Post Operative Care

DISCOMFORT

Discomfort following oral surgery is to be expected. The severity of discomfort varies considerably from one person to another and with the nature of the surgery. If the medication you have seems inadequate or if severe discomfort continues beyond 24 hours contact the office. Further treatment may be required.

BLEEDING

You may expect a small amount of bleeding during the first 24 hours following oral surgery. If bleeding becomes excessive: gently wipe your mouth with a gauze pad, fold a clean gauze into a thick pad (a slightly moistened tea bag may be used) and place it directly over the bleeding area. Maintain continuous firm pressure for at least 30 minutes. Repeat if necessary. Keep you head elevated while resting.

SWELLING AND FEVER

Swelling to varying degrees may occur following dental surgery. To minimize swelling apply a cold compress and place it to the surgical site on the outside of the face. A wet frozen face cloth or ice pack may be used. Maintain continuous contact for 10 minutes, remove for 10 minutes. Do NOT apply heat. Repeat if necessary for up to 48 hours following surgery. It may take 2 to 3 days before swelling begins to subside. If swelling increases after that time please contact the office. A low grade fever may occur following dental surgery that usually lasts 2 to 3 days. If fever persists after that time please contact the office.

DISCOLORATION AND MOUTH CARE

Bruising of the skin occasionally occurs following dental surgery. This will disappear without treatment in 5 to 7 days. Do NOT rinse your mouth for 24 hours following surgery. Provided there is no bleeding, you may rinse after this time with warm salt water. Use 1/2 tsp table salt per cup of warm water. Afterwards, brush your teeth gently avoiding the surgical site.

DIET

Adequate nutrition is important for proper healing. Eat soft nutritious foods such as eggs, chopped meats, custards, pasta, soups and juices. Difficulty in opening the mouth occasionally occurs and should begin to gradually disappear after 3 days.

COMPLICATIONS

Phlebitis - If the veins at the I.V. site is reddened or sore, apply a moist warm compress 4 times a day, minimum. For further instructions, please contact the office.

Numbness - Numbness may occur with surgery of the lower jaw (incl. wisdom teeth, resections and impacted teeth) involving the lip, tongue, cheek, and chin. If numbness persists, please contact the office.

ACTIVITY

After returning home, you should rest for the day and be observed. It is common for patients to be sleepy, dizzy or off-balance after receiving anesthetics. DO NOT OPERATE any vehicle or hazardous devices, nor engage in legally binding decisions for twenty-four (24) hours following the return home. Try to avoid frequent trips around the house.

EATING/DRINKING

After resting comfortably at home, the first drink should be a clear fluid such as water, fruit juice or a sport drink. Take small drinks frequently as long as your stomach feels okay. This should be followed by soft, easy to digest foods - preferably pasta, carbohydrates, and warm soups. Next, eggs, yogurt and easy to chew protein-containing foods can be added. If nausea develops, wait at least forty-five (45) minutes and when nausea has stopped, start again with liquids.

POST TREATMENT EFFECTS

Some common after-effects include sleepiness, dizziness, nausea (may be worse after car ride home), soreness of mouth, jaws, and throat, dry mouth, muscle aches, and shivering.

INTRAVENOUS SITE

A very small percentage of patients experience post-operative tenderness and/or redness in their hand or arm which could be a chemical phlebitis associated with the intravenous infusion. If this occurs, please contact Dr. Fee of Dr. Park immediately.

SEEK ADVICE

Please seek advice if vomiting persists beyond four (4) hours, if unable to drink liquids four (4) hours after arrival at home, if the temperature elevates rapidly or remains elevated, or if any other matter causes concern.

STREET DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

The mixture of ‘street drugs’ (marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.) or alcohol and anesthetic agent has resulted in very serious complications. The reason for these restrictions is to minimize your risk and optimize your successful recovery from anesthesia. Please refrain from all, especially while you are taking narcotic pain medications. No alcoholic beverages for forty-eight (48) hours.

Your comfort, your smile.

GETTING HOME

Most children will be sleepy after the procedure. Occasionally, a child will remain agitated for a brief period of time due to the dizzy feelings and confusion. Children mist be accompanied in the car by at least one parent. It is highly preferable to have two (2) adults for the drive home: one as the driver, one in the back seat with your child. Children must be wearing a seat belt when riding in the vehicle. Do not take public transportation. Children occasionally develop nausea on the ride home, be prepared.

HOME

A responsible adult must remain with your child until the next day. A responsible adult should remain directly with your child, indoors, in a comfortable climate, until there are no residual effects such as dizziness, nausea, or fatigue. Do not leave your child in a room by him/herself during the early recovery period.

