BITE ON GAUZE FOR 2 HOURS!!! DO NOT REPLACE DURING THAT TIME.
Avoid rinsing, spitting or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There may be stitches over the extraction site, which will be removed at your next postop visit.
BLEEDING
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24-48 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on 2-3 pieces of gauze placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues please call for further instructions.
SWELLING
Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery, and in some cases you may see some bruising. To minimize this, you can apply a bag of ice for 30 minutes at a time for the first 36 hours.
DIET
After you stop feeling numb, you can begin chewing and drinking. Avoid hot liquids or chewing food if you are numb, so you don't burn or bite your tongue/lip. Soft food and liquids should be eaten the first 48 hours – fish, tofu, porridge, eggs are best. Return to a normal diet after 48 hours unless otherwise directed.
PAIN
You should take one of pain medications for the first 24 hours to help decrease pain and swelling. The next time you should take pain medication should be around dinner time or before you go to bed. Starting tomorrow around lunch, if you do not have pain, you do not need to take the pain medication. Eat food and drink water while taking medication to avoid an upset stomach. Do NOT drink alcohol while taking medications. Do not take any of the medication below if you are allergic or have been instructed to not take it.
- Aleve 220mg: 1 tablet every 8-12 hours as needed for pain.
- Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) 200mg: 2-3 tablets every 6-8 hours as needed for pain.
- Extra Strength Tylenol 500mg: 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed for pain.
ANTIBIOTICS AND OTHER MEDICATIONS
Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection. If you are allergic to any medications, please notify Dr. Sung immediately.
- Amoxil 500mg: 1 capsule 3x/day until all gone.
- Augmentin 875 mg: 1 tablet 2x/day until all gone.
- Z Pak: starting tomorrow, 1 tablet 1x/day until all gone.
ORAL HYGIENE
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. You can brush and floss as normal starting today, but do not brush the surgical site for the first 3 days. STARTING TOMORROW, RINSE WITH WATER AFTER EVERY MEAL TO AVOID FOOD IMPACTION IN THE SOCKET FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS. Gentle rinsing is advised but not too vigorously. Gentle rinsing is advised but not too vigorously.
ACTIVITY
Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery for the first 3 days. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking normal nourishment. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.
POST-OP APPOINTMENTS
Please make an appointment to return in 2-4 weeks unless otherwise instructed. If you need to contact us after office hours, please call the emergency line 713.777.1202 or email at OFFICE@SUNG.DENTAL. If I do not answer immediately, remember to always leave a voice message with your name and number. I make every attempt to answer my emergency phone as promptly as possible.