Postoperative Instructions

  • BLEEDING: This is best controlled by pressure, which may be applied in the mouth by biting on gauze. Wash your hands well before placing the gauze in your mouth. Put two gauze packs together. Roll up one end and leave the other end hanging out of the mouth. Mild, occasional bleeding may occur for two or three days after the surgery. DO NOT SMOKE for 12 hours after surgery. DO NOT DRINK THROUGH A STRAW after surgery, this may cause increased bleeding. Do not sleep with gauze in your mouth (you could swallow it and choke).
  • SWELLING: This may be minimal or quite severe depending on the extent of surgery. Swelling may be helped to some extent by applying ice packs directly over the operated areas of the jaws. This should begin at home after surgery by placing the ice packs on for 30 minutes and then off for 30 minutes until bedtime. After the first 24 hours hot moist towels or ice packs (whichever feels best) can be held over the operated areas if desired. Swelling usually is greatest the second and third day after surgery. Also, keeping the head elevated on 2-3 pillows while lying down will help with the swelling.
  • STIFFNESS OF JAW: This is associated with the swelling; and is simply nature’s way of resting splinting the operated area during the initial healing stages. The patient can exercise the jaw by opening the mouth as widely as possible and moving the lower jaw from side to side and forward and back. In several days the stiffness will begin to relax.
  • HYGIENE: It is very important to keep the mouth thoroughly clean after surgery. Do not rinse your mouth the day of surgery. This cleansing is best done by rinsing gently with warm salty water using ¼ teaspoon of salt in a full 8-ounce glass of warm water. This rinsing should not begin until the morning following surgery. You should rinse gently after meals and at bedtime when you can for the first week after surgery. Tooth brushing should continue with care to avoid the surgical areas. The teeth next to the surgical areas may be cleaned with a Q-tip. Do not use toothpaste the day of surgery.
  • PAIN: A prescription will be provided for pain relief. Such prescriptions usually contain narcotics. It is important to note that these can cause nausea if taken on an empty stomach. Be sure there is something in the stomach (milkshake, soup, ice-cream, soft foods, etc.) before taking the medication. The instructions in item 2 and 4 above are also helpful in pain relief. WARNING: Pain medications will cause drowsiness. Therefore, DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY OR EQUIPMENT, ATTEMPT TO MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS, DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, OR EXPOSE YOURSELF TO DANGERS WHILE TAKING STRONG PAIN MEDICATIONS. If the pain is not significantly improving after four days, please call me.
  • DIET: The patient should remain on a substantial diet with more nourishment rather than less, and try not to miss a single meal. Liquids and soft foods are required at first, such as Instant Breakfast, Ensure, etc. Milkshakes, soups, soft cooked eggs, cooked cereals, jello, mashed potatoes, applesauce, etc., should be eaten. The consistency of the diet may be increased according to the patient’s ability to tolerate it. Many solid foods may be blenderized and tolerated well.
  • INFECTION: An antibiotic will not be prescribed unless necessary. There is invariably some degree of inflammation in and around the wounds within the mouth, but if all the above instructions are followed generally subsides when the first stage of healing is completed. An increased temperature is not uncommon for the first couple of days after surgery. Please call me if your temperature is greater than 101 degrees.
  • If intravenous injections (a shot in the arm or hand) were used during the surgery, there may be some discoloration and hardness of the skin over the injection site. This should be treated by application of moist heat (face cloth or towel soaked in hot water).
  • If the patient has had sedative medicine (medicine to cause drowsiness), he/she will be somewhat drowsy for remainder of the day. The patient will seem to be more awake than he/she really is and he/she will think he/she is more awake than he/she really is. The patient should NOT BE STANDING, WALKING, OR GOING TO THE RESTROOM WITHOUT ASSISTANCE because he/she could trip and be seriously injured. DO NOT DRINK ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES THE DAY OF SURGERY.
  • If you are presently taking birth control pills, some of the medications you are given may alter the effectiveness of the birth control pills so that you could become pregnant even while taking the birth control pills. Please be aware of this while taking any other medication.
  • If you have had any surgery on your upper jaw, DO NOT blow your nose for several weeks after surgery. It is okay to wipe your nose gently.