Patient Care
No matter what procedure you have scheduled with our practice…
We want you to show up to your scheduled appointment confident and armed with all of the knowledge you need to feel safe and secure both before and after the procedure.
Here you’ll find all of the information you need on pre-operative and post-operative care. If you have further questions, please call our office directly at 740-773-6159 or complete our contact form and we’ll respond soon!
Instructions are below regarding post-op care. Please review them carefully! Click on each section to expand and collapse info.
Post-Op Care
This information has been designed to help you recover from your recent oral surgery and to answer your questions.
You have just undergone a surgical procedure. Pain may persist for a week or more, following even the most simple procedure. You may also experience discomfort in the ears, the throat, the side of the head, and under the lower jaw.
You should limit your activities as much as possible on the day of surgery to reduce bleeding and permit formation of a clot in the wound, which is necessary for healing. Surgical wounds of the mouth usually heal quickly and without complications if you take the simple precautions described on this page:
SWELLING
Some swelling should be expected and should not be cause for concern. The greatest swelling usually occurs on the second to third day, and can take 1-2 weeks to go away. Apply ice covered in a cloth to the sides of the face for the first 24 hours only. 20 minutes on- 20 minutes off. After that, cold should not be used because it will delay healing.
PAIN
The prescription for pain medicine which you were given is designed for more severe pain. It should be filled if needed and taken as directed. DO NOT TAKE ANY OTHER PAIN MEDICINES OR SEDATIVES with these drugs unless the doctor has directed you to do so. It is also dangerous to consume alcoholic beverages while taking these pain medications.
Since many of these drugs cause drowsiness, do not take them if you are driving a motor vehicle, operating machinery or doing anything that requires alertness.
DO NOT use over-the-counter medicines, home remedies, homeopathic or herbal medicines that are to be placed on the surgical sites, as chemical burns/tissue destruction result.
SMOKING
No smoking is permitted for at least three days after surgery. Smoking delays healing and will cause excessive bleeding and pain.
BLEEDING
Some oozing of blood may continue for about 24 hours. However, if there is more than just oozing, the following procedure will help to control it: Take a clean folded pad and moisten with plain water. Place pad over the bleeding spot. Close mouth tightly over gauze so that there is pressure against the bleeding spot. Make sure the gauze is not placed on teeth: it must be directly over the site. Maintain this pressure for one hour. Repeat if necessary. Avoid spitting, rinsing, or drinking from a straw since these activities will cause bleeding to start again.
ANTIBIOTICS
If antibiotics are prescribed for you, they must be taken as directed. Take the entire amount that is prescribed. If you experience a rash, hives, or itching, you may be having an allergic reaction. Stop taking the medication and call the office immediately.
DIET
It is important that you drink plenty of clear fluids. As soon as your numbness is gone, you may eat soft, nutritious foods such as soft-boiled eggs, chopped meat, soups, and custards. Solid food should be added as soon as possible. You should try to keep your diet as close to normal as possible. Eat as often as you can during the first few days.
SUTURES
Sutures (stitches) may have been used. They will dissolve by themselves in 3-5 days.
ORAL HYGIENE
It is important to start rigorous oral care on the day after surgery. Rinse your mouth with warm, salt water (one-half teaspoon of salt to one glass of water) at least six times a day. Clean all remaining teeth with a soft toothbrush. You are less likely to get a post-op infection if your mouth and teeth are clean. 12-14 oz. glass of warm water with ½ teaspoon (smallest spoon) of salt.
IMPACTED TEETH
If you have impacted teeth removed, your post-operative care will be the same as that of other surgical patients. The following conditions may occur, none of which are unusual.
- The operated side will swell considerably.
- Tightness of jaw muscles may occur causing difficulty in opening your mouth.
- You may have an earache.
- You may have a sore throat.
- You may feel numbness or tingling of the lip or tongue on the operated side. This condition is rarely permanent, but it may persist for several weeks or months.
- Adjoining teeth may ache temporarily.
- There may be an opening where the tooth was. This will fill in with new tissue.
- There may be a slight fever for 24-48 hours. If fever persists, please call our office.
UNUSUAL CONDITIONS
If any of the following conditions should occur during the postoperative period, please call the office for further instructions.
- Fever over 101 degrees.
- Severe, hard swelling after the fourth postoperative day.
- Severe, bright red bleeding that you cannot control by following the directions provided on this page or in the materials provided by your doctor.
- Rash, difficulty in breathing, severe vomiting, or any other suspected reaction to your medication.
Should you have any other concerns not covered on this page, feel free to call our office. If the office is closed, call our number and the answering service will get in touch with our Registered Nurse or Surgeon.
OTHER IMPORTANT POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS
- Bite firmly on gauze for one hour
- No carbonated beverages for 3-4 days
- No smoking for 3-4 days
- Take pain medication ONLY as instructed
- Do not take pain medication without food/liquid
- Do not use mouthwash for 30 days
Instructions for Sinus Opening
If the root tip of an upper back tooth grows into the sinus cavity as it develops, a little opening will be present into the sinus after the tooth is extracted. This is closed surgically at the time of the extraction.
