Advanced Dental Scarsdale Oral Surgery
post operative instructions following minor oral surgery procedures
Please read these instructions completely and carefully
At Advanced Dental – Scarsdale we understand the important of maintaining your health after undergoing an extensive oral surgery.
In order to give you the best possible care after your oral surgery, our team at Advanced Dental – Scarsdale has created a set of guidelines for you to follow after your surgery. If you would like to find out more tips and recommendations to follow after your oral surgery, feel free to contact our team at Advanced Dental – Scarsdale (914) 874 5757 at any time.
Day of Surgery
first day:
Following your oral surgery, our dental professionals would have placed gauze packs over the affected areas. During the first hour following your procedure, be sure to bite down gently on the gauze packs in order to keep them in place. Do not change the gauze packs for the first hour, or until the bleeding in the affected area is controlled. If the affected area continues to bleed after an hour has passed, place new pieces of gauze over the area and press gown gently, but firmly, on the gauze for 30-60 minutes. The gauze may be changed when needed, and dampened and folded for a more comfortable fit.
exercise care:
On the day of your oral surgery avoid disturbing the affected area, and do not rinse the area vigorously or touch the area with your fingers or any other objects. We recommend completely avoiding touching the affected area in order to avoid the risk of needing another visit to our office at Advanced Dental – Scarsdale. It is important to avoid smoking at all costs for 48 hours following your oral surgery.
oozing:
Oozing or bleeding occurring in the affected area is completely normal, and may be treated by placing gauze over the area and biting down on it firmly.
steady bleeding:
While mild bleeding around the affected area is completely normal, severe bleeding is not. If you are experiencing severe bleeding in the affected area it can mean that the gauze packs are clenched between your teeth too tightly and not putting any pressure on the affected areas. Repositioning the fresh gauze packs may help the severe bleeding.
If repositioning the gauze packs does not stop the bleeding, out team at Advanced Dental – Scarsdale recommends soaking a tea bag in hot water, squeezing it out until the tea bag is damp, wrapping it in moist gauze, and placing against the affected area for 20 to 30 minutes. However, if this does not help the severe bleeding please call our office immediately.
swelling:
It is not uncommon to experience some swelling after undergoing an extensive oral surgery. Fortunately, this swelling can be minimized in order to have a more comfortable and pleasant healing experience following your surgery. By using a cold pack or an ice bag wrapped in a towel and pressing it firmly against the cheek the swelling can be controlled and minimized.
The cold pack should be applied every 20 minutes for 20 minutes at a time for the first day following your surgery. After 24 hours have passed, we recommend switching to applying moist heat to the affected area.
pain:
After undergoing oral surgery, it is often expected to have some pain or discomfort for a few days. Fortunately, the most severe pain and discomfort is experienced only for the first few hours after the anesthetic wears off and pain medication that is prescribed to you can help manage any following pains. Taking your pain medication before the anesthetic has worn off can minimize the amount of discomfort you feel, and the need for pain medication will lessen after the anesthetic has worn off.
nausea:
Along with pain and discomfort, nausea can usually be expected after undergoing an oral surgery. At Advanced Dental – Scarsdale, we recommend eating a small amount of soft food and taking your pain medication with a large volume of water, as well as minimizing the amount of pain medication you take and increasing the amount of fluids you take. If these suggestions do not help you minimize the nausea, please contact Advanced Dental – Scarsdale immediately.
diet:
It is best to avoid any extremely hot foods following your oral surgery, as it can cause mild pain or discomfort in the affected area. At Advanced Dental – Scarsdale, we recommend restricting your diet to bland liquids or soft foods such as creamed soups or puddings on the first day following your surgery. Try to avoid foods such as sunflower seeds or popcorn, as they can get lodged in the spaces between your teeth. Despite certain dietary restrictions that should be followed after your surgery, it is important to not skip meals. After your surgery, it is essential to remain nourished in order to heal properly and regain your strength.
sharp edges:
Occasionally, you may feel some sharp edges in the affected area of your mouth with your tongue, but it is important to not disturb the area too much as it can cause pain and discomfort. The sharp edges you may feel are the bony walls that had originally supported the teeth, or small pieces of bone which have worked themselves out after the surgery. If it is necessary, our surgeons at Advanced Dental – Scarsdale can remove these pieces.
