Post-Operative Care for Periodontal, Oral, Implant and Osseous Surgery

To ensure your comfort after dental surgery and provide the greatest chance of success, please follow the instructions carefully:

 

• BLEEDING–Continue biting with light pressure on a folded gauze for 20 minutes and replace if necessary. If bleeding still persists, place a cold, moist tea bag over the surgical area and bite with light pressure. Avoid rinsing, spitting and drinking through a straw for 48 hours– as this may start the bleeding again. If the bleeding still continues, please call.
• DIET–Avoid hot food (both temperature and spicy) and hot beverages today, they will dissolve the blood clot and may prolong bleeding. A soft diet is advisable for the next few days. Suggested foods include soup, pasta, fish, etc. Avoid foods with small seeds or nuts.
• DO NOT SMOKE FOR 48 HOURS, if possible quit/reduce smoking during the healing period, as smoking will delay your recovery and prolong the healing process.
• SWELLING–As with the surgical procedures some swelling is to be expected. To reduce the amount of swelling, apply an ice bag whenever possible for the next 24hrs to your face near the area of the surgery. Intermittent application (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off until retiring) is most effective. After the first 24 hours you should switch to warm moist heat (such as a warm, wet facecloth) with intermittent application- this will help reduce the existing swelling. The degree of swelling experienced by patients varies widely from individual and individual.
• HEALING AND ORAL HYGEINE– The morning after surgery, use the medicated rinse as directed (if prescribed). You may also rinse with warm salt water between using the prescribed mouth-rinse (1/2tsb of salt and 8oz. of warm water) until the swelling has subsided. Do not swallow the salt water as it may cause complications in people with high blood pressure. Rinse gently avoiding strong movements which may delay the healing process.
• You may find that some teeth have increased mobility after surgery. This is not unusual.
• You may experience some temperature sensitivity, especially to cold. This will usually decrease over a period of time. We can address this at your post-operative appointment if necessary.
• Your stiches should dissolve after 7/14 days.

 

Please use the prescribed or dispensed medication as directed and be sure to complete any antibiotic regimen. If you develop a rash; discontinue the medication immediately and contact our office. Please beware that some antibiotics may interfere with effectiveness of birth control pills.

If you develop any abnormal swelling, bleeding, fever difficulty in breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth, report to the emergency room immediately.

Do not use a toothbrush in the area of surgery and do not bite or chew any hard food in the surgical area of the next two weeks or so.

Avoid vigorous exercise for the next three days.

 

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACT

Dr. Callia at 512-589-9108 or Dr. Desai at 512-931-4959

Patient and Guardian instructions for Sedation Appointments

Many patients are somewhat apprehensive concerning their upcoming surgery. However, most patients find the experience much easier than they had imagined. We want you to know that our entire staff is committed to making your surgery as pleasant as possible. In order to ensure a smooth process we require proper planning and preparation. Please review the instructions below and if you have ANY questions or concerns, please call us as soon as possible at 512-990-8550.

1. Plan no work or social activities the day of your surgery. Only a light schedule is recommended for the second day following surgery.
2. Patients receiving IV sedation/Oral sedation must have someone 18 years or older to bring them and take them home from the office. If the driver does not wish to remain at our office during the appointment, they may leave a phone number so that we may contact them when you are done with your procedure.
3. Please wear a short sleeve shirt, as we will be monitoring your blood pressure and pulse, while we administer medications via IV.
4. Medications prescribed by your physician(s) should be taken at their regular time and dosage unless specifically instructed otherwise. Be sure to advise us of any recent changes in your health history and/or medications!! Be sure that Dr. Callia/Dr. Desai know about all medications (prescription and OTC) that you currently take.
5. If Dr. Callia’s patient, regular aspirin should not be taken for 7 days prior to surgery without consent from Dr. Callia. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) are ok.
6. If you are being sedated via IV, DO NOT EAT ANYTHING 6 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR SURGERY! You may have small sips of water up to the last 2 hours of the fast.
7. No stimulants for 12 hours before/after appointment (this includes caffeine and alcohol)
8. No chance of pregnancy
9. No contact lenses, cell phones, watches, bracelets, rings during appointment
10. No grapefruit or grapefruit juice for 1 week before/after appointment, this can interfere with the medications
11. No St. John’s Wort for 1 week before/after appointment
12. If you are taking oral sedation, DO NOT EAT ANYTHING 3 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT OUR OFFICE. We will have you take the medication 1 HOUR BEFORE THE SURGERY in our office. You may have small sips of water the whole fast.
13. If you are being sedated, please remove nail polish from the bed of your nails so that your nail bed can be seen. Contact lenses should not be worn during surgery.
14. Please let our doctors know if you have had bariatric surgery or lap band surgery.

