Post Operative Instructions
These are general post op instructions for the following procedures. If you are having symptoms that are not covered here or have a dental emergency, please contact the office directly.
Post Operative Instructions for Scaling and Root Planing
- After your scaling or root planning, it is best to rinse your mouth 2-3 times per day with warm salt water. One teaspoon salt / 8 oz. water. You should start home care immediately, although you should be extremely gentle with the treated areas.
- If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue where you had treatment, an Advil or Tylenol may be taken to relieve this feeling. The treated areas will probably be sensitive to hot and cold.
- It is best to refrain from eating any hard or chewy foods for the next 48-72 hours while the treated area begins to heal.
- You may also experience some swelling or jaw stiffness. If this does occur, you can place a cold compress on the swelling or a hot towel on the stiffness.
- Smoking should be terminated for a period of 48-72 hours following these procedures. Please contact the office if the pain or swelling persists.
Post Operative Instructions for Extractions
- Do not smoke, avoid drinking through a straw, avoid spitting ( try to wipe out your mouth), and avoid carbonated beverages for at least 24-48 hours after the extraction. You want to avoid making any type of suction in your mouth during this time.
- Before the numbness goes away, take 2 tablets of Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or 2 tablets of acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 6 hours for the first two days, then as needed. Take one tablet of the prescription strength pain medication at night to help you sleep. Also, if Ibuprofen or acetaminophen is not enough to make you comfortable, you can add one tablet of the prescription medication. NOTE: If you take a prescribed pain medication these medications may make you drowsy so do not operate vehicles or mix with alcohol when taking the medication.
- Slight swelling, discoloration, and discomfort are normal. These may occur 48 to 72 hours after the extraction(s) and may last for up to a week. Use a cold ice pack 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off for the first hour then off and on for the next 24 hours. If you are swollen after 24 hours, use a warm moist cloth the same way for the next 24 hours or until the swelling comes down.
- Avoid any lifting or strenuous exercises for about a week after extraction(s) to prevent any additional swelling.
- It is important to continue your home care. This may be difficult during this healing period but let comfort be your guide. The day after your extraction(s) start warm salt water rinses 2-3 times daily for the next 2 weeks.
- After eating gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water. This will help to keep the extraction clean. Do not stick any thing directly into the site.
Post Operative Instructions for Periodontal Laser Therapy
1. Do not be alarmed with any color changes or appearance of tissues following laser therapy. Tissues can be gray, yellow, red, blue, purple, or stringy and reflect normal response to laser treatments.
2. Reduce activity for several hours following the surgery.
3. It is OK to spit, rinse, and wash your mouth today. Rinse as directed with Peridex or Periogard morning and night. In between it is OK to rinse gently every three (3) hours with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoons of salt dissolved in an 8oz. Glass of warm water). Do not chew on the side of your mouth, which has been treated.
4. Do not eat spicy or excessively hot foods.
5. Try to keep your mouth as clean as possible in order to help the healing process. Brush, floss, and follow other home-care measures in all the areas of your mouth except for the surgerized area.
6. Do not apply excessive tongue or cheek pressure to the surgerized area.
7. Do not be alarmed if one of the following occurs:
a) Light bleeding
b) Slight swelling
c) Some soreness, tenderness, or tooth sensitivity
d) Medicinal taste, from Peridex or Periogard
8. A surgical pack maybe placed on the gums to prevent food, trauma, and/or smoke from irritating the surgerized tissues. If a piece of the pack falls out or if the entire pack loosens and falls out, do not be alarmed.
9. Swelling may possibly occur. To keep this at a minimum, gently place an ice pack on the outside of the face for 20 minutes each hour until you retire for sleep that night. Do not continue using the ice bag beyond the day of the periodontal surgery.
10. Some oozing of blood may occur and will appear to be greatly exaggerated when it dissolves in saliva. Determine the side of oozing and place pressure on this area. If you cannot locate the origin of the bleeding, rinse your mouth gently with iced water and apply a wet tea bag to the general area. If excessive bleeding continues, please call the office.
11. It is very important to maintain a good food and fluid intake. Try to eat soft but nutritious food such as eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, malts, ice cream, etc., until you can comfortably return to a normal diet.
