Immediately following discharge, patients should return home and lie down with their head elevated until the effects of the anesthesia have disappeared. Please note that anesthetic effects vary by individual and you may feel drowsy for a short period of time or for several hours.

Until the anesthetic effects have disappeared please ambulate carefully as sudden changes in position can cause dizziness and nausea.

Please do not take any of the prescribed medications for at least 2 hours following discharge.

If you feel nauseated, drink only clear liquids, such as ginger ale. If nausea persists for more than 3 hours, please call the office for further assistance.

Bruising around the IV site or facial region is quite common after oral and maxillofacial surgery and will resolve spontaneously with time.

General Care Instructions For After Oral Surgery

Immediately after Surgery
Following any oral surgery procedure in the mouth it is important to minimize disturbing the surgical site(s). Bite gently but firm enough to hold the gauze pack(s) in place over the surgical site(s). Do not change them for the first hour unless the bleeding is not being well controlled. The gauze placed in the mouth may be changed after the first hour making sure that the new gauze is positioned comfortably and over the surgical site(s). It is important to allow a blood clot to form in the surgical site(s) to aid in your healing.

Oral Hygiene
Start rinsing your mouth with warm salt water the morning after your surgery. These salt water rinses should be done at least four times per day and after each meal. This should be continued for at least 2 weeks following the surgery. This will ensure that the surgical site(s) will remain clean as food and debris may promote infection.

Begin your tooth brushing routine the day after surgery. However do not brush your teeth vigorously and avoid disturbing the surgical site(s). Please avoid probing the site(s) with your tongue, objects or your fingers.

Swelling and Bruising
Swelling is to be expected, and usually reaches its maximum 72 hours after surgery. To minimize swelling, cold packs or ice bags wrapped in a towel should be applied to the face adjacent to the surgical area(s). This should be done for 20 minutes on, and then removed for 20 minutes during the initial 72 hours following surgery. If you were given medication to control the swelling, be sure to take it as directed. To limit the amount of swelling, it is also advisable to sleep with your head elevated.

After 72 hours, it is usually best to switch from using the cold packs to applying moist heat to the same area, until swelling has receded. Bruising may also occur, but should disappear seven to ten days following surgery. It is also important to keep your lips moist with cream or Vaseline to prevent cracking or chapping.

Bleeding
Some bleeding is normal and may be present for the first 24 hours after surgery. This may be controlled by placing fresh gauze over the surgical site(s) and biting with gentle pressure for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. If bleeding persists or becomes heavy, substitute a moist tea bag (first soaked in hot water, squeezed dry and wrapped in moist gauze) on the area for 20 to 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, please call our office.

Diet
It is important that patients eat and drink properly to maintain their nutrition after surgery, as this will speed up healing and improve patient comfort. It is advisable to confine the first day’s food intake to bland liquids, pureed food or soft foods that are at room temperature. Avoid any hard foods that may damage the surgical sites and any foods like nuts, sunflower seeds or popcorn, which may get trapped in surgical sites, for at least 1 week. After the initial surgical day, you may progress to more solid foods. If you are a diabetic, maintain your normal eating routine and follow your physician’s instructions regarding your insulin schedule.

Pain Medications
Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. Take the pain medication prescribed as directed. The local anesthesia administered during your surgery will eventually wear off and the onset of discomfort will begin. It is therefore advisable to start taking your pain medication approximately 2 hours after your surgery, unless otherwise directed. Taking pain medication at regularly scheduled times will be more effective at preventing pain. Taking the pain medication with soft food and a full glass of water will lessen the side effects of nausea and stomach upset.

Antibiotics
If antibiotics are prescribed for your surgery, please start them approximately 2 hours after your discharge. It is important that antibiotics that are prescribed to you be taken until they are finished. For women currently taking oral contraceptives please be aware that an alternate form of birth control should be used for the remainder of the cycle.