After Exposure of an Impacted Tooth
Do not disturb the wound. If surgical packing was placed, leave it alone. The packing helps to keep the impacted tooth exposed. If it gets dislodged or falls out, do not get alarmed but please contact our office for instructions.
Bleeding
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding that rapidly fills your mouth with blood can frequently be controlled by biting with pressure on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, please contact us for further instructions.
Are You a Candidate for Oral Surgery?
Advances in the field of oral surgery have made surgery procedures much simpler.
Swelling
Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling apply an ice bag or a plastic bag filled with ice cubes on your cheek near the area of surgery. Apply the ice as much as possible for the first 36 hours.
Diet
Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or hard foods. Only consume soft food and liquids on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.
Pain Medication
For moderate pain, over the counter Tylenol or Ibuprofen may be taken by following the dosage recommendations on the bottle, or call your doctor. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed.
Oral Hygiene
Oral cleanliness is essential to good healing. Clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal, beginning the day after surgery. Brush your teeth normally if possible. Rinse with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) six times a day. Continue this procedure until healing is complete.
REMEMBER: A clean wound heals better and faster.
Physical Activity
Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced. Exercise may weaken you. If you get light headed, stop exercising. Contact our office if you have any further questions or concerns.
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