General Post-Operative Instructions
ACTIVITY: The effects of the I.V. medications may last up to 24 hours. A responsible adult should observe the patient during this time while the medications take their course. The patient may need assistance for the first couple of hours when moving from one place to another for example going to the bathroom or standing up. The patient should not drive or participate in any vigorous activities for 24 hours following the sedation.
NUMBNESS/DIET: Patients may be numb for 6-8 hours post surgery. While the patient is numb, they should not chew anything, stick to soft foods such as ice cream, jello, pudding, mashed potatoes, smoothies etc. Once the numbing medications have worn off you can advance the patients diet as tolerated, pain will dictate what the patient can and cannot eat. No straws for 4 days post surgery. No smoking or vaping following the procedure.
BLEEDING: There is extra gauze provided in the to go bag we sent you with. Switch the gauze out every 45 minutes to 1 hour as needed for bleeding. With the gauze, make sure you apply firm pressure on the surgical sites. It is not necessarily the gauze that is stopping the bleeding, it is the pressure that is helping the bleeding slow down. It is normal to have intermittent bleeding overnight or throughout the next day. If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office.
SWELLING: Swelling is to be expected following surgery, applying ice on and off with the head wrap provided for the first 48 hours will help to reduce the swelling. We recommend having ice on for at least 20 minutes every hour. The peak of your swelling can be expected to happen around day 3 or 4. The swelling should start to decrease by day 7, but it is okay if it lasts longer than that! Everything as far as swelling and bruising the week following surgery would be considered normal, and expected. After the first week if you experience new pain or swelling please call the office.
PAIN MANAGEMENT/MEDICATIONS: Patients should start Ibuprofen and Tylenol before the numbing medications wears off. As soon as you get the patient home and have given them something to eat, we want you to start them on the Ibuprofen and Tylenol regimen explained below. (If you are unable to take Ibuprofen or Tylenol then just skip it and take the pain medication if needed)
PAIN MEDICATIONS: Once you are home start the patient on Ibuprofen 600 mg, 3 hours later have them take Tylenol 1000mg. Alternate every 3 hours for the next 3-4 days as needed for pain. That should manage the patient's pain and swelling pretty well, if that is not sufficient then you can take the narcotic in place of the Tylenol. You will either be alternating Ibuprofen and Tylenol, or Ibuprofen and the narcotic. (do not take the Tylenol and narcotic at the same time) 95% of our patients do just fine with Ibuprofen and Tylenol so start that first before taking the narcotic.
PERIDEX MOUTH WASH: Swish with Peridex morning and night for at least 30 seconds for the next 2 weeks.
ANTIBIOTIC: Take antibiotics as directed on the bottle and finish until completely gone.
SUTURES: Sutures will dissolve by themselves over the next 2-10 days following surgery.
SYRINGE: If we sent you home with a syringe, you will need to start using this on day 4 post surgery. Fill it up with warm water, gently pull back cheek, and insert tip of the syringe into surgical site and gently irrigate until water runs clear. This should be done at least twice a day until surgical sites are closed.
If you have any other questions or concerns please call the office, if it is after our regular business hours there will be a prompt to get the doctor's cell phone.
TESTIMONIALS
What Others Are Saying
"Do yourself a favor and choose Summit Oral Surgery"
"I am pleased to say that I NO LONGER HAVE CHRONIC JAW PAIN. My teeth fit together as they should! "
- Vivian G.
"Summit Oral Surgery was so wonderful!"
"I was SO nervous to have my wisdom teeth removed because it was going to be my first procedure ever. They made me feel comfortable and the recovery process was easier than expected. I would recommend this office to all family and friends!"
- Madison G.
"Summit Oral Surgery made the appointment so comfortable"
"Intake Staff was friendly, fast and personable. Dr. Cameron Egbert made the appointment so comfortable, especially where I was anticipating my daughter’s anxiety, as well as very detailed in depth of procedure process yet simplified. He gave us referrals for the other two visits we will need through the process and that was a relieving factor not to need to figure out. Great office and we were so grateful that is how this journey started!"
- Kendra P.
AFFILIATIONS
SPANISH FORK OFFICE
Summit Oral Surgery
1642 East Spanish Fork Parkway
Suite 101
Spanish Fork, UT 84660
BLUFFDALE OFFICE
Summit Oral Surgery
1595 West 14000 South
Suite 100
Bluffdale, Utah 84065
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