ACTIVITY

After returning home, the child should rest for the remainder of the day and be under observation. It is common after returning home that your child may be sleepy, dizzy, and off-balance for several hours. Activities involving balance and coordination such as bicycle riding, climbing stairs, sports, and running should not be allowed on the day of treatment. Children may return to school or routine activities on the following day if they had an early to mid-day procedure and an uneventful night.

EATING/DRINKING

Water, fruit juice, or a sport drink may be given in one-ounce doses every ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes for one and a half (1.5) hours. Never force your child to drink; offer small amounts frequently. Small amounts of soft, carbohydrate food may be given along with liquids over the next one and a half hours (1.5) hours in ten (10) to fifteen (15) minute increments. If your child rejects the food, do not force it. A regular diet may be resumed, within reason, following the first three (3) hours at home.

PAIN MEDICATION

Discomfort after treatment is usually limited to soreness of the mouth, throat, and/or shoulder. Some children may complain of pain when they actually feel numbness from local anesthetic. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen should be given, in age and weight-appropriate doses, starting 3 hours following arrival home if pain medication was administered at conclusion of the anesthetic. If no pain medication was administered during the anesthetic, start pain medication after liquids are being tolerated at home.

INTRAVENOUS SITE

The bandage or pad may come off the IV site at any time. No further care should be required other than to observe it once per day for redness, swelling, or discomfort. If this should occur, contact Dr. Fee or Dr.Park immediately. Redness of the skin in other areas may remain for a brief period from take of adhesive stickers used during the anesthetic.

NAUSEA/VOMITING

Nausea is most often related to dizziness. If your child remains nauseous, stop all activities, maintain rest and only offer intermittent, small, amounts of fluid. If vomiting occurs, suspend all fluids and food for one (1) hour and then restart the introduction of fluid and food as above.

FEVER

While a fever may occur, body temperature is rarely greater than thirty seven point five (37.5) degrees following your return home. If your child’s temperature rises over thirty nine (39) degrees, rises rapidly, or remains elevated, contact Dr. Fee or Dr. Park immediately.

INSTRUCTIONS

In most cases local anesthetic (freezing) is used. This could last a couple of hours. Ensure your child is not chewing their cheek or tongue because this may cause bruising, swelling or a cut in their mouth.

Child's mouth may be sore. If your child is complaining of soreness, you may give children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen as per instructions on the bottle, based on weight.

If your child gets a spacer or stainless steel crown (cap) please avoid any sticky or chewy foods such as gummy bears, toffee, dried fruit, and gum as these can pull the spacers or crowns out. If they do come out, please call the office, as they will need to be put back on as soon as possible.

Gums around crowns can be sore. Most children take a few days to get used to how the crown feels in their mouth.

Teeth that are removed may bleed for the remainder of the day. If there is a small amount of blood mixed with saliva it can look like more bleeding than there is. Please use gauze with pressure to stop bleeding.

Nausea and vomiting may occur; nausea will subside in 2-3 hours. Offer small sips of water.

After sedation, your child may be a little uncoordinated due to the medication given. Try to ensure "quiet play" and monitor activity to prevent fall or injury.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

INSTRUCTIONS

Local anesthetic (freezing) is used; this will last a couple hours. Ensure you are not chewing your cheek or tongue because this may cause bruising, swelling or a cut in your mouth.

Pain is expected, the severity varies considerably from one person to another. Depending on the extraction, a prescription may be provided.

Some bleeding will occur. Fold clean gauze, place over bleeding area and apply pressure by biting.

Avoid smoking and using mouthwash as it will impede healing.

Swelling and bruising may occur. You can use cold packs to the side of the face for 15 minutes at a time. Swelling usually peaks the third day, then should subside.

You will need to be seen by our office for a post-operative check approximately 2 weeks after your procedure.

It will take approximately 3 to 4 months before a final impression can be taken for the permanent crown.

Maintain adequate nutrition for proper healing. Eat soft nutritious foods such as eggs, pasta, rice, soft fruits and juices.

Continue to brush your teeth gently, avoiding surgical site.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

INSTRUCTIONS

Local anesthetic (freezing) is used; this will last a couple hours. Ensure you are not chewing your cheek or tongue because this may cause bruising, swelling or a cut in your mouth.

Pain is expected, the severity varies considerably from one person to another. Depending on the extraction, a prescription may be provided.

Some bleeding will occur. Fold clean gauze, place over bleeding area and apply pressure by biting.

Do not smoke or use straws since the suction created may dislodge the clot protecting the surgical site.

Your post operative care package may include a syringe. Do NOT use for the first two days. After two days, gently rinse the surgical site with warm salt water. Do not use mouthwash.

Swelling and bruising may occur. You can use cold packs to the side of the face for 15 minutes at a time. Swelling usually peaks on the third day, then should subside.

Maintain adequate nutrition for proper healing. Eat soft nutritious foods such as eggs, pasta, rice, soft fruits and juices.

