Most problems that patients face after surgery are related to pain and swelling, bleeding or oozing, dietary difficulties, or medication-related side effects. We have attempted to provide some helpful hints that you may use to minimize any post-surgical difficulties and make your experience as pleasant as possible. If you have any questions, please call our office. Show
BleedingBleeding is common to some degree in the first 24 hours. Your bleeding should stop within 4 hours after surgery. Oozing and episodes of occasional bleeding may occur for up to 1–2 weeks, and you should not be alarmed. Usually, simple pressure with a wet, rolled gauze pad over the extraction site will stop the bleeding when applied for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the gauze after about 1 hour and replace it if the bleeding persists. A tea bag is often more effective in stopping the bleeding. If bleeding persists, the tea bag may be used like a gauze pad. Take the staple out of the tea bag, dampen it, roll it up, and place it over the extraction site. Bite on the bag for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Swelling and BruisingIt is common to swell and bruise. Swelling is usually at its worst 48–72 hours after the surgery, and then it begins to improve. Bruising may occur over a few days and resolve within 2 weeks. Ice helps. Apply ice to your face over the surgical areas for about 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off over the first 24 hours. PainEach person experiences pain in a different way, and what may seem like a minor procedure to one person may be very objectionable to another. Although pain may persist for a few days to some degree, it always seems to get better. If your pain does not improve, you may be developing a dry socket. A dry socket is a condition that may develop when the clot in an extraction site breaks down and leaves behind a painful socket that may need to be treated with medicated gauze in the office. Please call us if you are concerned that you may be experiencing unusual discomfort. Warm saltwater rinses help muscle stiffness and pain. Mix a ½ teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water (as warm as possible without burning yourself). Swish over the extraction site(s) and spit 3–4 times per day for 1 week starting the morning after your surgery. Avoid smoking! Do not use straws, and do not use a Waterpik®. Take over-the-counter ibuprofen (200 mg) every 6 hours for 3–4 days or the prescribed anti-inflammatory medication. Call us if you develop any nausea, stomach cramps, upset stomach, or notice blood in your stool. You have been prescribed narcotic pain medication. Take this medication as prescribed on that bottle if necessary. InfectionContinue to take any antibiotics as prescribed. Unusual swelling or discharge may mean that you have an infection. Please note that your healing wound will appear whitish-grey. A slight elevation in temperature after surgery is common in the first 24 hours and does not necessarily signify an infection. Brush your teeth. Your teeth need to be clean to help prevent an infection. Use a toothbrush, softened under warm water, and brush gently around the teeth next to your extraction sites. A little bleeding with brushing is common. DietAfter your surgery, it will be difficult to eat. Hot, spicy foods and sharp particulate foods are especially difficult to chew and may irritate a wound or tooth socket. Softer, bland foods are the best to eat. Jell-O®, cottage cheese, ice cream, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soft fish, apple sauce, macaroni and cheese, ground beef in small pieces, yogurt, and well-cooked vegetables are some examples. You may try more substantial foods as the wounds begin to heal a few days after surgery. Be sure to use care when eating while your mouth is numb. You may expect to be numb from 2 to 12 hours depending on the anesthetic used. StitchesWe may use dissolving or non-dissolving sutures. The sutures may untie, fall out, or dissolve in a few hours, a few days, or a week. Do not be alarmed by this. We usually remove them at your follow-up visit. They usually do not need to be present for more than a few hours. MedicationsMedications and general anesthetic agents may cause nausea and have undesirable effects. Take your medications with food if they upset your stomach, and please call us if you have any questions. If you were provided an irrigation syringe because you had your lower wisdom teeth removed, please start using it 5–7 days after surgery. Please review these tips for the safe use and proper disposal of prescription medications. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our office at (360) 293-2808. Our after-hours emergency number is (360) 647-4027. General InstructionsAfter extraction of teeth, a blood clot forms in the remaining socket. To prevent post-operative inflammation and infection, it is important to keep this blood clot in place. For the first 48 hours after extraction:
BleedingAfter tooth removal, it is normal to ooze blood from the tooth socket for approximately 24 hours. To minimize bleeding, do the following:
SwellingIt is normal to swell after tooth removal. The swelling is greatest 2-3 days after surgery, and may remain for an additional 3 days before it starts to resolve.
Postoperative discomfortAfter removal of teeth, it is normal to experience some amount of discomfort when the anesthesia wears off. Taking prescribed medication as directed should control discomfort, but may not eliminate it.
