Post Op Instructions

Please take a few minutes to read this information. Go home and relax! Your mouth will probably remain numb for an hour or more after your therapy. You may experience a throbbing sensation as the anesthetic wears off.

MEDICATIONS

1. Take one or two minor analgesic tablets or capsules (Tylenol, Advil etc.) that you would normally take for minor headaches or other mild pains.
2. If you were given a stronger prescription type pain medication, then take this as directed on the bottle. DO NOT INCREASE DOSE!
3. If you were given a prescription for antibiotics (such as penicillin), follow directions on the bottle and take until gone.

Stop taking any medications that cause a rash, nausea or vomiting and call our office immediately.

SWELLING

1. You may have been given Ibuprofen to prevent swelling. Be sure to take as advised.
2. Any swelling will persist several days. Swelling may be reduced by using an ice bag intermittently but usually the best way to minimize swelling is to be still and quiet.
3. Do not use heat for the first 48 hours; this would increase swelling.
4. Avoid exercise, talking and alcohol for the next two days.
5. Avoid any activity that might cause an increase in blood pressure in your head (bending, lifting etc.)
6. If swelling starts or increases after the third day call the office immediately.
7. You may experience slight discoloration of the skin after a few days. This is not any different than a bruise resulting from trauma anywhere else on your body. If it occurs it will take a week or more to return to normal color.

BLEEDING

1. Some Bleeding may occur and continue for up to 24 hours.
2. If excessive bleeding occurs, take some gauze and compress it over the area for 30 minutes. Sit in an upright position. You may also soak the gauze in a strong solution of tea or use a tea bag. If neither of these takes care of the problems call the office or the doctor immediately.

NOURISHMENT

1. Avoid eating in the surgery area.
2. Avoid hard crunchy food. i.e. raw vegetables, potato chips, candy etc.
3. Avoid seed foods. i.e. strawberries, popcorn, sunflower seeds.
4. Do not use drinking straws for one week.

ACTIVITY

1. Avoid physical activity, exercise or other vigorous activity for 24 hours.
2. Do nothing that causes sudden strain for the first 24 hours.

ORAL HYGIENE

1. Use Peridex as prescribed. Do not use any other commercial mouth rinses. Avoid rigorous rinsing.
2. Avoid the surgery site, otherwise clean the rest of your mouth as you normally would.
3. Avoid water pressure devices such as WaterPik in the surgical area for the first seven days.

Smoking should be avoided completely for at least two weeks. There is a direct relationship between tobacco use and discomfort and healing.

***IMPORTANT*** The comfort you experience for the most part will be determined by how well you follow these instructions.

Please take a few minutes to read this information. Go home and relax! Your mouth will probably remain numb for two hours or more after your periodontal therapy. You may experience a throbbing sensation as the anesthetic wears off.

MEDICATIONS

1. If you were not given any prescriptions, take two or three minor analgesics or capsules (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) that you would normally take for minor headaches or other mild pains.
2. If you were given a stronger prescription type pain medication, then take this as directed on the bottle. DO NOT INCREASE THE DOSE!
3. If you were given a prescription for antibiotics (such as amoxicillin), follow the directions on the bottle and take all until gone.

Stop taking any medications that cause itching, rash, nausea or vomiting and call our office immediately.

SWELLING

1. You may have been given ibuprofen to prevent swelling. Be sure to take as directed.
2. Go home immediately and sit or lie in a slightly reclined position with your head elevated. DO NOT LIE FLAT!
3. Any swelling will persist for several days. Swelling may be reduced by using an ice bag intermittently but usually the best way to minimize swelling is to be still and quiet.
4. Do not use heat for the first 48 hours as this may increase swelling.
5. Avoid exercise, talking and alcohol for the next two days.
6. Avoid any activity that may cause an increase in blood pressure to your head (bending, lifting etc.)
7. The third day following surgery, you can expect to have the most swelling and discomfort. If this increases or starts on the fourth day, please call our office. 
8. You may experience slight discoloration of the skin after a few days. This is not any different than a bruise resulting from trauma anywhere else on your body. If this occurs it will take a week or more to return to normal color.

BLEEDING

1. Some bleeding may occur and continue for up to 24 hours.
2. If excessive bleeding occurs, take gauze and compress it over the area for 30 minutes. Sit in an upright position. You may also soak gauze in a strong solution of tea or use a teabag. If neither of these takes care of the problem call the office immediately.

