surgical instructions
how to prepare after surgical treatment
At Purple Plum Dentistry, it is very important to our team that you feel confident and well-informed regarding every step of the treatment process. Below, you’ll find information about what to expect when undergoing oral surgery here in Falls Church. This is meant to be just a starting point, so please don’t hesitate to contact us with further questions and concerns so that we can put your mind fully at ease.
Post Operative Instructions
As you arrive home, use a cold pack on your face next to the surgical area to help keep the swelling down. Wet washcloths frozen in a Ziploc bag are beneficial. Keep the cold packs on for 10 minutes, and off for 10 minutes. Repeat this sequence for several hours. The application of a cold pack usually is the most beneficial in the first 24 hours, and should not be used after that.
Most patients will have some degree of swelling following a periodontal or implant surgery, which will occur on days 2-3 and then go down. If you feel the swelling is severe and you have a fever, please call your doctor.
You will have some discomfort in the area of the surgery. Please take any prescribed medications by your doctor as indicated. If you were given an antibiotic, please take this entire prescription until it is gone.
Do not attempt to brush or floss the area of the surgery. It is ok to brush and floss other areas of the mouth, but avoid the surgical area for at least two weeks. It is beneficial to rinse gently several times throughout the day with warm salt water, an over-the-counter mouth rinse, or a prescribed mouth rinse, starting 24 hours after surgery.
Avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages for the first week. Both of these items interfere with healing and can cause additional postoperative problems.
Please limit your physical activities following surgery. Do not do anything strenuous for the first 3 days post-op. You can begin to exercise lightly after the 3rd day. Try to take it easy and get plenty of rest on these days.
If you have sutures in place, and you feel that one is loose, do not attempt to remove these on your own.
If you have a dressing in place, please try to avoid touching this area and dislodging this. If this dressing falls out before your post-op appointment, simply throw this away.
It is common to have some slight oozing of blood mixed in your saliva for 24-48 hours following surgery. Wet gauze or damp teabags held with pressure on the surgical site will usually control any bleeding. If you had a gum graft surgery where the graft was taken from the roof of the mouth, and you are seeing blood, it is most likely coming from the roof of the mouth. Please do not touch the area of the graft even if you think it is bleeding. If you do see excessive bleeding or heavier amounts of bright red blood, please call the office.
Drink plenty of cool fluids in the first few days, such as water or fruit juice, but try to avoid sucking through a straw for the first 24-48 hours. Try to eat softer foods for the first week, and try to eat away from the surgical site. Avoid spicier foods, and tougher foods that require a lot of chewing. If you feel that you are not getting enough nutrients, it is helpful to supplement your diet with a nutritional drink such as Ensure. Some suggestions are listed on the next page for food to eat during this post-op time.
Please do not pull the lip down for the first week following any gum surgery. Also avoid wearing any appliances that could put pressure on the surgical areas(retainers, c-pap machine, etc.).
Following any periodontal surgery, please eat only liquid foods for the 1st 3 days, and then transition to softer or mushy foods for the next 4 days. Please do not bite anything with the teeth that had surgery. Please do not use straws for the first 48 hours.
If you feel like anything is out of the ordinary, or have any questions, please call the office – we are here to help.
Diet Following Surgery
Diet Following Surgery
It is most important that you maintain a nutritious diet during the weeks of healing. The patient who maintains a good diet of soft foods generally feels better, has less discomfort, and heals faster. The foods listed below are planned to provide the body with adequate vitamins and minerals. Avoid foods containing tomatoes, onions, peppers, or spices of any kind.
Suggested breakfast foods (blend if needed)
Apple juice, orange juice, milk, Ovaltine, tea, or coffee. Stewed fruits, prunes, or similar fruits should be well mashed or sieved. Cooked cereals such as oatmeal or cream of wheat. Eggs: soft-boiled, soft-scrambled, poached, or soft fried. Bread should be softened with gravy or vegetable juice. Milk toast. Donuts softened in milk or coffee. Liquid supplements as above.
Suggested lunch and dinner foods
Home-cooked broth, bouillon, soups. Ground beef. Baked or broiled fish (or fried fish with crust removed). Broiled or stewed foods are finely chopped. Chicken noodle soup, cheese and macaroni, eggs as above, breads as above. Milkshakes and ice cream. Baked or whipped potatoes. Asparagus, peas, carrots, lima beans, string beans (all mashed). Cottage cheese, cream cheese, cheesesoufflé, canned pears, baked apples. Cooked vegetables and meat juices, puddings (home prepared), Jell-O, custards, stewed fruits, pound cake.
Remember: You may eat any soft foods that are not irritating. You may chew if it is not too uncomfortable to do so. If you are experiencing difficulty in eating properly, the use of one of the commercially available dietary supplements (such as Instant Breakfast, Ensure, etc.) may be used, and the daily intake of a multivitamin is recommended.