Recovery is usually uneventful if these instructions are read and followed carefully until the doctor examines you again.
- Do NOT blow your nose.
- Do NOT lay on the side of the face where the sinus opening occurred.
- If you have an irresistible urge to sneeze, you MUST sneeze with your mouth open.
- If the doctor prescribes medicine, take it according to the directions until it is gone.
- Do not drink from a straw or smoke as the suction may damage the surgical site.
If you have any questions at all, please call us!
Important Information About Opioids
What are opioids? Opioids are strong prescription medicines that are used to manage severe pain.
What are the serious risks of using opioids?
- Opioids have serious risks of addiction and overdose.
- Too much opioid medicine in your body can cause your breathing to stop—which could lead to death. This risk is greater for people taking other medicines that make you feel sleepy or people with sleep apnea.
- Addiction is when you crave drugs (like opioid pain medicines) because they make you feel good in some way. You keep taking the drug even though you know it is not a good idea and bad things are happening to you. Addiction is a brain disease that may require ongoing treatment.
- You can get addicted to opioids even though you take them exactly as prescribed, especially if taken for a long time.
- If you think you might be addicted, talk to your healthcare provider right away.
- If you take an opioid medicine for more than a few days, your body becomes physically “dependent.” This is normal and it means your body has gotten used to the medicine. You must taper off the opioid medicine (slowly take less medicine) when you no longer need it to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
How can I take opioid pain medicine safely?
- Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbal supplements, and other over-the-counter medicines.
- Read the Medication Guide that comes with your prescription.
- Take your opioid medicine exactly as prescribed.
- Do not cut, break, chew, crush, or dissolve your medicine. If you cannot swallow your medicine whole, talk to your healthcare provider.
- When your healthcare provider gives you the prescription, ask:
- How long should I take it?
- What should I do if I need to taper off the opioid medicine (slowly take less medicine)?
- Call your healthcare provider if the opioid medicine is not controlling your pain. Do not increase the dose on your own.
- Do not share or give your opioid medicine to anyone else. Your healthcare provider selected this opioid and the dose just for you. A dose that is okay for you could cause an overdose and death for someone else. It is also against the law.
- Store your opioid medicine in a safe place where it cannot be reached by children or stolen by family or visitors to your home. Many teenagers like to experiment with pain medicines. Use a lock-box to keep your opioid medicine safe. Keep track of the amount of medicine you have.
- Do not operate heavy machinery until you know how your opioid medicine affects you. Your opioid medicine can make you sleepy, dizzy, or lightheaded.
Risk Factors for Opioid Abuse:
You have:
- A history of addiction
- A family history of addiction
- You take medicines to treat mental health problems
- You are under the age of 65 (although anyone can abuse opioid medicines)
What should I avoid taking while I am taking opioids?
Unless prescribed by your healthcare provider, you should avoid taking alcohol or any of the following medicines with an opioid because it may cause you to stop breathing, which can lead to death.
- Alcohol. Do not drink any kind of alcohol while you are taking opioid medicines.
- Benzodiazepines (like Valium or Xanax)
- Muscle relaxants (like Soma or Flexeril)
- Sleep medicines (like Ambien or Lunesta)
- Other prescription opioid medicines
What other options are there to help with my pain?
Opioids are not the only thing that can help you control your pain. Ask your healthcare provider if your pain might be helped with a non-opioid medication, physical therapy, exercise, rest, acupuncture, types of behavioral therapy, or patient self-help techniques.
What is naloxone?
- Naloxone is a medicine that treats opioid overdose. It is sprayed inside your nose or injected into your body.
- Use naloxone if you have it and call 911 or go to the emergency room right away if: You or someone else has taken an opioid medicine and is having trouble breathing, is short of breath, or is unusually sleepy.
- Giving naloxone to a person, even a child, who has not taken an opioid medicine will not hurt them.
Naloxone is never a substitute for emergency medical care. Always call 911 or go to the emergency room if you’ve used or given naloxone.
Where can I get naloxone?
- There are some naloxone products that are designed for people to use in their home.
- Naloxone is available in pharmacies. Ask your healthcare provider about how you can get naloxone. In some states you may need a prescription.
- When you get your naloxone from the pharmacy, read the Patient Information on how to use naloxone and ask the pharmacist if anything is unclear.
- Tell your family about your naloxone and keep it in a place where you or your family can get to it in an emergency.
When you no longer need your opioid medicine, dispose of it as quickly as possible. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that most opioid medicines be promptly flushed down the toilet when no longer needed unless a drug take-back option is immediately available. A list of opioid medicines that can be flushed down the toilet is found here.
“Very best place ever! I was a big baby scared to death to get a tooth pulled, let alone 8 at once! They were very nice while I was waiting, and very fast. After they numbed me, I was walking out in less than 5 minutes!”
— James K.