NOURISHMENT

1. After surgery it is acceptable to drink tepid or iced tea, soda, juice, milk or milk shakes. Do not drink from a straw, drink from the glass or use a spoon. Warm but not hot soup is acceptable.
2. For the first seven days after surgery eat very soft foods that require no chewing or biting, i.e scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, instant breakfast, yogurt, baked fish, pasta, steamed veggies, smoothies (NO SEEDS).
3. Food supplements such as Ensure are good to help keep up your strength if you feel weak.

ACTIVITY

1. Avoid physical activity, exercise or other vigorous activity for 24 hours.
2. Do nothing that causes sudden strain for the first 24 hours.

ORAL HYGIENE

1. DO NOT BRUSH OR FLOSS THE SURGICAL AREA UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
2. Use Peridex as prescribed. Do not use any other commercial mouth rinses.
3. Clean the rest of your mouth as you normally would. You may use warm salt water rinses – ¼ tablespoon salt to 8oz. glass water. Let the water roll around in your mouth. Do not swish.
4. Avoid water pressure devices such as a WaterPik and an electric toothbrush in the surgical area.

DRESSING

If a surgical “Bandaid” was used and it comes loose, gently remove it. DO NOT attempt to push it back into place.

Smoking should be avoided completely for at least two weeks. There is a direct relationship between tobacco use and discomfort in healing.

**IMPORTANT** The comfort or discomfort you experience for the most part will be determined by how well you these instructions.

Please take a few minutes to read this information. Go home and relax! Your mouth will probably remain numb for an hour or more after your implant therapy. You may experience a throbbing sensation as the anesthetic wears off.

MEDICATIONS

1. Take one or two minor analgesics or capsules (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) that you would normally take for minor headaches or other mild pains. 
2. If you were given a stronger prescription type pain medication, then take this as directed on the bottle. DO NOT INCREASE THE DOSE! 
3. If you were given a prescription for antibiotics (such as penicillin), follow the directions on the bottle and take all until gone. 

**Stop taking any medications that cause itching, rash, nausea or vomiting and call our office immediately.

SWELLING

1. You may have been given ibuprofen to prevent swelling. Be sure to take as directed. 
2. Go home immediately and sit or lie in a slightly reclined position with your head elevated. DO NOT LIE FLAT!
3. Any swelling will persist for several days. Swelling may be reduced by using an ice bag intermittently but usually the best way to minimize swelling is to be still and quiet. 
4. Do not use heat for the first 48 hours as this may increase swelling. 
5. Avoid exercise, talking and alcohol for the next two days. 
6. Avoid any activity that may cause an increase in blood pressure to your head (bending, lifting etc.) 
7. If swelling starts or increases after the third day call the office immediately. 
8. You may experience slight discoloration of the skin after a few days. This is not any different than a bruise resulting from trauma anywhere else on your body. If this occurs it will take a week or more to return to normal color. 

BLEEDING

1. Some bleeding may occur and continue for up to 24 hours. 
2. If excessive bleeding occurs, take gauze and compress it over the area for 30 minutes. Sit in an upright position. You may also soak gauze in a strong solution of tea or use a teabag. If neither of these takes care of the problem call the office immediately. 

NOURISHMENT

1. After surgery it is acceptable to drink tepid or iced tea, soda, juice, milk or milk shakes. Do not drink from a straw, drink from the glass or use a spoon. Warm but not hot soup is acceptable. 
2. For the first seven days after surgery eat very soft foods that require no chewing or biting, ie:scrambled eggs, grits, mashed potatoes, instant breakfast, yogurt.
3. You can puree a regular meal in a blender. 
4. Food supplements such as Ensure are good to help keep up your strength if you feel weak. 

ACTIVITY

1. Avoid physical activity, exercise or other vigorous activity for 2 weeks unless instructed differently. 
2. Do nothing that causes sudden strain for the first 72 hours. 

ORAL HYGIENE

1. DO NOT BRUSH OR FLOSS THE SURGICAL AREA UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. 
2. Use Peridex as prescribed. Do not use any other commercial mouth rinses. 
3. Clean the rest of your mouth as you normally would. You may use warm salt water rinses – ¼ tablespoon salt to 8oz. glass water. Let the water roll around in your mouth. Do not swish. 
4. Avoid water pressure devices such as WaterPik in the surgical area. 

Smoking should be avoided completely for at least two weeks. There is a direct relationship between tobacco use and discomfort and healing.

**IMPORTANT** The comfort or discomfort you experience for the most part will be determined by how well you follow these instructions.