Pre-Op Instructions

  • Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or have written consent for surgery and anesthesia.
  • Patients anticipating the usage of general anesthesia or intravenous sedation must not consume any food or beverage (including water) for a full SIX (6) hours prior to surgery.
  • Patients having general anesthesia or intravenous sedation must have someone to drive them home following surgery.
  • For maximum comfort during and following any procedure, patients should wear loose, short sleeved, comfortable clothing that preferably does not have to be removed over the head. Please wear flat shoes.
  • If you take regular medications or are given premedication, you may take this with a tiny sip of water, just enough to get it down. If you are given Valium premedication, you must not drive to or from your surgery appointment.
  • Please remove dark nail polish and any facial or oral piercings.
  • Plan on being in the office for approximately 1 1/2 hours.

Post-Op Instructions

Driving

Do NOT operate a motorized vehicle after any sedation or general anesthesia procedure for at least 24 hours.

Diet

To aid the healing process, it is important to obtain adequate nutrition and calories. A soft food diet is recommended for at least the first week. Acceptable foods include eggs, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, pasta, soup, ice cream, yogurt, milkshakes, etc. Please, avoid any hot foods; lukewarm or cold is fine. Also, food should not be too salty, spicy or acidic. Using a straw is not recommended because any suction may cause bleeding. After the first week, you may slowly progress into solid foods.

Alcohol and Smoking

Do NOT smoke for at least two weeks after oral surgery because this slows the healing process. It is recommended to avoid alcoholic beverages during the initial healing phase.

Sutures

In most cases, resorbable sutures have been placed. These sutures generally fall out in three to four days. In those cases where non-resorbing sutures have been placed, we will notify you of the proper suture removal date.

Hygiene

Do not rinse your mouth or brush your teeth during the first 24 hours. After the first 24 hours, you may brush your teeth, provided that you are careful around the extraction sites. At that time, you may also rinse gently with warm salt water every four hours (1/2 teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water).

Swelling

Some swelling may occur after oral surgery. Do not be alarmed. This is a normal reaction to irritated tissues. Swelling normally increases through the second or third postoperative day, and then it will begin to decrease. To help reduce postoperative swelling, apply an ice pack to the face over the area of extraction. The ice pack should be applied for about 20 to 30 minutes out of each hour during the first 24 hours. Do not apply heat in any form to the outside of the face unless specifically instructed to do so.

Nausea

Nausea is an uncommon side effect seen after surgery. Generally, it is related to medications taken for pain. Begin drinking clear liquids, eat saltine cracker, and then advance to a soft diet as tolerated to help with nausea. If the nausea continues, please notify your doctors.

Bleeding

Postoperative bleeding is to be expected after oral surgery. The best way to control bleeding is to apply pressure directly to the surgical wound by biting down on a gauze pad. For wisdom teeth, when correctly biting with gauze in you mouth and applying pressure, the front teeth will not come together. Remove the gauze pad after 30 minutes and replace as necessary until the bleeding has subsided. A small amount of oozing may persist throughout the first 24 hours. Please call us immediately if you experience excessive, uncontrollable bleeding and proceed to the nearest emergency room.

Pain

Some discomfort may be experienced following oral surgery. Begin taking pain medication as soon as you experience discomfort. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Advil) are acceptable medications for minor pain. However, if you experience more severe pain, a prescription for a stronger pain medication will usually be provided.

Implant Instructions

  • Eat only soft foods for the first week.
  • No brushing on area until your recheck appointment.
  • No biting on area until after the implant crown is placed.
  • No electric toothbrush or Waterpik until after the implant crown is placed. If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to call us.

If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to call our Pasadena office at (626) 792-3161. It is our desire that you have a pleasant, uncomplicated surgical experience.