 48 – 72 hours, gentle stretching and moist heat applied to the outside of the face can help relax jaw muscles that become stiff after surgery.
  8. After the first post-operative day, use a warm salt-water rinse following meals for the first week to flush out particles of food and debris which may lodge in the surgical area. (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water). Do not use mouthwash or peroxide.
  9. Diet may consist of soft foods which can be easily chewed and swallowed.
  10. A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Bleeding is controlled by applying pressure to the surgical area using small rolled gauze for 90 minutes. After that time remove the gauze and then you may eat or drink. If bleeding persists, a moist teabag should be placed in the area of bleeding and bite firmly for one hour straight. This will aid in clotting blood. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding still persists call our office.
  11. We suggest that you do not smoke after surgery. Smoking may increase your risk of "Dry-Socket", poor wound healing and post operative infection.

Feel free to contact us if any doubt arises as to your progress and recovery.

III. Post-Op Instructions

What you should do following extractions and other oral surgery procedures

A certain amount of bleeding, pain, and swelling is normal. Reduce your activity as much as possible for several hours. Avoid eating, drinking, and unnecessary talking. Do not rinse your mouth or brush your teeth for 24 hours. These activities may hinder formation of a blood clot which is necessary for proper healing.

Do not be alarmed if your vision is blurred for a time following intravenous anesthesia or if a "black and blue" bruise should appear at the site of an injection.

Follow the simple instructions below to minimize complications and help ensure prompt recovery.

To control bleeding

Immediately following procedure. . .keep a steady pressure on the bleeding area by biting firmly on the gauze placed there by your doctor. Pressure helps reduce bleeding and permits formation of a clot in the tooth socket. Gently remove the compress after one hour.

After 24 hours... some oozing of blood may persist. If necessary, resume use of moist tea bags. After bleeding has stopped, cautiously resume oral hygiene.

To relieve pain

Immediately following procedure... begin taking medication as directed by your doctor to minimize discomfort when the anesthesia wears off and feeling is back to normal. Application of an ice pack can also help relieve discomfort.

After 24 hours, continue to take your medication if pain persists, and use an ice pack if needed for up to 48 hours.

To minimize swelling

Immediately following procedure. . .apply an ice pack over the affected area. Use 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off for 24 hours to help prevent development of excessive swelling and discomfort. If an ice pack is unavailable, simply fill a heavy plastic bag with crushed ice. Tie end securely and cover with a soft cloth to avoid skin irritation.

After 24 - 48 hours. . . it should not be necessary to continue with cold applications. You may expect swelling for 10 days to two weeks and a fever of 99 degrees F. to 101 degrees F.

Special considerations following removal of impacted teeth:

Removal of impacted teeth is a surgical procedure. Postoperative problems are not unusual, and extra care must be taken to avoid complications.

Severity of postoperative pain will depend on the procedure and your physical condition. Take medication for pain precisely as directed.

Healing of the surgical site is variable.

Swelling can be expected. Be certain to apply ice packs as directed above.

Difficulty in opening your mouth widely and discomfort upon swallowing should be anticipated.

Numbness of lips and/or tongue on the affected side may be experienced for a variable period of time.

Oral hygiene is important

24 hours after surgery, rinse mouth gently with a solution of one-half teaspoonful of salt dissolved in a glass of water. Repeat after every meal or snack for seven days. Rinsing is important because it removes food particles and debris from the socket area and thus helps prevent infection and promote healing. Brush tongue with a dry toothbrush to keep bacteria growth down, but be careful not to touch the extraction site.

Resume your regular tooth brushing, but avoid disturbing the surgical site so as not to loosen or remove the blood clot.

Maintain a proper diet

Have your meals at the usual time. Eat soft, nutritious foods and drink plenty of liquids - with meals and in between. Have what you wish, but be careful not to disturb the blood clot. Add solid foods to your diet as soon as they are comfortable to chew.

In case of problems

You should experience no trouble if you follow the instructions and suggestions as outlined. But if you should have any problems such as excessive bleeding, pain, or difficulty in opening your mouth, call our office immediately for further instructions or additional treatment.

Remember your follow-up visit

In most cases a post-operative visit is not necessary. Certain types of procedures will require a post-operative visit and your surgeon and nurses will advise you if one is necessary. In the meantime, maintain a healthful diet, observe rules for proper oral hygiene, and visit your dentist for regular checkups.