Oral Surgery Aftercare Montreal

Soft Tissue Graft

After your graft, your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has worn off. Don't eat anything for two hours following the surgery. For the first 48 hours, restrict you diet to soft foods such as yogurt, ice cream, soups and omelet's until you can chew comfortably. Avoid strenuous activities.

It's normal to experience some discomfort for several days after the surgery. Take pain medication as recommended or take a mild pain reliever such as Ibuprofen: Advil. If antibiotics are prescribed, take them for the indicated length of time even if all the symptoms and signs of infections are gone.

After 24 hours, rinse three times a day with salt water (1tsp. of salt in a cup of lukewarm water) You can also apply a warm and humid compress to control discomfort.

Some slight bleeding is normal for a day or so following the surgery. If bleeding persists, apply firm pressure with a moist gauze pad Call our office if it doesn't control bleeding or if the bleeding increases. Sutures will dissolve after a few days.

It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours, this should include brushing and flossing. Wait an extra 24 hours to brush at the site of surgery. It is very important to brush the palate as well as the site of the graft although this could be painful and may cause bleeding; brushing is your best defense for a nice healing. This speeds healing and helps keep your breath and mouth fresh.

The palate protector is solely for your comfort. We suggest that you wear it for the first few days only. If other grafts are foreseen in the future, it is best to keep it.

The appearance of the graft may be reddish and/or whitish. If you are concerned in the appearance of the graft, if pain persists or any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at the clinic.

Tooth Extraction 

After an extraction, it's important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process, that's why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for about 1 hour after the extraction. If bleeding continues after 2-3 hours, bite firmly on a tea bag for another 45 minutes.

After the blood clot forms it is important to protect it especially for the first 24 hours.

Don't:

• Smoke
• Drink through a straw
• Rinse your mouth vigorously or spit
• Clean the teeth next to the extraction site.

Also, limit yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours. Apply an ice pack (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) for 6 hours following the surgery to decrease pain and swelling. Try eating thing which are easy to chew, not too hot, cold or spicy.

You may feel some pain and have some swelling. The swelling should go down after around 48 to 72 hours. Use pain medication only as directed or take a mild pain reliever such as Ibuprofen: Advil. and call the office if it doesn't seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infections are gone.

The next day you can:

Begin eating normally the next day or as soon as it is comfortable. Gently rinse your mouth with saltwater three times a day (1 tsp. of salt in a cup of lukewarm water). It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours; this should include brushing and flossing even at the site of the extractions. This speeds healing and helps keep your breath and mouth fresh. You may have problems with opening your mouth as wide as you would like. Don't force it. Apply warm and humid compresses on your cheek to accelerate the healing.

Call us right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, increasing or continued swelling after more then 3-4 days.

Some slight bleeding is normal for a day or so following the surgery. If bleeding persists, apply firm pressure with a moist gauze pad Call our office if it doesn't control bleeding or if the bleeding increases. Sutures will dissolve after a few days.

At times, due to the closeness of dental roots or the closeness of the surgery to the nerves. A feeling of numbness may occur in the area of the tongue, lip, chin, cheek or gum. This sensation, if it occurs, is temporary and may rarely be permanent. If it occurs, please contact us or if pain or swelling persists or if you have any question or concerns.