Post Operative Care

REST: Lying quietly with your head elevated is recommended for the day. Please limit your physical activity. Always get up slowly from a reclining position. Treat yourself as if you had a cold or flu. We want your resistance to be as high as possible to encourage rapid healing.

MEDICATION: As soon as you arrive home, take one of the tablets or capsules prescribed for discomfort.

DO NOT TAKE ANY ASPIRIN OR ANY OTHER DRUG CONTAINING ASPIRIN (such as Anacin, Empirin,Bufferin, or APC) for pain control. Aspirin can cause bleeding after surgery. As a substitute use Tylenol or any other medication this office recommends. If an antibiotic has been prescribed, be sure to take all of the medication as directed. If any drug causes nausea, itching or a skin rash, discontinue the drug and telephone us IMMEDIATELY at 604-939-8467.

PERIODONTAL PACK: When necessary, surgical dressing is applied over the sutures to protect the area. It should remain in place until your next appointment when it will either be removed or replaced. Small particles of dressing may chip off, but this is of no consequence unless it causes discomfort. If the periodontal dressing should come off or become loose prior to your next appointment, please call our office.

SWELLING: Swelling often occurs. This is normal. You can minimize the swelling (and consequently the pain) by placing an ice pack on the side of the surgical procedure 1/2 hour on then 1/2 hour off, for the first 4-6 hours. Ice cubes in a plastic bag work nicely as an inexpensive ice pack. Do not use heat on your face for the first 24 hours and avoid hot drinks or hot foods.

BLEEDING: Some slight seepage of blood is expected after the surgical procedure. Copious bleeding should not occur. In an emergency, apply pressure with a moistened tea bag for 20 minutes to the bleeding area and call the office.

RINSE: Do not rinse your mouth vigorously for the first day after the surgery. Fluids should be swallowed as directly as possible.

SMOKING: We suggest that you limit your smoking as the heat and smoke can act as an irritant significantly delaying healing and encouraging bleeding.

ALCOHOL: It is very important that you avoid any alcoholic beverages as alcohol can mix with the medications you are taking and cause a severe over-reaction. Alcohol can also act as an irritant and delay healing.

ORAL HYGIENE: Meticulous oral hygiene should be continued in all other areas of your mouth, but the area of surgery should be avoided in order not to dislodge the surgical dressing. Gentle rinsing after meals will be sufficient in the surgical area. A Q-tip can be used to gently clean the surface of the periodontal dressing.

NUTRITION: It is very important to maintain an adequate diet after surgery. Drink at least 2 quarts of fluid a day. You can chew on the opposite side of the mouth and avoid extremely hard foods. Eat foods that supply nourishment with little (if any) chewing necessary for swallowing (broths, soups, eggs, custards, puddings, etc.) Food supplements are recommended if you have difficulty obtaining an adequate diet.

PROBLEMS: Occasionally minor complications may occur. Please do not hesitate to call (day or night). Our office number is 604-939-8467. If an emergency arises after business hours, please call the phone number listed below. Thank you for your cooperation.

DR. NAZANIN NARANI

604-728-4937

Emergency Contact Number

If gingival grafts are done then add the following to your post operative care……

PALATAL STENT: The donor site on the roof of the mouth is generally dressed with a special tissue adhesive which forms a rough “scab” for 4-5 days. The area is usually covered with periodontal dressing, which will fall off in 24-48 hours and at that time the area may be tender and feel rough to the tongue. If you have an acrylic appliance, leave it in for the first 24 hours after which it is most often used during eating and sleeping but can be worn all day. If worn all day it should be removed and cleaned at least twice a day.

RECIPIENT SITE: The graft will appear white in color the second or third day, and will remain that way for several days. It may have a flap or pouch-like appearance, which is quite normal.