PRE SURGICAL INSTRUCTIONS
A) Week Before Surgery:
1. Fill your prescriptions.
2. Arrange for someone to drive you to & from this appointment.
3. Prepare your post surgical diet (see diet sheet)
B) Day Before Surgery:
1. Get a good night’s sleep. If you feel you will have trouble sleeping, please let us
know and we will prescribe a sedative.
C) Day of Surgery:
1. If an antibiotic is prescribed, begin taking it as directed.
2. We suggest that you eat a light meal at least one hour before your appointment
(ie…toast, half bowl of cereal, etc) UNLESS YOU ARE BEING SEDATED! If
you are going to be sedated for this appointment, please DO NOT eat
anything after midnight.
3. Wear loose clothing & make sure that your sleeves can be raised to your
shoulder because we will be taking your blood pressure.
4. DO NOT DRINK COFFEE, ORANGE JUICE OR TEA PRIOR TO YOUR
APPOINTMENT.
POST SURGICAL INSTRUCTIONS
A) Medications: If you have been prescribed medications, please have them filled and take
them as directed.
B) Discomfort: The average patient does experience moderate discomfort after surgery. If
you have been given prescription for this discomfort, be sure to take it as directed. If no
medication has been prescribed you may take two Advil or Extra Strength Tylenol with a
large glass of water every 3 to 5 hours.
C) Swelling: It is not unusual to have some swelling and or discoloration at the surgical
site. Applying an ice pack to the area as soon as possible and holding it there for
15minutes, and then removing it for 15minutes in repetition will be beneficial. This
procedure should be repeated as often as possible for the first day. For the following
day if swelling is still present, moist heat should be applied. Swelling may be present for
2-3 days, then should subside. If surgery was performed on your lower jaw, you may
notice a sore throat. This is not unusual, and is nothing to be concerned about.
D) Bleeding: Please do not be alarmed if you notice traces of blood in your saliva for the
first day after the procedure has been completed. This is normal. Use the gauze that
has been given to you to bite down on, and keep it in place for 30 minutes. You may
have to repeat this for some time during the first post-operative day. If you discover
active bleeding, a moist tea bag over the site and gentle pressure to the area for about
45 minutes to one hour should help. If this does not stop the bleeding, please call the
office.
E) Rinsing: We ask that you DO NOT rinse your mouth on the day of your surgery. The
day after the procedure you may rinse with warm salt water (and 8oz cup of warm water
and 1/4tsp of salt). Rinse every 2 hours for 2 days after your surgery. After these 2
days, continue to rinse after every meal and before bed until the sutures are removed
(approximately one week after the procedure). This will help to keep the surgical site
clean, thus increasing your healing rate.
F) Oral Hygiene: We suggest that you maintain a high level of oral hygiene (as always!)
during this time on the areas that were not operated on. You can clean the biting
surfaces of the teeth in the surgical area with a soft brush.
G) Diet: On the day of your surgery we recommend cool liquids and soft foods. Do not eat
or drink anything hot. The diet should be expanded each day according to your comfort
level. Do not miss meals. A list of suggestions for appropriate foods is attached.
H) Activity: We ask that you refrain from any physical activity the day of the surgical
procedure. It would be preferable to have a “light day” the first day after surgery. After
the first post-surgical day, let good judgment be your guide. Rent movies or read a good
book!
Post Surgical Dietary Suggestions
A good diet will favorably affect both healing in the area of the surgery and the way that
you feel after the surgery. We suggest that you maintain a high protein diet. We also
recommend that you drink at least 64ounces of water per day for the first two days
following the surgery. Here are some suggestions:
Milk:
Plain whole milk, low-fat milk, skim milk, buttermilk, yogurt, eggnog, ice
cream.
Soup:
Any soup, including vegetable soups, milk-based soups, and boullion.
Remember, luke-warm or cool. NOT HOT!
Eggs:
In any form, especially soft boiled, scrambled, poached, omletes, quiches,
etc.
Meats:
Ground round, finely minced, broth (pureed meat in boullion is good), and
casseroles. Also baked or roasted chicken is good.
Fish:
Tuna, salmon, shellfish.
Vegetables: Mashed potatoes, cooked veggies or vegetable juices
Fruits:
Bananas and other soft fruits. Fruit juices are an excellent idea as well,
however it may be a good idea to avoid citrus or acidic juices (tomato,
orange, grapefruit etc.) if your teeth are sensitive.
Our office phone number (804-717-5100) is answered 24 hours a day, either by staff or
an answering service. Please do not hesitate to call us with any
questions or concerns!