Please remember, before the surgery, to always: 

Not eat or drink 8 hour before scheduled appointment. 

Have a responsible adult available to drive you home after the procedure that can remain with you for the remainder of the day. 

Not smoke or chew gum 6 hours before scheduled appointment. 

Not take any aspirin products for at least 7 days before surgery. If you do not know if a product has aspirin in it, call us or your pharmacy before taking it. 

The first four must be followed otherwise the surgery may need to be rescheduled.  

Not wear earrings or tongue rings. 

Have short sleeve shirts and loose clothing. 

Not wear contact lenses before appointment. 

Call if you have developed a cold before surgery. 

Have notified us of appointment cancellations as early as possible because surgeries with general anesthesia or I.V. Sedation are scheduled very tightly. 

Have a parent or guardian accompany you if you are under 18 that can remain with you for the remainder of the day. 

Have taken any needed blood pressure medication with no more than a sip of water the morning of the surgery. 

2 bananas or strawberries
1 tsp. honey
Ice
Orange juice
Yogurt 6 oz size (regular or soy)
Place ice in blender with bananas and set to crush
Add honey, the yogurt (peach works nicely) and
Orange juice for consistency. Blend till smooth.
No Straws Please.

Other foods you can shop for and enjoy: (use as a guide) Avoid foods that are too spicy or hot in temperature.

Please select foods that will not require chewing for the first 3-5 days after procedure. Also, always avoid spicy foods, and do not eat foods that are too hot temperature wise after the surgery.

Recommended List of Foods to eat:

Yogurt
Ice Cream
Cottage Cheese
Scrambled Or Soft-Boiled Eggs
Mashed Potatoes
Soup or Chicken Broth
Applesauce
Pudding or Jell-O
Pasta Al Dente

Vegetables Al Dente
Filet Of Flounder
Meatloaf
Any Beverage Non-carbonated, Non-alcoholic, and Non-Acidic
Canned Fruit and Bananas

If you have any questions about the instructions below, please call the office in which you were seen. 

Important: If you have Caller ID blocked, please be sure to disable it before calling the office number for service or while expecting a return call from one of our Doctors’. Doctors often perform post-operative calls and will be unavailable to get through if the Caller Block is on. Know that one of our Doctors is always on call. 

1. Gauze: For the first 30 minutes, keep the gauze that was placed over the surgical site and then gently remove it. If there is still active bleeding, replace it with a fresh rolled up gauze and bite down gently but firmly for another 30-45 minutes. Make sure the gauze is over the surgical site and not just between the teeth. This helps a blood clot to form in the socket. Repeat every 30-45 minutes as necessary until bleeding is minimal. You may see blood tinged saliva for a day or two. This is normal and is no cause for alarm. If bleeding persists, see #6 below. 
2. Diet:You may eat as soon as possible when you get home being careful if an area of the mouth is still numb. Drink plenty of fluids andmaintain good nutrition with soft foods for the first 2-3 days. ( Scrambled eggs, yogurt, soups, apple sauce, anything pureed, etc) It is best to avoid very hot foods and crunchy foods like nuts or chips for several days as these may get lodged in the socket. If you are a diabetic it is especially important to maintain your usual intake. 

Please do not attempt to use straws for at least 5 days after surgery.

3. Medications:Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. If prescriptions were issued, use according to the directions. These pain medicines will help you recover with minimal discomfort. Talking an anti-inflammatory medication before the local anesthesia wears off can help better manage discomfort. For mild pain you can take either extra-strength or regular Tylenol, or over-the-counter (OTC) non-aspirin pain reliever that you usually take. Nausea is not uncommon after surgery, anesthesia or strong pain medicines. Talking at least one cup of food or liquid before talking any prescribed pain medication (unless otherwise specified) may help avoid stomach upset. Antibiotics, if prescribed, are taken to completion unless drug complications develop. 
4. Swelling:Post-op swelling is a normal part of healing and, if significant, tends to peak 2 days after surgery. If you were instructed to apply ice to your cheek, apply for 20 minutes with a20 minute break and repeat for the first 48 hours only, but do not apply ice when sleeping. Propping yourself up with a few pillows for the first 2 nights may also help reduce facial swelling. Applying ice beyond the recommended time could delay normal healing. Do not apply ice if the swelling you have is due to an infection.
5. Oral Hygiene:Do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth for the first 12hours. Thereafter, you may brush in the non-surgical area and rinse your mouth gently 4 times a day (after meals and at bedtime) for one week. A traditional rinse is a salt-water solution (1/2 tsp. salt in 8 oz. warm water), but the cleansing is more important than the agent used. 
6. Bleeding:Some bleeding after surgery is normal. If bleeding persist seven after following the above instructions, try the following: keep the head elevated and roll a moist tea bag in a piece of gauze, place it over the socket and bite down gently, undisturbed, for 30-45 minutes. If bleeding persists, call the office in which you were seen. 
7. Smoking:Smoking causes irritation and delays normal healing.
8. Dry Socket:“Dry Sockets”will typically occur 3-5 days after the extraction. If you suspect you have a dry socket, call the office so that we can assist you. This may lead to a constant deep throbbing pain which can be easily treated with a medicated dressing. Healing can be delayed if the blood clot filling the socket dissolves or is washed away, exposing the bone. 
9. Bone Spur: Occasionally after surgery, small edges of bone may become exposed. Usually, they are unattached. If these occur, please call the office in which you were seen and make an appointment for their simple removal. 

