- 3164 Finger Road Green Bay, WI
Surgery Instructions
Pre-Operative Instructions for IV sedation
Nothing to eat or drink 8 hours before your appointment.
Patients under the age of eighteen (18) MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
A responsible adult must accompany the patient to the office, remain in the office during the procedure, and drive the patient home. Rideshare services (Uber, Lyft, etc.) and taxis do not qualify as valid drivers.
Take all of your regular medications with a minimal amount of water unless you are instructed to do otherwise by the oral surgeon or your primary medical doctor.
Please wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. We recommend a short-sleeved shirt.
Contact lenses and jewelry must be removed before surgery.
Do not wear lipstick, eyelashes, excessive makeup, or nail polish on the day of surgery.
The use of alcohol or recreational drugs can have an adverse effect on the anesthesia medications. Please discontinue the use of such for at least 72 hours before your procedure.
If you have had a recent cough, cold, or runny nose, please notify us.
Plan to rest for the remainder of the surgery day. The patient should not drive a vehicle, operate any machinery, or make important decisions for 24 hours following intravenous anesthesia.
If, for some reason, you are unable to keep your surgery appointment, we request 48 hours’ notice of cancellations.
Immediately After Surgery
Immediately after surgery:
- If a gauze pad was placed over the surgical area, keep it in place for 30-40 minutes with firm, uninterrupted pressure. You can replace it with a new pad three to four times if bleeding continues. Always make sure to place with firm, uninterrupted pressure. Remove gauze when eating, drinking or sleeping.
- Vigorous mouth rinsing or touching the surgical site should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged.
- Restrict any strenuous activities on the day of surgery. You may resume normal activity approximately 3 days after the surgical procedure.
- Sleep with your head elevated for 48 hours after surgery to help reduce swelling.
Pain
- Pain and swelling is expected a er any surgical procedure. Most pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications. In certain instances, you will be prescribed an opioid to help with pain management.
- If there are no known contraindications, we recommend alternating between Ibuprofen or Tylenol every four hours prior to the local anesthetic wearing off. For example:
- 8 AM – 800 mg ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
- 12 PM – 1000 mg acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- 4 PM – 800 mg ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
- 8 PM – 1000 mg acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Please note that your prescribed opioid might contain Acetaminophen (Tylenol). It is important to follow the proper dosing for any medications and to follow the details provided by the pharmacist.
Swelling
- Swelling along with bruising and discoloration around the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and sides of the face is expected. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair.
- The swelling may not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until 3 days post-operatively. Swelling will slowly decline a er day 4, but can persist for up to 7-10 days. The swelling can be minimized with the immediate use of ice packs.
- Apply ice packs, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, for 48 hours after surgery to help minimize swelling. On day 3 the application of moist heat to the sides of the face is beneficial in reducing swelling.
Bleeding
- Some bleeding is to be expected following surgery.
- To minimize bleeding, sit upright with your head elevated and avoid strenuous activity.
- Maintaining firm pressure with gauze will help minimize bleeding and help form a blood clot.
- If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened black tea bag for thirty minutes. If bleeding does not subside despite the above interventions, call for further instructions.
Oral Hygiene
- After 24 hours gently rinse with a salt water solution (1 teaspoon of table salt with 8 ounces of water).
- After 24 hours start gently brushing over the extraction site(s) with a so bristled toothbrush, it is normal for some bleeding to occur with brushing.
- It is very important to maintain optimal oral hygiene to decrease the chance of post operative infection.
Sutures/Stitches
- You may have stitches at your surgical site. If so, they will dissolve on their own. This typically takes anywhere from 2-10 days. It is okay if they become loose or dissolve earlier than expected.
- It is okay to brush your stitches. The cleaner the area is, the faster it heals.
Diet
- You may consider starting with clear liquids immediately following your surgery, especially if IV sedation was utilized.
- Try softer foods initially such as soups, pasta, eggs, mashed potatoes, pancakes, etc. It is okay to advance your diet as you feel comfortable.
- Your food intake will be limited for the first few days, so make sure you are taking in fluids regularly to prevent dehydration. Try to drink at least 5-6 glasses of liquid daily. Consider Ensure or some type of meal replacement to ensure optimal caloric and protein intake.
Nausea & Vomiting
- In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour including the prescribed medicine. You may sip carbonated water or clear liquids (water, tea or ginger ale).
- If nausea and/or vomiting persists beyond one day, please call our office for further instruction.
Food/Drink after Surgery
- Water
- Juice
- Popsicles
- Applesauce
- Jello
- Pudding
- Yogurt
- Pasta
- Eggs
- Mashed Potatoes
- Soup
Frequently Asked Questions:
I am in pain; do I have a dry socket? A dry socket presents 4-5 days after an extraction. If pain medication (prescribed or over the counter) relieves the pain, it is likely normal post-op pain. Signs of dry socket include a bad taste in mouth or pain that radiates up to the ear. A dry socket will resolve on its own but it does take an additional 1-2 weeks of healing.
Is pain with opening and closing normal? Yes. Your muscles are fatigued from your procedure and typically take 1-2 weeks to return to normal. Using moist heat and gentle massage will help relieve the stiffness.
Is having a fever after surgery normal? Having a 1-2 degree increase in temperature after surgery is very common. If it is persistent, take over the counter Tylenol to help reduce the fever.
There is a sharp spot where the tooth was removed, was part of the tooth left in there? When a tooth is taken out, the bone fills in and recontours naturally. When the bone recontours little pieces of bone can work their way out. This is most likely what you are feeling. If bothersome or painful, call the office, and we can help.
Why do I still have numbness in my lip, chin, and tongue? Immediately after surgery it is normal to have a numb sensation due to the local anesthetic. If the numbness persists beyond 48 hours, your surgical site may have been close to the nerve that provides sensation to the lip, chin, and tongue and the nerve may be bruised or damaged. Nerve recovery can take up to 12 weeks to fully heal. In rare instances, this can be permanent. If you have persistent numbness after 48 hours, please call the office.
My extraction site is a yellow-white color. Is it infected? After a tooth is removed there will be a hole where the tooth once was. This site fills in with a blood clot that is typically dark red in color which then transitions to a light-yellow color. This is all normal healing.
I still have a large hole where the tooth was after a week, how long does it take to fill in? In healthy patients, it usually takes 6-8 weeks for the hole to fully fill in after a tooth is removed.
Reminder: Your case is unique; no two mouths are alike. Please contact our office at 920-471-0022 if you have any further questions.