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Post-Op Instructions
After your dental procedure at Happy Smiles Dental Center, our dentist in Clarksburg, Maryland, nearby the areas of Urbana, Germantown, Frederick, Mount Airy, Hyattstown and Monrovia, Maryland, will provide you with a list of post-op instructions. These are here to give you tips on how to take care of your smile to ensure a healthy recovery. If you have any questions about these instructions or need to schedule a visit with Dr. Alireza Hamidzadeh and his team of dental professionals, please contact us at 301-750-7000.
NOTIFY YOUR DOCTOR IF:
- Profuse bleeding continues after 3-4 hours of applied pressure.
- You are unable to maintain a nutritious diet after 48 hours.
- The pain and/or swelling increases after the third day.
- An oral bandage / stitch (suture) becomes dislodged in the 1st week after your surgery.
- An allergic reaction to medications occurs such as: skin rash, hives, elevated temperature, increased and/or erratic heart rate, nausea/vomiting, dizziness/fainting, blurred vision.
NO NO’S FOR THE FIRST 72 HOURS:
- DO NOT smoke.
- DO NOT spit OR use a straw.
- Avoid sneezing. If you have to, do it with an open mouth.
- DO NOT exercise or do heavy lifting for 7 days after surgery
- DO NOT SPEAK. Limit talking as much as possible (the more the better) and yawning. If you must yawn, try to limit your opening.
- DO NOT eat hard or hot food or anything with seeds. No crunchy or sticky food.
- DO NOT play with your stitches (sutures) or remove congealed blood clot.
- DO NOT brush or floss the surgical area until you are told by your doctor.
REMEMBER: AVOID THE S’S:
NO SPITTING, NO SNEEZING, NO SPEAKING, NO STRAWS, NO SMOKING, NO SEEDS, NO SODA OR SPARKLING LIQUIDS.
BLEEDING: To slow or prevent bleeding, bite with light pressure on the gauze pack that has been placed over the surgical area. Pressure should be applied while ice compression (ice packs) is applied to the area, as demonstrated during your appointment, in 10-15 minute intervals and repeated until the bleeding is brought under control. If bleeding persists without slowing for several hours, apply gauze soaked in strong tea or use a tea bag and repeat the above steps until the bleeding stops. If after multiple cycles (3-4 hours) bleeding persists and not slowing down, or if you feel faint, you should go to nearby ER or call 911 and notify us.
SWELLING/BRUISING: To prevent and/or minimize swelling and bleeding, APPLY ICE PACKS at 10-15 minute intervals to the area. After 72 hours, apply warm compress to the area to relieve the swelling. Swelling/bruising is a natural part of the healing process and can be expected for several days to several weeks depending on the nature and extent of the surgery.
DISCOMFORT: Following most surgical procedures, there may be some discomfort and pain. You will be provided with medication for discomfort that is appropriate for you. In most cases, a non-narcotic pain regimen will be given consisting of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). These two medications, when taken together, will be as effective as a narcotic without any of the side effects associated with narcotics. Be sure to take Ibuprofen three times a day with food in the first 3 to 5 days after your surgery and after that as needed for pain.
NUTRITION: A COLD LIQUID DIET IS RECOMMENED THE FIRST 3 DAYS. Chewing should be avoided or done away from the surgical/extraction site. Soft food can be resumed on day four that require minimal chewing or no chewing (like fish, broiled eggs etc.) If you are not allergic, dairy products are recommended. Also, if you are given antibiotics, if you can’t have dairy in your diet, please use over the counter probiotics to avoid complications with the digestive system. No seeds, crunchy or sticky food for at least 3 weeks. For better bone healing, you can take over the counter Vitamin D3,Vitamin C, B12, and also glucosamine as instructed on the label after your procedure.
ORAL HYGIENE: Continue gentle bruising and flossing, HOWEVER, AVOID THE SURGICAL AREA(S) UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO RESUME BY YOUR DOCTOR. You may rinse with warm saltwater (1/2 tsp. of salt 8oz of warm water) 3-4 times per day after 72 hours. Gently apply the wound dressing gel (Sockit! Gel) and other oral rinse prescribed as directed.
SLEEPING: It is highly advisable to get as much sleep as possible to expedite recovery. Your body should spend the energy on healing as much as possible. However, please be sure to sleep supine on your back with your head comfortably elevated. Do not sleep on the side, especially the side where you had the surgery.
POST SUREGRY DIET: After surgery, your bone needs to rebuild. A healthy, well-balanced diet rich in key nutrients can help speed that up. Unless advised otherwise by your physician or medical team, you can also take over the counter supplements and take them as directed on the label. ALL FOOD SHOULD VERY SOFT AND CONSUMES IN SMALL BITES – AVOID MOUTH FULL OF ANY THING OR BITING INTO ANYTHING. AVOID CRISPY, SEEDED, FLAKY FOODS.
