After Care Instructions

Please note that these aftercare instructions serve as general guidelines for after oral surgery care. Our office will provide you with personalized instructions to take home on the day of your procedure.

Bleeding:

• Gently bite down on the provided gauze pad to help control bleeding. Keep the gauze in place for 30 to 60 minutes and then remove it.
• Repeat biting on gauze only if necessary. A small amount of oozing from an extraction site on the first day is not unusual.
• Do not sleep with gauze in your mouth.
• If bleeding continues unabated or becomes severe, please contact our office.

Brushing & Rinsing:

• Do not rinse or spit out for the first 24 hours.
• After 24 hours, rinse with warm salt water after meals. 1/2 teaspoon salt to 8 oz warm water. Continue to rinse with warm salt water for one month.
• Do not use mouthwash for one month.
• Resume brushing the following day.

Swelling:

• To minimize swelling, apply an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area for 20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off, for the first 24 hours.
• After the first 48 hours, switch to warm compresses to help alleviate swelling.
• Keep your head elevated with extra pillows when lying down to reduce swelling.
• If swelling worsens or does not improve after a few days, please reach out to our office.

Bruising:

• Some bruising around the surgical site is normal and should resolve on its own within a week or two.
• Apply a cold compress to the bruised area for the first 24 hours to help reduce discoloration.
• Avoid applying heat to the bruised area, as it may worsen the discoloration.
• If bruising appears severe or spreads beyond the surgical site, please contact us for further evaluation.

Pain Management:

• Take prescribed pain medications as directed by our surgeon.
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, as recommended by our office.
• Maintain a soft-food diet for the first few days to minimize discomfort.
• Avoid drinking through a straw, smoking, or consuming hot liquids, as these can irritate the surgical site.
• If pain persists or becomes increasingly severe despite medication, please inform our office.

When to Call Us:

• If bleeding continues heavily or becomes uncontrollable.
• If swelling worsens or does not subside after a few days.
• If you experience severe pain that is not relieved by prescribed medication.
• If you develop a fever or notice increasing redness, warmth, or pus around the surgical site.
• If you have any concerns or questions about your recovery that need immediate attention.

Swelling is a normal consequence of oral surgical procedures. Swelling tends to increase over the first two or three days, and then subsides. Post-operative discomfort usually is most noticeable the first day and should dissipate slowly over the next couple of days. If pain increases on the fourth or fifth day, please call the office to rule out a dry socket.

If there are any side effects or allergic type reactions to the medications being taken, stop them immediately and call the office. If there are any significant concerns or questions which you might have, please call the office.