General Post-Operative Care

If IV medication has been given, you cannot drive a car for the remainder of the day. It is advised that you have someone remain with you until your sedated condition wears off.

If you had sutures placed, two weeks after the surgery the sutures will be removed and you will be examined by the doctor.

Usually you are able to continue wearing your present partial or flipper. Sometimes it is necessary to leave it in the night of the surgery. It is important to keep the appliance as clean as possible during the healing period. Your referring dentist can make a temporary tooth replacement for you, if it is necessary. If braces are being worn, your orthodontist can place a tooth for cosmetic purposes.

Every consideration must be given to keep the surgical site clean and free of food particles. The following are instructions for your mouth care after surgery.

1. NO SMOKING: Smoking is to be avoided for the time specified by Dr. Heller or Dr. DiDonato, since it increases the heat in the surgical area and significantly lowers the body’s ability to heal.
2. Avoid Alcohol for 30 hours, commercial mouth rinses with alcohol and very hot fluids and foods for 30 hours after your surgery. Room temperature to cold is adequate. Anything that is cooked must be allowed to cool.
3. Gentle rinsing of the mouth should be started the day of surgery. Frequent gentle rinsing with lukewarm saltwater will aid the healing process and maintain cleanliness. Add ½ teaspoon of salt to a six-ounce glass of water. Avoid use of a water pik.
4. Ultra-Soft Brush: please begin using the Ultra-Soft brush 24 hours after your surgery to clean and stimulate the tissue. It will not harm the sutures. Dip the brush into the saltwater rinse and brush directly on the surgical site. Sutures should be brushed at least twice daily.
5. Antibiotics: IV sedated patients have received an appropriate antibiotic through their IV line. You may be given a follow-up antibiotic prescription. Please take as directed. Patients who have not had IV sedation should follow the directions of the prescription given to them prior to surgery. If an appropriate antibiotic has been prescribed for you today, it is very important that the prescription is filled and taken as directed. PLEASE TAKE THE TABLETS/CAPSULES UNTIL ALL ARE USED. Should you develop hives, itching, skin rash, or difficulty breathing, stop taking the medication and call the doctor immediately or proceed to your nearest hospital emergency room.
6. Probiotics: If you have been prescribed an antibiotic, please consider taking an over-the-counter probiotic supplement. The probiotic will provide more friendly bacteria present in the gut, the lower the chance of developing digestive issues like diarrhea. Three strains of probiotics in particular, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis  have been shown to do this. They can safely be taken at exactly the same time as antibiotic medication. Yogurt is another option for probiotics. However, keep in mind that not all yogurt contains live probiotics. In some cases, the live bacteria have been killed during processing. For this reason, make sure to choose yogurt with active or live cultures. Also, always read the label on yogurt before you buy it and look for the Lactobacillus strain. The recommended dosage is as follows for either the probiotic supplement or yogurt:
7. Take one probiotic capsule daily with breakfast, with your antibiotic medication and until the antibiotic course is finished, and for one week after.
8. Eat one tablespoon of yogurt each time you take your antibiotic tablet.
9. Pain: a certain amount of pain must be expected with all types of surgery. An appropriate pain medication has been prescribed to you. Please take it according to the instructions. It is advised that you do not drive while taking the pain prescription. However, if only Motrin is needed, most people are able to drive without any problem.
10. Swelling: some swelling and possible minimal bruising is to be expected and is not unusual. In most instances, swelling can be prevented or controlled. Apply the ice pack that has been given to you for a period of 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off during the day for the next two days. The application of ice to the outside of the face over the surgical area will minimize the swelling. If after three days you still have inordinate swelling or pain, please call our office.
11. Bleeding: a small amount of bleeding following surgery should not alarm you. If the bleeding is excessive or continuous, please call us at once. Vigorous rinsing of the mouth prolongs bleeding by removing the clotting blood, so when rinsing your mouth, do it gently.
12. DO NOT spit, gargle, or suck on a straw for 24 hours following your surgery. This tends to loosen the sutures and blood clots.
13. Diet: following the surgery, it is best to restrict your diet to fluids or soft foods for the first day. A normal diet may then be resumed the following day but you will want to avoid chewing on the implant site until the tissue is completely healed. Soft foods such as Jell-O, pudding, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, ice cream, and soups are suggested. If you have difficulty chewing, trying putting food in a blender or diet supplements such as Carnation Instant Breakfast or Ensure.

Additional Instructions:

If you have been given a prescription for a Medrol Dose Pack , please take it as follows not in the manner in which it reads on the package Please take all the pills for the first day in one dose as early in the morning as possible and do the same with each daily dose there after until gone. If given a refill please do not get it filled unless you have been instructed too by the office.

If you have any questions, please contact our Columbus, Ohio office. 614-885-1215 or office@oirdental.com