Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There may be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue (this will be confirmed with you after surgery).
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. Bitting on a moist tea bag ( black tea only NOT green tea) is also a good way of reducing bleeding. If bleeding continues please call for further instructions.
Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling,do not lie down completely (try to keep head up by few inches) and apply an ice bag, or a plastic bag, or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously, as much as possible, for the first 48 hours.
You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, one Mortin 600 mg tablet should be taken every 6 hours . 1 or 2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.
You may have been given an antibiotic, if so, be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection.
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed Chlorhexidine/ Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the Peridex should be used 3 times daily, after breakfast, dinner and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.
Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should not be used immediately after surgery. This will be discussed in more details and individually after the surgery.