Patients may sleep, but must be watched for at least 6 hours after treatment.

Please escort the patient from the vehicle to the house by supporting them under the arm. Do not let the patient go up or down stairs unescorted.

No driving or operation of heavy machinery until the next day.

Give the patient medications as/if directed by your dentist.

Being cold is normal. Use blankets as needed.

Patients will be dehydrated. Drink plenty of water after the appointment. (No Straws)

Leave the post-operative instructions sheet and medication out for patient to find easily. If the patient experiences any complications call our office at (509) 664-7308.

AFTER YOUR WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL

Helping the Sedated patient directly after:

BLEEDING: a gauze pack has been placed in your mouth in the area of surgery. Bite firmly on the gauze for at least two hours, changing the gauze every 60 minutes then remove it. If bleeding starts again, place a folded wet tea bag in the area of bleeding and bite firmly on it until the bleeding stops. A slight amount of oozing can be expected for the first couple of days post-surgery.

PAIN: you have been given a prescription for pain medication. You should begin taking the medication 4 hours after leaving our office. Pain medication is best taken with some milk or light food to reduce stomach irritation. If your stomach is empty, drinking 10 oz. of Water quickly with the medication can be beneficial.

SWELLING: some swelling is to be expected after surgery. ICE PACKS placed over the area of surgery will help reduce the severity of the swelling. Apply an ice bag (wrapped in a towel) or cold towel to your cheek or jaw— 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off. After 24 hours, if there is swelling present or jaw stiffness, apply heat to the outside of your face using a warm moist towel.

RINSING: starting 72 hours (3 DAYS) after surgery proceed in rinsing with chlorhexidine oral rinse as prescribed. Rinse in this manner at least two times a day for two weeks.

DIET: eat foods such as fruit or protein shakes, blended vegetables, or soft foods, for the first week. Do not skip meals. A nutritionally balanced diet is important for good healing. Foods such as milk shakes, ice cream, yogurt, soups, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and juices are acceptable.
Do not suck through a straw for the first 48 hours after surgery.

ACTIVITIES: the level of postoperative activity should be determined by the extent of the surgery you have undergone. After the extraction of a single tooth, you may wish to take it easy for a few hours that day. However, if you have had several teeth removed, you should plan to rest for one to two days. Resting is an important part of the healing process. It is important to keep your head elevated while resting or sleeping with a couple of pillows. Cover the pillows with an old towel to prevent any staining of the linen.

NAUSEA: postoperative nausea can be a problem. It may be caused by the pain medication, swallowing small amounts of blood, or anxiety. Always take pain medication with some food or milk to reduce irritation. Try sipping a cold, carbonated drink or sucking on ice chips to reduce nausea. If nausea and vomiting persist, call our office for advice.

SMOKING: it is strongly recommended that you do not smoke for 72 hours following tooth extractions. Smoking delays healing and can lead to the development of dry sockets.

DRY SOCKETS: this is an uncommon postoperative problem. They usually occur three to five days following extraction. They are characterized by bad taste and/or severe throbbing pain that is not well controlled by the pain medication. If this occurs, call our office. Antibiotics do not cure dry sockets.

We are here to help!

Please contact our office if you have any questions or issues with these instructions.

 (509) 664-7308