Post-Op Instructions After Surgery Video

Video Transcript: Post-Surgery Recovery & Care Instructions

The following is a full text transcript of the video for accessibility. Total runtime: approximately 3 minutes, 55 seconds.

Immediate Post-Op & First 24 Hours

You did it! Now let's make recovery easy. Here's what you need to know: today, you're off duty. If you had IV sedation, congratulations—your only job for the next 24 hours is recovering. For the first 24 hours, no driving, no work or school, no exercise, no operating machinery, and no making legal decisions. Stay with a responsible adult.

Gauze & Bleeding Management

Gauze 101: You're going to fold the gauze in half, and in half again, and then again until it is small enough to fit on the surgical site. Apply pressure for 30 to 60 minutes until the majority of the bleeding has stopped. Bleeding stopped? If so, leave it out. Still bleeding? Apply fresh gauze and repeat the process as necessary. Applying firm pressure is the trick. If you're having persistent bleeding, a damp black tea bag can sometimes help promote clotting.

Managing Swelling & Symptoms

Welcome to the puffy phase! Swelling is a normal part of the healing process and usually peaks around days three to four after surgery. It can take up to 10 days for the swelling to completely resolve. For the first 24 to 48 hours, apply an ice pack to the outside of your face: 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, and repeat as needed. Keeping your head elevated while resting can also help reduce swelling. Call us if you have a fever, foul taste or odor, concerning drainage, or increasing or unusual symptoms. If something doesn't feel right, call us. We'd rather you ask.

Pain Control & Prescriptions

For pain control, stay ahead of your discomfort and take medications as directed. Taking your medications with food can help prevent nausea. If you've been prescribed pain medication, take it exactly as directed. You may also alternate ibuprofen and Tylenol to help with both pain and inflammation. If you're prescribed antibiotics, be sure to take the entire course, even if you're feeling better.

Oral Hygiene Routine

Keeping your mouth clean is one of the best ways to prevent infection. For the first two to five days, avoid vigorous rinsing, forceful spitting, and brushing surgical sites. You may gently rinse with either a prescribed mouthwash or warm salt water. Do not use a water flosser or Waterpik for at least one week after your procedure. If you were sent home with an irrigation syringe, begin using it seven days after your procedure on lower extraction sites.

Dietary & Lifestyle Guidelines

What's on today's menu? On the day of surgery, stick with soft foods like pudding, yogurt, applesauce, soup, mashed potatoes, or Jell-O. For the next week, avoid hard, crunchy, and chewy foods, including chewing ice. Be careful with hot foods and drinks while you're still numb. For the first four days, avoid drinking through a straw and avoid any carbonated beverages. If you are taking prescription medications, do not drink alcohol. We also recommend avoiding smoking during the healing process, as it can delay healing and increase the risk of complications.

Sutures, Biopsies, Implants & Next Steps

Depending on the type of sutures used, they'll either dissolve on their own or we'll remove them at your follow-up appointment. If a biopsy was performed, the tissue will be sent to a pathologist for evaluation. Results typically take one to two weeks, and our office will contact you as soon as we receive them. If you've had a bone graft or a dental implant placed, you'll have follow-up visits over the coming months so we can monitor your healing. Once your implant is ready, we'll notify both you and your general dentist so the final restoration can be completed.

Closing

Thank you for trusting us with your care. Now go home, get comfortable, and take it easy—you've earned it! Recovery isn't exactly the same for everyone. Our care doesn't end when surgery does. If you're worried about something, call us. That's what we're here for.

End of transcript.