Rest at home, keep quiet and focus rest for the first 72hours after the surgery. You do not need to stay in bed, but do not overexert yourself during this time-period as it is extremely important that you rest. Please keep your head as elevated as possible to prevent swelling of the surgical site. 

You may experience lightheadedness, dizziness, or sleepiness after surgery. Do not stay alone. A responsible adult should stay with you for a full 24 hours following surgery. 

Do not climb stairs, ladders, or overexert yourself after the first 24 hours of surgery especially if you are taking the medication prescribed for pain. 

If you rinse your mouth within the first 48 hours after surgery, do so gently or you might tear stitches and impair healing. 

If you do decide to do so, you can gently rinse with ½ teaspoon salt in 8 oz. warm water (after meals and before bed until the stitches are removed). 

Always avoid all alcoholic beverages for the first 3 day following surgery and when taking medication prescribed for pain. 

Please do not attempt to see the surgery site. If for some reason you must, please do not pull your lips or cheeks aside since this can tear stitches and delay healing. 

Do apply ice packs to the outside of your face in the general location of the surgery site alternating in 20 minute intervals of ice and no ice. This should be repeated off and on for the first 36 hours (except when sleeping). Moist heat will also aid in healing after the first 36 hours.

Slight bleeding or spotting of the saliva is normal for the first 2 days, as is a slight elevation in temperature up to 101.0 degree oral. Please report any fever over 101.0 degree.

Please do not smoke as smoking dries-out the tissues and delays healing. Please consult the doctor prior to resuming smoking.

You may not drive, operate machinery, or attempt to cook for the first 24 hours after sedation anesthesia. Also, please do not make any important decisions or sign any legal documents for the first 24 hours following sedation anesthesia.

Please continue to take prescribed medication as directed.

You may engage in normal activities (including exercise) after 1 week.

You can expect to be uncomfortable the first day after surgery; the second day may be more uncomfortable with more swelling. The third day is generally better, with rapid improvement thereafter.

We are genuinely concerned with your well-being. Please report immediately any difficulty in breathing, excessive bleeding, persistent nausea or vomiting, any pain that is unusual. If you feel that your signs and symptoms warrant a doctor’s attention, and you have been unable to reach our staff doctor, go to the emergency room closest to you.

You can expect to be uncomfortable the first day after surgery; the second day may be more uncomfortable with more swelling. The third day is generally better, with rapid improvement thereafter.

We are genuinely concerned with your well-being. Please report immediately any difficulty in breathing, excessive bleeding, persistent nausea or vomiting, any pain that is unusual. If you feel that your signs and symptoms warrant a doctor’s attention, and you have been unable to reach our staff doctor, go to the emergency room closest to you.

Recommended Foods to eat after surgery: 

Mildly “hot” chocolate along with cereal such as oatmeal or cream of wheat 

Soft boiled or scrambled eggs, milk, toast and pastas are all excellent 

Soups along with broiled fish or stewed chicken will taste good to you 

Baked potatoes, peas, asparagus, cooked carrots, cottage cheese, and baked apples will add to your diet. Soup alone is not enough 

Boost, Ensure, or Sustacal added to meals or as an in-between snack are good for added nutrition. Yogurt is also excellent 

Foods containing tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, or spices of any kind will be irritating and should be avoided 

You may eat soft foods that do not irritate. You may chew if it is not too uncomfortable to do so 

Dietary Supplements of Vitamin C, D and Calcium are important