POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE READ THESE POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS.

Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so not all of these instructions may apply. Common sense will often tell you what you should do. However, when in doubt, follow these guidelines or call our office for more information.
After Surgery: Bite down firmly on the gauze. This pressure is to stop bleeding. Some bleeding may happen for several hours or more. Everyone is different. DO NOT use gauze after bleeding stops.
Exercise Care: DO NOT disturb the tooth removal area today. DO NOT rinse vigorously or poke at the area with anything. DO NOT SMOKE OR USE STRAWS FOR 24 hours, because you will not heal as fast and may have problems, such as dry socket.
Oozing: Bleeding and oozing off and on is normal. Place fresh gauze over the tooth removal area and apply pressure should stop the oozing.
Steady Bleeding: If you are having bleeding problems, you may be clenching the gauze between your teeth rather than putting pressure on the extraction site. Try to move the gauze first. If the bleeding continues or becomes heavy, you may substitute a moist TEA BAG in place of gauze. Ice will also slow the flow of blood. Keep your head higher than you heart for the first 24hrs. If necessary, call our office or 24/7 number 417-851-8113
Swelling and Bleeding: To reduce the chances of swelling, bleeding, and post-op pain use COLD. You can do this by using a cold pack or ice bag wrapped in a towel and applied to the face. This should be done for 10 minutes on and off 10 minutes. Continue up to 4 hours.
Nausea: Try drinking clear fluids like soup broth, sips of water, or ginger ale/diet soda.
Diet: Eat any food that you feel comfortable swallowing. The temperature should not be too hot. Have creamed soups, puddings, yogurt, milk shakes, or protein/meal replacement shakes such as Ensure or Slim Fast. Avoid foods like nuts, sunflower seeds and popcorn that may get stuck in the tooth socket area. Over the next several days, you can add solid foods, as you are comfortable. It is important not to skip meals. If you eat regularly you will feel better, gain strength, have less pain and heal faster. If you are diabetic, keep you normal eating habits.
Sharp Edges: If you feel sharp edges in the tooth area with your tongue, it is probably the bony walls that supported the extracted tooth. Occasionally small slivers of bone may work themselves out during the first week or two after you have a tooth removed. They are NOT pieces of tooth. You can use a damp washcloth to gently rub the area to remove these small fragments. If this does not help contact our clinic.
Mouth rinse: Do NOT rinse or spit for 24 hours or until the bleeding stops. Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is important. Use ¼ teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water and gently rinse. You may do this two or three time a day but you DO NOT want to remove the blood clot on top of the extraction site.
Brushing: Begin your normal brushing after surgery, except over the extraction site. Use your finger or a soft toothbrush, just be gentle.
Pain: Unfortunately, most tooth removals have some pain. Pain is prevented easier than stopped. Begin now and for the next 48 hours take ibuprofen (Motrin) 400mgs every 4hrs. We may give you a prescription pain medication, to take with the ibuprofen. Take ALL medication as directed for maximum comfort.
DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED BY BOTTLENECK DISTANT ASSISTANTS