InfectionAfter surgical procedures, there is always a chance that infection might develop. This does not happen in most cases. A prescription may be written for you after a procedure that has a higher incidence of post-operative infection.
SuturesDepending on the extent of the procedures, sutures (stitches) may be placed in order to help wound healing. If you have sutures, the doctor will inform you of this after the procedure.
Other InstructionsIf you have had IV sedation or general anesthesia for your procedure, you should rest at home with moderate activity as tolerated. For the next 24 hours following anesthesia:
Brushing
Diet SuggestionsBegin with clear liquids, such as apple or cranberry juice, 7 Up® ,or ginger ale. Advance diet the first day as tolerated, such as Jell-O®, applesauce, or milkshakes. Soft, non-chewy foods are recommended for 1 week after surgery, such as mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, or pasta. DO NOT eat popcorn, peanuts, seeds, or chips for at least 2 weeks after surgery to prevent an infection in the surgical site from impacted food debris. DO NOT rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours after surgery. After that, rinse gently with the oral rinse, if prescribed by your doctor, or with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water) 2-3 times a day for 1 week. Brush your teeth gently, but avoid the area of surgery for the first 24 hours. Warning SignsIf any of the following should occur, do not hesitate to contact us during regular office hours at (702) 660-5574. During the evening or night hours call (702) 660-5574 and follow the prompts.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE LIFE-THREATENING.It is our desire that your recovery be as smooth and pleasant as possible. Following these instructions will assist you, but please contact our office if you have questions about your progress. Home care instructions / answers to common questions:Bleeding
Dry SocketDry socket is the premature breakdown of the blood clot. This typically occurs between the third and fifth day after surgery. It is more common in females. It is more common in patients that smoke or have medical conditions that affect healing. If you overexert yourself physically then you are more likely to get a dry socket. Symptoms that may indicate you have a dry socket are increased pain and a bad taste in your mouth. Typically, the pain radiates to your ear. If you have these symptoms, please call our office and we can schedule a time to see you. DietWe encourage you to drink lots of liquids and maintain a soft diet. Avoid hot liquids as this may prematurely dissolve the blood clot. Do not drink alcohol as this can have compounding effects with pain medicine and may alter the effects of other prescribed medications. We recommend foods that are soft, thick, and creamy for the first 5 to 7 days. Avoid popcorn and all seedy type food (e.g., raspberries) and any other food that may easily get caught in the extraction sites. Avoid spitting, using straws for liquids, and smoking for at least one week following the surgery. Irrigation SyringeBeginning 5 days after surgery, use the enclosed syringe to clean out the extraction site. To use: stand in front of a mirror and pull back your cheek to see the surgery site. With warm water in the syringe, place the tip near the surgery site and rinse. This should be done after meals and at bedtime as long as debris accumulates in the area. MedicationsPrescriptions should be taken as directed. They are prescribed to provide pain control. As healing occurs the pain will decrease. As the pain decreases you may decrease the frequency of taking the pain medication. PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE TAKING BIRTH CONTROL PILLS AND ARE PRESCRIBED ANTIBIOTICS, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ANTIBIOTICS CAN DECREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BIRTH CONTROL PILLS FOR UP TO 30 DAYS. Oral Hygiene/MouthwashAs soon as possible, brush your teeth gently. Brush on the tops of teeth only as you near the surgical sites with your toothbrush. Continue to brush your teeth and keep your mouth as clean as possible. A prescription-strength mouth rinse has been prescribed. Start the mouth rinse 48 hours after surgery. Physical ActivityNo activity that increases your heart rate should be performed for the first 5 days following surgery. The incidence of "dry socket" increases when physical activity is performed that raises your heart rate. Stitches (Sutures)Your stitches have been placed to control bleeding and encourage healing. These dissolve on their own in 10 to 14 days. SwellingSwelling to some extent follows nearly every tooth extraction. This is nature's way of beginning the healing process. The swelling is often quite severe after the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. An ice pack applied intermittently for up to 48 hours may help to reduce the swelling. The swelling will usually reach a maximum in 36 to 48 hours. Note: Please do not blow your nose for one week after having upper wisdom teeth removed, as this can lead to healing complications. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE INSTRUCTIONS OR ANY CONCERNS, PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE (406) 752-4375. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRESCRIPTIONS WILL BE FILLED OR REFILLED DURING OFFICE HOURS ONLY SO WE ARE ABLE TO VERIFY OFFICE RECORDS. |
How often should you change gauze after wisdom teeth removal
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