12. If medication has been prescribed, please take exactly as directed.
13. Please call the office so that we may render further treatment if any of the following occurs:
a) Prolonged or severe pain
b) Prolonged or excessive bleeding
c) Considerably elevated or persistent temperature.
Do not be alarmed that beginning with just 2 weeks after therapy and extending as long as 1 year or more, the teeth may become sore, tender, or sensitive as the bone and ligaments around the teeth regenerate and become more firm. This is a sign of healing, but also indicates the presence of a bite imbalance that needs to be adjusted.
Home Care Instructions after Laser Therapy
1. Vitamins, dietary supplements, or medications may be prescribed to improve your overall health. Take any prescribed medication according to directions.
2. Dental laser procedures result in little or no discomfort following surgery. Take prescribed pain medications according to instructions if needed.
3. Carefully avoid chewing food in the areas of the mouth where the laser has been used. One of the most important results of laser surgery is the healing that occurs following the initial procedure. It is extremely important not to dislodge the tiny clots (scabs) that form in the gums.
4. Daily Care:
¨ Brush the teeth by placing the bristles of the brush on the gums below the tooth and carefully rolling the bristles toward the tooth surface. Do not stick the bristles into the gums.
¨ Brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth. During the first day drink liquids only. A liquid dietary supplement may be recommended.
¨ When flossing, carefully place the floss between the teeth and avoid pushing the floss under the gums until instructed to do so.
¨ During the first week, eat only soft foods. Do not chew where the surgery was performed.
5. The length of time it takes for the gums to heal depends upon the severity of the disease. Most healing in the surface areas takes 2 to 4 weeks. Deeper pocket areas may take several months to completely heal.
**At your 2 week post-operative visit Dr. Kim will advise you when you may resume your normal diet and oral home care (flossing and brushing).
Post Operative Instructions for Oral Surgery
Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages for the remainder of the day. ATTENTION SMOKERS, smoking may cause delayed healing and more postoperative discomfort. For best results, do not smoke for the entire postoperative period.
- You may be given several prescriptions:
Before the numbness goes away, take 2 tablets of Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or 2 tablets of acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 6 hours for the first two days, then as needed. Take one tablet of the prescription strength pain medication at night to help you sleep. Also, if ibuprofen or acetaminophen is not enough to make you comfortable, you can add one tablet of the prescription medication. If you experience some nausea or dizziness, eat a small amount of starchy food or cut the medication dose in half.
NOTE: If you take a prescribed pain medication these medications may make you drowsy so do not operate vehicles or mix with alcohol when taking the medication.
If you were given an antibiotic, take as prescribed until all the medication is taken.
- Slight swelling, discoloration and discomfort are normal. To minimize swelling and pain, immediately after surgery, ice should be applied on your face in the region of the surgery. The ice should be used for 20 minutes then removed for 10 minutes and repeated over the next 4-5 hours. If you are swollen 48 hours after surgery, you may apply warm moist washcloths to the affected area every 2-3 hours. Please remember to limit your activities (strenuous or cardiovascular exercises) for the next two weeks, as this may delay healing and cause more swelling.
- It is very important to continue with your home care during this time. Floss and brush with Oxyfresh or a baking soda solution. This may be difficult in the surgery site, let comfort be your guide, and remember to use the Oxyfresh gel and warm salt-water rinses to help. Oxyfresh toothpaste and mouth rinse has been supplied to you to cleanse the surgical site, as other homecare products may be too harsh or irritating. If you have an electric brush avoid using on surgical site use a soft bristle manual toothbrush. Starting the day after surgery, use warm salt water rinses 2-3 times daily for the next two weeks (1tsp for every 3-4oz. of warm water).
- Eat a diet as normal as possible, but avoid chewing in the surgical site. Avoid hard crunchy foods that require heavy biting pressure. Foods such as soups, cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, instant breakfast, milk shakes, mashed potatoes, etc., are recommended. It is best to take your medications on a full stomach rather than an empty one to avoid nausea.
- You might expect some slight bleeding over the first days but nothing of significance. If for some reason the surgical site begins to bleed heavily, apply direct firm pressure with gauze or tissue for 30 minutes. If the bleeding continues, call me.
- A periodontal dressing resembling silly putty may have been used to cover the surgical site. If the dressing or pieces flake off it is of minor consequence as long as there is no pain associated with its loss. If you are concerned or if there is an increase in pain, call me.
