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Your recovery period after your procedure is critical to the overall success of your surgery. You must keep the surgical site undisturbed, especially if a blood clot needs to form. Most discomfort can be alleviated with cold and hot compresses and over-the-counter pain medication. We encourage you to relax for the first few days after surgery, drink the recommended amount of water, and eat nutritionally to help jumpstart your recovery. We’ll review your post-operative instructions during your visit at Dentofacial & Cosmetic Surgery Institute in West Central Florida to ensure you’re comfortable with the healing process before treatment begins.
Do not have anything to eat or drink (including water) for the 8 hours before your appointment. If your surgery is scheduled for the morning, avoid food and water after midnight. If you have an afternoon appointment, you can eat and drink lightly (toast, water, tea, or black coffee) in the morning. Do not drink alcohol for the 24 hours before your appointment.
Refrain from smoking at least 48 hours before your appointment. Ideally, it will be most beneficial for your health and healing to minimize or stop smoking as soon as you can before your surgery. Tobacco and nicotine can burn oral tissues and restrict blood and oxygen flow. Healing slows, and the risk of infection significantly increases.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing, short sleeves, and shoes with low heels (or no heels). We’ll need access to your arm during surgery and want you to feel as comfortable as possible. Do not wear jewelry, contacts, or cosmetics (perfume, makeup, lipstick, nail polish, etc.).
For your safety during surgery, you must fully inform our team of any daily medications or supplements, including vitamins and herbal products, blood thinners, insulin, pain or depression medication, or any other substances used medically or recreationally. Certain medications are allowed on the day of surgery, but others may need to be paused days and even weeks before. Patients with asthma should bring their inhalers to the appointment.
If you have a chest or head cold, sore throat, fever, stomach flu, or another illness, we may determine that rescheduling your appointment is necessary. Surgery is an invasive experience for your body, and it’s critical for the success of your procedure and your recovery that you’re in the best possible health.
You will need a friend or family member to drive you to and from your appointment and to remain in our office (or waiting outside in a vehicle) for your surgery. You cannot drive, operate machinery, or make decisions for the rest of the day.
Minor bleeding at the surgical site is normal for the first 24 hours. If more persistent bleeding occurs, bite down firmly on a gauze pad placed on the wound for 30 minutes. Contact our office immediately if any excessive or uncontrollable bleeding occurs.
Swelling of the gums around the exposed tooth is normal. Apply an ice pack to the cheek or external area of the mouth where the surgical site is. Maintain the application of this ice pack anytime you are awake for the first 36 hours after surgery.
To reduce discomfort, begin taking over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication before the local anesthetic begins wearing off. Ibuprofen or Tylenol is generally strong enough to control post-operative pain. If prescribed medication is needed, take it only as directed. If you experience severe pain that persists, contact our office right away.
The day after your surgery, rinse with mouthwash and/or saltwater 5-6 times a day, especially after meals. Continue rinsing your mouth until the site has healed. Brush your teeth only with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and be careful not to harm the surgical site.
Immediately after surgery, drink the recommended amount of water daily to avoid dehydration. Nutritionally rich-soft foods can be eaten on the day of surgery. Avoid hot foods and liquids. You can return to a normal diet within a few days, but continue eating wholesome meals to assist your body in the healing process.
For the first few days after surgery, minimize exercise and physical activities. Do not begin a rigorous exercise, as this can cause excessive bleeding and throbbing at the surgical site. Resume physical activities slowly over the next several weeks.
After your surgery, drink the recommended amount of water daily and stick to a nutritional soft-food diet. You can resume eating normally as soon as you feel comfortable biting and chewing foods. Avoid hot foods and liquids, do not use a straw, and refrain from drinking alcohol for 72 hours after surgery.
Some bleeding after your tooth extraction is normal. To stop any persistent bleeding, bite down on a gauze pad for 30 minutes at a time. This can be repeated for as long as necessary. Any bleeding that is excessive or uncontrollable should be reported to us immediately.
Minor swelling is common after tooth extraction. Consistently apply an ice pack to the area until the swelling subsides in about 48 hours.
Pain and discomfort are normal but can be easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Take all pain medication as instructed. The pain will subside after a few days, so contact our office in West Central Florida if this pain worsens.
If you have been prescribed antibiotics, take them as instructed, either in tablets or liquid form. Do not skip any of the medication, even if you no longer feel any pain. Antibiotics help reduce the risk of infection after surgery.
You can resume your normal oral hygiene routine 24 hours after your surgery. Floss once a day, brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and avoid brushing around the extraction site for the next 72 hours.
After your surgery, drink the recommended amount of water daily and stick to a nutritional soft-food diet. You can resume eating normally as soon as you feel comfortable biting and chewing foods. Avoid hot foods and liquids, do not use a straw, and refrain from drinking alcohol for 72 hours after surgery.
Minor bleeding at the surgical site is normal for the first 24 hours. If more persistent bleeding occurs, bite down firmly on a gauze pad placed on the wound for 30 minutes. Contact our office immediately if any excessive or uncontrollable bleeding occurs.
