Your surgery has been done with great care to minimize your discomfort and swelling. The surgical removal of impacted teeth is quite different from the routine extraction of erupted teeth.

Any surgical procedure - no matter how routine - may have occasional drawbacks. Care of your mouth after surgery has an important effect on healing. Swelling, discomfort, and restricted jaw function can be expected, so they should not cause undue alarm. After reading, understanding, and following these instructions, you should be able to minimize any of these possible problems.

1. DO NOT DISTURB THE WOUND
It is necessary for the blood clot to remain in the socket. Therefore, do not smoke, spit, rinse vigorously, or drink through a straw for 36 hours. These activities can dislodge the clot and cause bleeding and/or contribute to the development of a dry socket.

2. BLEEDING
The bleeding has been well controlled before you are discharged from our office. However minor oozing may continue for 36 hours. Should brisk bleeding occur, rinse your mouth one time and look in your mouth to determine the site of the bleeding. You may see a large “jelly type” clot protruding from one of the sockets. Remove the clot, place a damp tea bag over the socket, and close firmly on the tea bag for 30-45 minutes. It is the pressure that will stop the bleeding. The tea bag acts as a plug, not as a sponge. If you do not create enough pressure with one tea bag, it may be necessary to use two tea bags. Repeat this process if necessary.

3. MEDICATION
For maximum pain relief, take the first dose of your pain medication, Ibuprofen (Advil) (Motrin), 600 mg (3 tablets), within1 hour after surgery, and before the local anesthesia wears off. Do not take the medication on an empty stomach. Eat a container of yogurt 30 minutes prior to taking the pain medication. The Advil should be strong enough to make you comfortable. If you have gotten a prescription, and the Advil is not sufficient, follow the directions on your prescription container. Take the prescription pain medication and continue in an alternating manner with the Advil. You may reduce or eliminate the pain medication and continue with the Advil when appropriate. If you have difficulty with breathing, experience nausea, hives, or a rash, discontinue the medication & call our office. You must not drink alcohol, drive a motor vehicle, or operate machinery while you are taking the prescription pain medication.

4. SWELLING and/or BRUISING
The use of ice packs in the following manner will help control the swelling. Put ice cubes and a little water in a small plastic bag. Squeeze out the air, seal the end, and wrap the bag in a damp towel. Place the ice pack(s) over the surgery area(s) for 30 minutes of each hour, beginning when you arrive home. Continue the ice packs until bedtime. Begin again in the morning and continue until 6PM, then discontinue the ice. The swelling takes two days to come up, then levels off for a day or two, then starts to go down. Begin using hot wet towels over the swollen area on the 3rd day after the surgery to help reduce any swelling.

5. DIET
We recommend a soft diet (yogurt) for the first meal after surgery. The next meal eat eggs, pasta, and/or cooked vegetables. The remainder of the day and the next day, you may eat what you can comfortably tolerate. Do not eat rice. Drink a glass of water after eating to give you fluids and to keep your mouth clean.

6. PAIN
A certain amount of pain after surgery can be expected. Pain may be most severe the first day and then diminish each day thereafter. The pain medication prescribed for you should relieve most of your discomfort. If you experience increased pain 3-4 days later which interrupts sleep, you may have a disturbance with the clot formation and be developing a dry socket. Please call our office for an appointment - (650) 948-6505.

7. NAUSEA
If you experience nausea and/or vomiting, stop taking the pain medication. Nausea may be caused by taking the pain medication on an empty stomach or from swallowing blood . For relief, sip small amounts of Ginger ale and eat one cracker every 15 minutes for the next few hours. If this is tolerated, small amounts of tea, clear broth, crackers and/or bland foods may be eaten. If the nausea and/or vomiting persist, call our office.

8. INFECTION
It is unlikely that you will develop an infection. The best way to prevent infection is to keep your mouth clean. Drinking a glass of water after eating or drinking anything keeps your mouth and any stitches clean while providing you with needed fluids.