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Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There will be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue.
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, call our office at (978) 682-5255 for further instructions.
Swelling is a normal occurrence following surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag or a towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of the surgical site. For the first 48 hours, apply the ice continuously as often as possible.
Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible, unless otherwise directed.
You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, 1-2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every three to four hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg. tablets. Take 2-3 tablets every three to four hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.
Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection.
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of your surgery, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after your surgery, the Peridex should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bedtime. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then gently spit it out. Warm salt-water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth with the healing abutments is not a problem. Be very gentle when brushing the surgical areas.
Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, discontinue exercising. Keep in mind that you may not be taking normal nourishment, which may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.
Partial dentures, flippers or full dentures should not be used immediately after surgery and for at least ten days. This was discussed in the pre-operative consultation.