Swelling of the gums around the exposed tooth is normal. Apply an ice pack to the cheek or external area of the mouth where the surgical site is. Maintain the application of this ice pack anytime you are awake for the first 36 hours after surgery.
To reduce discomfort, begin taking over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication before the local anesthetic begins wearing off. Ibuprofen or Tylenol is generally strong enough to control post-operative pain. If prescribed medication is needed, take it only as directed. If you experience severe pain that persists, contact our office right away.
To reduce discomfort, begin taking over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication before the local anesthetic begins wearing off. Ibuprofen or Tylenol is generally strong enough to control post-operative pain. If prescribed medication is needed, take it only as directed. If you experience severe pain that persists, contact our office right away.
The day after your surgery, rinse with mouthwash and/or saltwater 5-6 times a day, especially after meals. Continue rinsing your mouth until the site has healed. Brush your teeth only with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and be careful not to harm the surgical site.
Immediately after surgery, drink the recommended amount of water daily to avoid dehydration. Nutritionally rich-soft foods can be eaten on the day of surgery. Avoid hot foods and liquids. You can return to a normal diet within a few days, but continue eating wholesome meals to assist your body in the healing process.
For the first few days after surgery, minimize exercise and physical activities. Do not begin a rigorous exercise, as this can cause excessive bleeding and throbbing at the surgical site. Resume physical activities slowly over the next several weeks.
Minor bleeding is normal for the first 24 hours after your surgery. If you experience more excessive bleeding, bite down on a gauze pad placed over the wound for 30 minutes. Contact our office immediately if you have prolonged bleeding or bleeding that cannot be controlled.
Minor swelling is normal directly after surgery and may last a few days. To help minimize swelling, hold the ice pack or bag of ice wrapped in a towel to your cheek. Apply this ice as much as possible for 36 hours after your surgery.
Pain medication, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), can be taken before the local anesthetic wears off to avoid discomfort. Follow the instructions for how many medications you can take in the given period. Take any prescription medication only as instructed. If severe pain occurs and continues, contact our office immediately.
If you’ve been prescribed antibiotics, take them as instructed by our doctor until complete. Antibiotics help to prevent infection, which is crucial to the success of your surgery.
Take any prescribed mouthwash as directed, usually the night after your surgery before you go to bed. For the next few days, use this mouthwash 1-2 times daily (morning and night) and begin rinsing your mouth with warm salt water 4-5 times a day, especially after eating. Twenty-four hours after your surgery, you can gently resume brushing your teeth and the surgical site with a soft toothbrush.
Drink the recommended amount of water daily and eat nutritionally rich food to help your body recover from surgery. Avoid drinking or eating hot beverages or foods, and do not chew foods directly on the implant site. Immediately after your surgery, stick to a soft diet (such as protein shakes, yogurt, applesauce, etc.). You can return to a normal diet within a few days or as instructed by our doctor.
For the first week after surgery, refrain from exercising or physical activities that can increase blood flow and disturb the surgical site. Also, avoid activities that increase the risk of impact or injury to your mouth. If, during exercise, you experience complications such as bleeding or throbbing at the surgical site, discontinue activities immediately and contact our office.
Some bleeding is normal after surgery. A common mistake when applying gauze pads is clenching teeth to hold them in place instead of firmly pressing them down on the surgical site. This can cause heavier bleeding. Contact our office immediately if the bleeding worsens or does not stop.
Minor swelling is normal and will be most evident 48 hours after surgery. To minimize swelling, keep the head elevated and apply ice packs to the area in 30-minute intervals. After 48 hours have passed, apply warm compresses instead.
Pain is a normal result of surgery and can be alleviated with over-the-counter pain medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. If prescription medication has been provided, take it only as instructed by our doctor. Medication should begin before the local anesthetic wears off and should be taken with food to avoid nausea. Contact our office if the pain worsens or does not subside within normal time.
Bruising may occur and be noticeable 1-2 days after surgery. Cold and warm compresses can help reduce the visible signs of bruising, which will fade on their own within a few days or weeks.
If antibiotics are prescribed, take all the medication as directed until the series is complete. This helps reduce the chances of infection at the surgical site. Be watchful of the signs of infection, including increased swelling, intense pain, and foul-tasting drainage from the surgical site. Contact us immediately if this occurs.
Do not vigorously rinse your mouth or spit for at least 3-5 days after surgery. Gentle rinsing with warm salt water or mouthwash can resume the day after your procedure. Carefully brush and floss teeth, but do not disturb the surgical site. Avoid touching the area with your tongue or finger, and do not lift your lip to minimize the chances of tearing the sutures.
Stick to a mild, soft food diet for at least the first 2-4 days. These foods should be easy to consume without biting or chewing and be nutritionally rich to help your body heal properly. A normal diet can be resumed once the area has healed. Do not smoke or consume alcohol for at least two weeks after surgery or for as long as possible.
If you’re receiving a denture or flipper, we’ll have specific instructions on the day of your surgery. We may instruct you to wear your prosthesis immediately, leave it in place for 48 hours before removing it, or refrain from wearing it until the site has healed. If you have been instructed to wear your prosthesis and sores or swelling develops on your gums, remove it and contact our office immediately.
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