RYAN REYES, DDS MS
Periodontist and Oral Surgery

  

ACTIVITY: After leaving our dental office today, we suggest you consider relaxing or at least limiting your activity as much as possible for the remainder of the day. Avoid strenuous activity and aerobic exercise for the next 4-7 days.

MEDICATION: You may have been prescribed all or some of the following medications based on individual needs.

Ibuprofen 800mg - You have been given a prescription for 800 Mg Ibuprofen, which is an anti-inflammatory analgesic. Please take one tab every 8 hours for the first 3 days. This drug will greatly decrease the possibility of post-surgical swelling and pain and has been shown to accelerate healing.

For discomfort, the combination of (1) Extra Strength Tylenol (500mg) and (1) 800 mg Ibuprofen taken every 6-8 hours as needed, should keep you comfortable. This combination should be taken in place of Norco, if desired.

Norco 5/325mg - Should intense discomfort occur at any time after the surgery, please take the Hydrocodone (Norco) that has been prescribed to you. Follow the instructions on your medication bottle. You may take both Norco and the Ibuprofen together. Their analgesic effect will be synergistic.

Medrol Dose Pack 4mg - This medication is a short course steroid that will greatly help with healing and reduce swelling and inflammation. (Not given to all patients) If you do not have this prescription, please disregard 

 

ANTIBIOTICS- It is VERY important for your healing that you take your antibiotics as directed and take all of the medication prescribed. You will be given Amoxicillin Oral Tablet 500 MG #21. Take one tablet by mouth three times a day until gone. If you are allergic to Amoxicillin you will be given Zithromax Z-Pak Oral Tablet 250mg #1Take 2 tabs by mouth the first day, on days 2-5 take one tab per day.

WOMEN- Antibiotics can render birth control ineffective. They can also put you at risk of yeast infection or upset stomach. You could take probiotics with your antibiotics to minimize this. If you get diarrhea from your antibiotics, discontinue and call us right away. It is important to take all the entire prescription of antibiotics.

INFECTION- You have been given an antibiotic to prevent infection. Please continue taking it, one tablet every 5-6 hours, or three times per day until all of the tablets have been taken. If you notice a 5 days after surgery, that pain or swelling are increasing or that you are experiencing an elevated temperature, please call our aftercare nurse, Dorien.

SWELLING- Swelling is common following oral surgery. Swelling can be minimized by using cold packs, or a bag of frozen peas applied firmly to the cheek nearest to the surgical area. This should be applied twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off during the first 24-48 hours after surgery. Do not ice for more than 20 minutes at a time. The use of both ice and Ibuprofen as described above will reduce the amount and duration of facial swelling.

 

ELEVATE - Keeping your head elevated above your heart will also help. One to two days after surgery, moist heat will help resolve minor swelling.  

BLEEDING- It is common to have slight bleeding for a few hours following periodontal surgery. If bleeding persists, apply a tea bag to the surgical site with firm but gentle pressure for 15-20 minutes. Let yourself rest for 15 minutes then repeat the application of the tea bag for a second time if you still have slight bleeding. If excessive bleeding continues, please call our office. Remember, most of the blood you may see in your mouth is actually a little bit of blood mixed with a lot of saliva. Blood is a very strong “dye” and a little bit of blood will color your saliva dramatically.

BRUSHING - Do not brush the surgical sites or rinse, spit, swish, smoke, drink through a straw, or suck on anything for the first 24 hours after surgery. After 24 hours, begin rinsing twice daily with mouthwash, but continue avoiding brushing the surgical areas for the first 7 days. You may gently soak the area with warm salt water (¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water). The exposed areas can be gently swabbed with a Q-tip dipped in water or mouthwash at bedtime, in the morning, and after meals. After one week, start gentle soft brushing of the surgical sites for 3 days, then gradually resume normal brushing, being careful not to brush the surgical areas too hard. Continue regular brushing and hygiene in all untreated areas. Do not use an electric toothbrush in the surgical area until after your post op appointment.

EATING AND DRINKING- Do not try to eat until all the anesthesia (numbness) has worn off. Soft foods are desirable for 4-7 days following surgery. Semi-solid foods may be eaten as long as this may be done comfortably. Eggs, custard, yogurt, pasta, steamed vegetables, casseroles, cooked cereals are some things that you might consider eating during the first few days following your surgery. Avoid spicy, salty, acidic, very hot or very cold foods or liquids. Also, avoid nuts, chips or other crunchy or fibrous foods which may become caught between your teeth. No smoking, vaping or drinking through a straw and no carbonated or alcoholic beverages for 48 hours following surgery.

