Please make sure you clearly understand all doctor's recommendations before starting post-surgery treatment.
After oral surgical procedures, patients may experience pain, swelling, and bleeding.
Important! If any of the following problems occur after surgery, IMMEDIATELY contact your doctor:
- Bleeding continuing for 4 or more hours after surgery
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Elevated body temperature
- Pain that doesn't decrease 24 hours after surgery
- Increasing swelling 72 or more hours after surgery
Pain Prevention
Before any procedure, local anesthesia is administered, causing the treatment area to become numb. Swelling sensation may occur. The duration of numbness depends on the type and amount of anesthetic. While under anesthesia, you may accidentally bite your cheek, lip, or tongue. The anesthetic effect completely wears off after several hours. Try not to eat until the anesthesia has completely worn off.
Mild pain in the surgical area is a normal reaction after numbness subsides. The most intense pain lasts 24-48 hours after surgery. Swelling in the treatment area may increase up to the 3rd day. Some discomfort in the operated area may last 3-5 days. The level of discomfort depends on your general health and activity level.
If you lead an active lifestyle, post-operative discomfort may be greater. It's best to rest for 7-10 days after surgery. Your doctor may prescribe pain relievers, also called analgesics, to ease the pain. They may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
DO
- Inform your oral surgeon about any medications you are taking or plan to take based on advice from friends and others
- Follow instructions for taking prescribed medications
- Inform your doctor if pain persists or increases
DON'T
- Don't exceed recommended medication dosage
- Don't consume alcohol after surgery and until finishing medications
- Don't drive if taking narcotic analgesics
Bleeding Prevention
Your doctor placed a gauze pad over the surgical wound to reduce bleeding until blood clots. Bite down (don't chew) on this pad and keep it in place for 30 minutes after surgery.
Slight bleeding from the sutured wound may continue for one to two hours after surgery. Minor blood seepage may occur for 24 hours. Note that even a small amount of blood colors saliva, which may create the appearance of significant bleeding (which isn't actually the case).
Important! If bleeding continues for more than four hours after the procedure, contact your doctor. You can brush your teeth 24 hours after surgery, avoiding the surgical site.
DON'T
- Don't rinse your mouth for 24 hours after surgery, even if there's an unpleasant taste from blood or medications
- Don't chew the gauze pad on the wound or make sucking movements
- No physical activity for 7-10 days after surgery
- Avoid tea and coffee. Better to eat cooled food. Hot food increases blood flow, which may trigger bleeding
- No smoking or alcohol consumption for two weeks after surgery. Violating this recommendation may increase bleeding in the surgical area, increase infection risk, and slow healing
Swelling Prevention
Swelling may occur after surgery and can increase for THREE days. After this time, swelling will begin to decrease and completely disappear within five to seven days. As swelling subsides, bruising may appear, usually moving below the surgical site. Bruising resolves within 10-14 days after surgery.
DO
- Apply cold to the surgical area immediately after surgery. You can use frozen water, ice wrapped in a towel, or frozen vegetables
- Apply ice for 5 minutes, then take a 30-minute break, continuing this for 12 hours after surgery
- Contact your doctor if swelling continues to increase after 72 hours post-surgery or doesn't decrease within 5 days
DON'T
- Don't apply heat or massage the surgical area after surgery, as this will significantly increase swelling
Sinus Lift. Patient Instructions.
Before Surgery
- Rinse mouth with 0.1% chlorhexidine solution twice daily for 2 minutes, for three days before surgery
- Take prescribed medication (usually antibiotic) 2-3 hours before surgery start
- If anxious, you can start taking valerian, motherwort, or valocordin drops day before surgery. Remember these medications reduce reaction time, so don't operate precise machinery for 24 hours after taking them
After Surgery
- No eating or drinking for two hours after surgery. Avoid hot food and drinks for 48 hours after surgery. Eat soft foods until sutures are removed
- Don't spit out or move the tampon placed over the surgical site for 30 minutes. Swallow saliva, don't spit
- Apply ice to surgical area. Use frozen water bottle, ice wrapped in towel, or frozen vegetables/meat/fish. Apply ice through cloth for 5 minutes with 30-minute breaks. Continue ice application for 12 hours after surgery, usually until late evening on surgery day
- Please don't blow your nose! Sneeze and cough only with open mouth! If nasal mucosa dries (common in air-conditioned rooms), you can use saline solution (Soline) or boiled water nose drops
- No air travel or high-speed train travel for 3 weeks
- No diving for one month
- No sports for 2 weeks