Post-operative Instructions for IV Sedation

We want to make sure your post-operative recovery is as comfortable as possible.

Please follow these instructions carefully:

• If you have IV sedation, pain medication should not be necessary for 4 hours after surgery unless directed otherwise. Do not take medication on an empty stomach. If you have two types of pain medication, take the anti-inflammatory first, then the narcotic ½ hour to 1 hour later. Follow the label instructions for frequency dosage.
• To prevent nausea, separate all medications by ½ hours. Any adverse reaction to any of the medication(s) should be reported to the office.

24 hours following your sedation appointment:

• NO driving
• NO operating hazardous devices
• NO heavy lifting
• NO stairs
• NO making important decisions
• NO texting, facebook, tweeting or other forms of electronic communication
• Drink lots of fluids
• A guardian should be supervising you at all times

 

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACT

Dr. Callia at 512-589-9108 or Dr. Desai at 512-931-4959

 

Post-operative Instructions following Sinus Augmentation

We want to make sure your post-operative recovery is as comfortable as possible.

Please follow these instructions carefully:

• DO NOT blow your nose
• Try not to sneeze
• Coughing may place additional pressure on the sinus membrane and introduce bacteria into the graft. Therefore coughing, if occurs, should be done with the mouth open to relieve pressure within the sinus.
• Apply an ice pack or in a cloth to your face 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 48 hours to reduce pain and swelling
• Eat very soft foods as tolerated. They should be of a high protein nature [soft boiled eggs, milk, ice cream, malts, boiled chicken, soup, etc.]
• Avoid food with small seeds or nuts.
• For the first 24 postoperative hours, drink plenty of fluids: juice, water, milk.
• Expect a good amount of swelling and some discoloration. These findings are common and do not indicate infection or other problems. Sleep with your head well-elevated; even so, you will find swelling will most marked on arising the next morning.
• A bloody nose is possible and is not a cause for worry.

Follow the instruction(s) given by your doctor and take your prescribed medications as instructed:

• Antibiotics: Amoxicillin 500mg tabs- take one tablet by mouth three times per day until all are taken. Or other antibiotic taken as directed.
• Decongestant: Sudafed
• Pain Medication: Take as directed.

Complications of Sinus Augmentation:

1. Pain
2. Bleeding
3. Infection of the Graft
4. Delayed soft tissue healing
5. Loss of graft material
6. Perforation of the sinus membrane
7. Lack of sufficient quality or quantity of bone forming in the graft
8. Additional corrective procedures

 

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACT

Dr. Callia at 512-589-9108 or Dr. Desai at 512-931-4959

Post-operative Instructions for Gingival Graft

• If you have IV sedation, pain medication should not be necessary for 4 hours after surgery unless directed otherwise. Do not take medication on an empty stomach. Eat something soft, at room temperature, first. Do not eat or drink anything hot. If you have two types of pain medication, take the anti-inflammatory first, then take the narcotic ½ hour to 1 hour later. Follow the label instructions for frequency dose. If you did not have IV sedation take your pain medication when you get home, as directed.

• No carbonated sodas or drinks, no alcoholic beverages for 48 hours.

• Do not drink through a straw.

• No smoking for 48 hours.

• For the first week, cut up all food into bite sizes pieces. Do not bite into food, knife and fork it. Use teeth away from the graft site for chewing.

• Avoid hard chips, nuts, or food with small seeds as they may enter wound.

• Refrain from physical contact that may involve your mouth. Do not pull your lip to the check the lip area, this may dislodge or move the healing tissue.

• An adhesive bandage is frequently placed over the donor site (roof of the mouth) which will dissolve over a 24 hour period. If swallowed, no harm will occur.

• Sutures are resorbable, and will probably dissolve before your next office visit.

• Some tenderness and possibly some slight swelling are to be expected for approximately one week. The white appearance of the graft is normal. If you are extremely uncomfortable, or experiencing anything unusual please be sure to call the office.

 

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACT

Dr. Callia at 512-589-9108 or Dr. Desai at 512-931-4959