You will be more comfortable eating soft foods for several days following your surgery. Soft foods including applesauce, yogurt, pudding, jello, ice cream, scrambled eggs, pasta, mashed or baked potatoes, fish, soup, cottage cheese, soft cooked vegetables and fruit smoothies are some suggestions

The following nutritional supplements have been found to aid in surgical healing. Taking the following dosages for at least 4-6 weeks following your surgery can enhance healing:

Multivitamin with minerals: Take once a day. Calcium: Take 500mg twice daily. Vitamin E: Take 400mg. Vitamin C: Take 1000mg once daily.

These nutritional supplements are all over the counter (OTC) items and may be purchased at a drug store, health food store or the health food section of many grocery stores.

USE OF REMOVABLE DENTAL APPLIANCES: If you normally wear a removable appliance which replaces missing teeth, and it rests on the operated area, it is best to minimize the use of this appliance as any pressure on the surgical site could be detrimental to healing and cause discomfort.

ARNICA / GEL CREAM: Apply gel to the outside of the face 3 times a day over the area that was treated. Continue for several days after surgery. to help reduce bruising and swelling. Arnica gel can be purchased at CVS and like stores.

Foods To Avoid Following Dental Surgery, Implants or Wisdom Teeth Extractions:

Tomatoes or tomato sauce – acidic and may burn or cause pain immediately after dental surgery
Orange Juice – be cautious with OJ or any other acidic juices. They may cause burning or pain if ingested too soon after dental surgery.
Seeds – anything seedy may get stuck in a surgery site and cause discomfort or get infected.
Cracked Pepper – much like a seed this can get lodged and cause pain.
Popcorn – the corn hulls can become lodged
Spicy Foods – may lead to pain and discomfort
Crunchy or Difficult to Chew Foods – these foods may interfere with the blood clotting following dental surgery

Comprehensive List of Foods To Eat After Dental Surgery, Implants, or Wisdom Teeth Extractions:

Applesauce
Avocado
Baked Apples
Bananas
Biscuits – flakey, soft or soaked to become soft after surgery biscuit
Broccoli – steamed soft
Broth
Butternut Squash – cooked soft
Carnation Instant Breakfast Drinks
Carrots -steamed soft
Casseroles
Cheese
Cheesecake
Cold Cereal – soaked in milk until soft
Cottage Cheese
Cake
Canned Peas
Cream of wheat – maybe a little to grainy depending on the type of dental surgery.
Crème Brule
Cupcake
Custard
Doughnuts
Ensure / Protien Drinks
Eggs (poached, fried or scrambled)
Egg Noodles
Egg Salad
Fettuccine
Fish (no bones)
Frozen Yogurt
Fruit Juice
Fruit – soft or grind (no seeds)
Gravy
Ground Turkey
Ground Beef/Pork
Ground Chicken
Guacamole
Humus
Ice cream
Jell-O
Juice vegetable
Macaroni and cheese
Malt-0-meal
Mangos
Mashed potatoes
Matzo Ball Soup
Meatloaf
Meatballs
Melons (Very Ripe)
Milk Shake – Avoid using a straw
Miso Soup
Mousse
Muffins
Oatmeal
Pancakes
Pasta
Pies
Polenta
Pot roast with vegetables – cooked to falling apart
Probiotics
Protein Powder – can be added to any liquid meal for added energy and healing
Pudding
Ramen Noodles
Refried Beans
Ricotta cheese
Risotto
Rice
Sandwich Meats
Sherbet
Smoothies ( No seeds)
Soft bread – soak in soup
Souffle
Soup
Spaghetti
Spinach
Steamed Vegetables
Sweet Potatoes
Tapioca Pudding
Tea
Tofu
Tuna Salad
Waffles
Yellow Squash
Yogurt

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR AFTER CARE:

Please do not reach out to the dental office as we are a traveling surgical team, and we are trained to answer your questions, give advice and are educated on what is normal and what is not. Text or call Dorien, our surgical post operative assistant at (530) 410-3356.
Please be patient when waiting for a reply, especially on the weekends. We will get back to you!