Continue to brush your teeth gently, avoiding the surgical site.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

INSTRUCTIONS

Local anesthetic (freezing) is used; this will last a couple hours. Ensure you're not chewing your cheek or tongue because this may cause bruising, swelling or a cut in your mouth.

Your mouth may be sore after the procedure, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as needed.

We check your bite while sedated as best we can, occasionally your bite may be off. If it doesn't feel even, call our office for an appointment and we will make a small adjustment to the filling.

Large/deep fillings can sometimes be temperature sensitive, this should subside over time.

In most cases, a crown will be needed after a root canal is completed.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

INSTRUCTIONS

Local anesthetic (freezing) is used; this will last a couple hours. Ensure you are not chewing your cheek or tongue because this may cause bruising, swelling or a cut in your mouth.

You will leave the appointment with a temporary plastic/acrylic crown/bridge, which is placed with temporary cement. If your temporary comes off or breaks, please call our office as we will bring you in to make a new one, to protect your tooth, until the permanent crown is ready.

Please refrain from eating or chewing sticky foods and avoid any hard foods such as nuts; these could damage your temporary crown.

Temporary crowns can be quite temperature sensitive, please be careful while consuming hot or cold foods and beverages.

Your crown or bridge will take approximately 2-3 weeks to be made by our lab.

It is normal for the gum tissue around the tooth to be tender for a few days, please call our office if this does not subside.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

INSTRUCTIONS

Dentures should NOT be removed during the first 24 hours. After 24 hours, the dentures should be removed, cleaned, and replaced. It is common for the mouth to be sore and tender, the denture should be replaced within 10 minutes to minimize swelling.

An appointment with your denturist should be made 1-3 days after your extractions.

Swelling may occur; you can use cold packs to the side of the face for 15 minutes at a time.

Maintain a soft nutritious diet to ensure proper healing.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

BLEEDING

Although significant bleeding can occur during or after surgery, it is not common. Some bleeding is, however, usual for most surgeries and is normally controlled by following the Post Operative Care instructions found on this site.

DRUG REACTIONS

A reaction is possible from any medication given and could include nausea, rash, anaphylactic shock and/or death.

INFECTION

This is possible with any surgical procedure and may require further surgery and/or medications if it does occur.

SWELLING, BRUISING AND PAIN

These can occur with any surgery and vary from patient to patient and from one surgery to another.

TOOTH SENSITIVITY

If there is discomfort due to hot, cold or sweet liquids or solid food after dental treatment, please contact our office.

TMJ DYSFUNCTION

This means the jaw joint (temporo-mandibular joint) may not function properly and, although rare, may require treatment ranging from use of heat and rest to further surgery.

TRISMUS

This is a limited opening of the jaws due to inflammation and/or swelling in the muscles. This is most common with impacted tooth removal but it is possible with almost any surgery.

DRY SOCKET

This is a significant pain in the jaw and ear due to loss of the blood clot and most commonly occurs after the removal of lower wisdom teeth, but it is possible with any extraction. This may require additional office visits to treat. Please note, smoking is a leading cause of dry socket.

SHARP RIDGES OR BONE SPLINTERS

Occasionally, after an extraction, the edge of the socket will be sharp or a bone splinter will come out through the gum. This may require another surgery to smooth or remove the bone splinter.

INCOMPLETE REMOVAL OF TOOTH FRAGMENTS

There are times the doctor may decide to leave in a fragment or root of a tooth in order to avoid doing damage to adjacent structures such as nerves, sinuses, etc.

DAMAGE TO OTHER FILLINGS AND/OR TEETH

Due to the close proximity of teeth, it is possible to damage other teeth and/or fillings when a tooth is removed.

SINUS INVOLVEMENT (UPPER TEETH)

Due to the location of the roots (especially the upper back teeth) to the sinus, it is possible an opening may develop from the sinus to the mouth or that a root may be displaced into the sinus. A possible sinus infection and/or permanent opening from the moth to the sinus could develop and may require medication and/or later surgery to correct.

NUMBNESS (LOWER TEETH)

Due to the proximity of roots to the nerve (especially wisdom teeth), it is possible to bruise or damage the nerve with removal of a tooth. This could remain for days, weeks or, very rarely, permanently. The lip, chin and/or tongue could feel numb, tingling or have a burning sensation.

LOCAL ANESTHESIA

Certain possible risks exist that, although uncommon or rare, could include discomfort, swelling, bruising, infection, nerve damage, idiosyncratic or allergic reaction, which could result in heart attack, stroke, brain damage and/or death.

GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Certain possible risks exist that, although uncommon, could include nausea, pain, swelling, inflammation and/or bruising at the injection site. Rare complications could include nerve damage to the arm, allergic or idiosyncratic drug reactions, pneumonia, heart attack, stroke, brain damage and/or death.