Before Anesthesia

There are a few steps that patients need to take prior to anesthesia. First, you should not eat or drink anything at least 8 hours before the surgery, and be sure to refrain from smoking 12 hours before your procedure. You will need someone to accompany you to the dental clinic and drive you home afterwards.

On the day of your procedure, do not wear any jewelry, contact lenses, or dentures. If you regularly take medications, discuss these with your dentist here in Fairless Hills, PA to ensure that they are approved prior to surgery. Other than these simple considerations, there is nothing else you need to do to prepare for your procedure, unless your family dentist provides additional instructions.

After Wisdom Tooth Removal

Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that requires some post-operative care to reduce the chance of infection or other complications. Immediately after surgery, a gauze pad will be placed over the extraction site, which should not be removed for at least 45 minutes, after which it can be discarded. Refrain from drinking from a straw or rinsing your mouth to ensure that you do not dislodge the blood clot that has formed. Limit your activities that day; you can resume your regular activities the following day.

Take pain medication as prescribed to reduce discomfort after the local anesthetic has worn off. As with any oral surgery, refrain from drinking through a straw as doing so creates suction and may disrupt the sutures.

After Dental Implant Surgery

After dental implant surgery, it is recommended that you take it easy for 48-72 hours. Resting assists the healing process and limits after-surgery bleeding. Drink plenty of fluids, but nothing too cold. You may need to apply an ice pack to your face in twenty-minute intervals for the first two days following surgery. If you received upper implants, do not blow your nose for two weeks.

It is common to experience slight bleeding for about two days after surgery. You will feel slightly uncomfortable those first couple of days, but the third day is generally better. An increase in temperature of about 1 to 2 degrees is to be expected and is not a cause for concern. While you can eat when you are hungry, do not chew directly onto the bone graft.

After Impacted Tooth

A tooth becomes impacted when there is not enough room to accommodate the space in the dental arch and growth becomes impossible. After surgery to remove an impacted tooth, mild discomfort and some swelling is expected. This is part of the process and should not be cause for alarm. You may use cold compresses to alleviate the swelling. In addition, your dentist will prescribe pain medication, which should be taken as directed. Patients are also advised to favor the extraction area and modify their diet for a few days to allow for healing.

Multiple Tooth Extractions

The removal of one or two teeth is a fairly simple procedure. Extracting multiple teeth requires that the jawbone be shaped and removed to prepare for dentures.

You may experience the following after a multiple-tooth extraction procedure. Expect the maximum degree of swelling to happen within two days, both in your mouth and possibly around your eyes. A warm compress can help reduce swelling by the eyes; you should notice a reduction in swelling overall by the third day.

The muscles near the extraction site may become sore after surgery, and this may lead to symptoms of a sore throat. This is normal and should subside shortly. The corners of your mouth may become dry and cracked from being stretched open during surgery; a moisturizing cream can alleviate these symptoms.

In most cases, you will have a follow-up appointment with your dentist within 48 hours after surgery to discuss any post-surgery symptoms that you are experiencing. As always, contact your dentist here in Fairless Hills, PA with any questions you may have.