Services

• • The surgical area will swell.
  • Swelling peaks on the second or third postoperative day.
  • Trismus (stiffness) of the muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a period of days.
  • You may have a slight earache.
  • A sore throat may develop.
  • Your other teeth may ache temporarily. This is referred pain and is a temporary condition.
  • If the corners of the mouth are stretched out, they may dry and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with cream or ointment.
  • There will be a space where the tooth was removed. After 24 hours, this area should be rinsed following meals with warm salt water until it is healed. This cavity will gradually fill in with new tissue.
  • There may be a slight elevation of temperature for 24 to 48 hours. If the temperature continues, notify us.
  • It is not unusual to develop bruising in the area of an extraction.
  • Please take all prescriptions as directed.

• Removal of impacted teeth is a surgical procedure. Post-operative problems are not unusual, and extra care must be taken to avoid complications.
• Severity of post-operative pain will depend on the procedure and your physical condition. Take prescribed medication for pain precisely as directed.
• Healing of the surgical site is variable.
• Swelling can be expected. Be certain to apply ice bags as directed above.
• Difficulty in opening your mouth widely and discomfort upon swallowing should be anticipated.
• Numbness of lips and/or tongue on the affected side may be experienced for a variable period of time.

After extractions and other Oral Surgery procedures, follow the simple instructions below to minimize complications and help ensure prompt recovery.

To control bleeding:

• Immediately following the procedure, keep steady pressure on the bleeding area by biting firmly on the gauze placed there by your oral surgeon. Pressure helps reduce bleeding and permits the formation of a clot in the tooth socket. Gently remove the compress after the local anesthesia has worn off and normal feeling has returned.
• After 24 hours: some oozing of blood may persist. If necessary, resume the use of moist tea bags. After the bleeding has stopped, cautiously resume oral hygiene.

To relieve pain:

• Immediately following the procedure, begin taking medication as directed by your oral surgeon to minimize discomfort when the anesthesia wears off and the feeling is back to normal. The application of an ice bag can also help relieve discomfort.
• After 24 hours: continue to take your medication if pain persists and use an ice bag if necessary.

To minimize swelling:

• Immediately following the procedure, apply an ice bag over the affected area. Use 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for a period of 24 hours to help prevent the development of excessive swelling and discomfort. If an ice bag is unavailable, simply fill a heavy plastic bag with crushed ice. Tie the end securely and cover it with a soft cloth to avoid skin irritation.
• After 24 hours: it should not be necessary to continue with cold applications. You may expect swelling for four (4) days to one week and a fever of 99 degrees F to 100 degrees F.

Oral hygiene is important:

• 24 hours after surgery, rinse your mouth gently with a solution of one-half teaspoonful of salt dissolved in a glass of water.  Repeat after every meal or snack for seven days.  Rinsing is important because it removes food particles and debris from the socket area and thus helps prevent infection and promote healing.  Brush the tongue with a dry toothbrush to keep bacteria growth down, but be careful not to touch the extraction site.
• Resume your regular tooth brushing, but avoid disturbing the surgical site so as not to loosen or remove the blood clot.

Maintain a proper diet:

• Have your meals at the usual time. Eat soft, nutritious foods and drink plenty of liquids – with meals and in between meals. Have what you wish but be careful not to disturb the blood clot. Add solid foods to your diet as soon as they are comfortable to chew.