After Exposure of an Impacted Tooth

Fountaingrove Oral Surgery, Santa Rosa CA

Do not disturb the wound. If surgical packing was placed, leave it alone. The packing helps to keep the tooth exposed. If it gets dislodged or falls out, do not get alarmed but please contact our office for instructions.

Bleeding

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding that rapidly fills your mouth with blood can frequently be controlled by biting with pressure on a gauze pad placed directly on the surgical site for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, please call for further instructions.

Swelling

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling apply an ice pack or a plastic bag filled with ice cubes on your outer cheek near the area of surgery. Apply the ice for 20 minutes, and remove the ice for 20 minutes alternating continuously, as much as possible, for the first 24 hours (you do not have to wake up to continue icing the surgical site throughout the night).

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids and foods the day of your surgery. Consume only soft foods for at lest one week following your procedure. These foods include mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, pudding, yogurt, apple sauce, smoothies, soft fruits and vegetables, pasta etc. Be sure to avoid crunchy, hard, spicy and acidic foods. Do not drink from a straw for at least 72 hours following your surgery, as this can disrupt your newly forming blood clot.

Pain

Taking the pain medications that your doctor has prescribed for you will help you to effectively manage any discomfort that you may experience. Please follow the directions on your prescription bottle and call our office if you have any questions. Keep in mind that taking your pain medications before your local anesthetic wears off will help you to control your discomfort more easily. It is important for you to have something to eat before you take any kind of medication. This will help to minimize the occurance of nausea or vomiting.

Do not take any medications if you are allergic to them, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. If you are taking a narcotic pain medicacation such as Norco or Percocet do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain or discomfort following surgery should gradually subside over the coarse of a week or so. If pain persists, it may require attention and you should call the office, especially if new pain and/or sweling occur.

Oral Hygiene

Oral cleanliness is essential to good healing. Clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal, beginning the day after surgery. Brush your teeth normally if possible. Rinse with warm salt water (1 half of a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) 3-5 times a day, especially following meals. Continue this procedure until healing is complete.

REMEMBER: A clean wound heals better and faster.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum for the first few days following your surgery. If you exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced. Exercise may weaken you. If you get light headed, stop exercising.