After Exposure of an Impacted Tooth
Do not disturb the area of the wound. Surgical packing may be placed to help keep the tooth exposed, and you should leave it in place. However, if it does become dislodged or displaced, do not be alarmed.
Bleeding
You may notice some moderate bleeding and redness in your mouth and saliva for the first 24 hours after your procedure. If you experience excessive bleeding (mouth filling with blood), you can control this by gently biting on a gauze pad placed over the wound for 30 minutes. If this excessive bleeding continues, please call our office for instructions.
Swelling
Swelling is a normal part of the healing process after you’ve had dental implant surgery. To minimize this, we recommend you place an ice pack, or a bag or towel filled with ice on the cheek over the implant site. You can apply the ice continuously, or as much as possible, for the first 36 hours after surgery.
Diet
Hydration is an important element to your recovery, and you should drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. Avoid swishing, spitting, or drinking through a straw, as these can cause more bleeding. On the day of your surgery, we recommend that you eat only soft food and liquids. After this, you can return to your regular diet unless otherwise directed.
Pain
As soon as your anesthetic begins to wear off, you should start taking pain medication. If you are experiencing moderate pain, 1 or 2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol can be taken every 3-4 hours. If you prefer, ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) can be taken instead. Ibuprofen bought over-the-counter comes in 200 mg tablets; 2-3 tablets can be taken every 3-4 hours.
If you are in severe pain, take the medication prescribed by Dr. Davies as directed. This pain medication may make you feel tired or groggy. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery while taking them. Avoid alcoholic beverages. The pain or discomfort after surgery should become less each day. If the pain persists or grows worse, it may require attention, and you should call the office.
If you are allergic to any of the above medications or have otherwise been instructed not to, do not take them.
Oral Hygiene
The day after surgery you can resume brushing as best as you can and rinsing with warm salt water (one teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of warm water) at least 6 times per day. Rinsing is especially important after meals and snacks. And remember, clean wounds heal faster!
Activity
We recommend that you keep physical activities to a minimum right after surgery. Some exercises may cause the surgical areas to throb or bleed. If this occurs, discontinue the exercise. You should also keep in mind that you will likely not be fully nourished while on a restricted diet immediately following surgery, which may leave you feeling weaker and limit your exercise ability.