If you are concerned, or have any further questions, please contact our team at Advanced Dental – Scarsdale, (914) 874 5757. Instructions for Second and Third Days.
mouth rinses:
In the days following your oral surgery, it is essential to keep your mouth and the affected area as clean as possible. At Advanced Dental – Scarsdale, we recommend using ¼ tablespoon of salt which has been dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water in order to rinse the mouth. Repeating this at least a few times a day for the next five days will keep your mouth clean, and keep the affected area from causing any discomfort.
brushing:
Following your oral surgery, it is important to maintain your normal oral hygiene routine to keep your mouth and affected area clean, and prevent any additional visits to the dentist. While some soreness or swelling can prevent certain areas from being brushed properly, it is important to clean the teeth as much as possible.
hot applications:
At Advanced Dental – Scarsdale, we recommend applying warm compresses to the skin on the areas that have been affected by swelling. Warm compresses such as hot water bottles, moist hot towels, or heating pads can reduce the swelling and can help soothe the affected area. Placing the warm compresses on the area for 20 minutes on and off while decrease the stiffness and discomfort on the mouth.
syringe:
After your oral surgery at Advanced Dental – Scarsdale, you may have been given an irrigating syringe in order to keep the sockets in the mouth cleaned. On the third day following your surgery, fill the syringe with warm water and clean out the sockets gently. It is essential to clean the sockets especially after eating anything, as food residue can become trapped in the sockets. The discomfort on the affected area should be reduced after a few days, however mild pain can persist for a few weeks, which can be treated with pain medications. If your pain is severe or does not get resolved after your oral surgery, please contact our team at Advanced Dental – Scarsdale immediately.
swelling:
After your oral surgery, swelling is often expected. Swelling should however, resolve or at least minimize after 7 to 10 days after the initial surgery. At Advanced Dental – Scarsdale, we recommend using a heating pad on a low setting, or a hot water bottle, in order to minimize the swelling. If the swelling increases or persists, please contact Advanced Dental – Scarsdale immediately as this may indicate an infection.
jaw stiffness:
Along with swelling, some stiffness in the jaw is expected following your oral surgery. However, it is essential to stretch the jaw several times a day, as well as chewing gum, in order to exercise the jaw muscles. Not unlike treating swelling, heat and pain medication may lessen the discomfort of jaw stiffness.
oral hygiene:
In the days following the surgery, it is important to maintain your oral hygiene routine in order to keep the affected area as clean as possible. Rinsing the mouth with warm water or salt water can maintain the hygiene of the surgical site and can prevent any additional visits to the dentist. While excessive washing may be harmful, washing the mouth as you regularly do will keep the affected area and the mouth clean.
diet:
After about a week following your surgery, your diet can be slowly returned to normal. We recommend avoiding consuming any hot, spicy, or tough foods for an additional week as it may cause pain or discomfort in the affected area.
activity:
While we recommend avoiding any swimming or diving activities for an additional 10 to 14 days, most regular activities may be resumed after a week following the surgery.
medication:
Any pain medication that has been prescribed to you should be taken regularly in order to decrease any discomfort, and any antibiotics should be taken as prescribed.
bite:
Following your oral surgery, it is common for the bite to feel different or shifted. The stiffness in the muscles is what usually causes the feeling of the lower teeth being shifted. Fortunately, this abnormal feeling in the mouth is usually returned to normal within 1 to 2 weeks.
normal post-op course:
The first day following your oral surgery is often the most uncomfortable and painful and is commonly accompanied by swelling and stiffness in the jaw. Pain medication may be used to minimize the pain and discomfort in the affected area. The second day following the oral surgery, you will feel far less discomfort and may begin following a more substantial diet. After the third day, you will begin experiencing steady improvement and less pain in the affected area. During the following days, you will feel a minimal amount of pain and a minimal amount of jaw stiffness. If there is consistent bleeding in the affected area or an abnormal or excessive amount of stiffness and pain in the area please contact Advanced Dental – Scarsdale immediately to report your symptoms.
To schedule an appointment with an Oral surgeon please contact Advanced Dental Scarsdale Oral Surgery:
Call Us : (914) 874-5757 130 Garth Road Scarsdale, NY 10583