POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS for Wisdom Teeth Removal

This page provides a comprehensive guide on post-operative care for wisdom teeth removal. Proper care and attention to the surgical site are crucial for a smooth and successful recovery. This guide provides detailed instructions and essential tips to help you manage the initial discomfort, minimize complications, and ensure the best possible healing process. Following these steps will aid in your recovery and help you get back to your daily activities as quickly as possible.

THE FOLLOWING MAY OCCUR:

Swelling: The surgical area may swell significantly for the first three days.
Trismus: Muscle stiffness may cause difficulty in opening your mouth.
Earache: Slight ear discomfort may occur.
Sore Throat: A sore throat may develop.
Numbness: Temporary numbness of the lip or tongue on the side where the tooth was removed. If numbness persists beyond a day, please contact our office.
Referred Pain: Other teeth may ache temporarily due to referred pain.
Dry and Cracked Lips: If the corners of your mouth are stretched, keep your lips moist with cream or ointment.
Socket Cavity: A cavity will remain where the tooth was removed.
Fever: A slight temperature elevation for 24-48 hours is normal. Contact our office if your temperature exceeds 101.4°F.
Bruising: Bruising around the extraction site and on the cheek is common.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

First 24 hours

Bleeding Control: Placing gauze over surgical site and applying pressure controls bleeding.
- When you get home from surgery, approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, remove the gauze packs and look in the mirror at your extraction sites in a well-lit area (bathroom).
  - If you do not see any excess blood flowing up and over the wound site or actively moving, then you are no longer actively bleeding. No more gauze necessary.
  - If bleeding persists, you can moisten another piece of gauze or place a moist caffeinated tea bag over the site for one additional hour under mild constant biting pressure. Do not chew!
- It is normal to see a tinge of blood mixed with your saliva or a slight increase when the tissue gets irritated.
Ice Compress: Use ice packs on surgical area (outside of face) for first 24 hours. Applying 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off.
Pain Relief: Please take all prescribed pain medications as directed.
- If directed, take ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin), 400-600mg every 4-6 hours (over the counter ibuprofen are 200mg each) for 2-3 days.
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol) at 500mg every 4-6 hours as needed for pain and alternate with ibuprofen, if directed, for additional pain relief.
- Narcotic-prescribed pain relievers should be only used for severe breakthrough pain, as directed.
No Rinsing or Spitting: Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours.
No Smoking: Do not smoke (this includes cigarettes, cigars, vaping, marijuana) for as long as possible to help prevent dry sockets (throbbing radiating socket, jaw, teeth, gum pain).
Avoid Touching: Keep fingers and tongue away from socket or surgical site.
Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids since antibiotics tend to dehydrate you. Do not use straws for one whole week!
Diet: Begin with a liquid diet and blended foods.
- Increase to a soft food diet as tolerated.
- Avoid hard, crunchy, or crusty foods (e.g. chips, breads, etc.).
- Try your best to avoid getting food particles trapped into the surgical area.
- Liquids should be cool to warm, but not hot!
No Brushing: Avoid brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth for the first 24 hours.
- Resume brushing your teeth gently but avoid brushing around the gums around surgical area for the entire week.
Daily Activities: Your activities (such as driving, operating machinery, etc.) during the first 24 hours and throughout the recovery period will depend on the type of anesthesia you received and any prescribed narcotic pain medication. Please refer to these instructions given separately.

Day 2

Warm Compress: Use moist heat or heating pad from the second day onward, to help relieve muscle / jaw stiffness and to bring swelling down. Apply 15 minutes 4-5 times per day, as needed.
Rinsing: Begin using warm saltwater rinses between meals to keep food particles from settling in sockets.
- If you were prescribed a medicated mouth rinse, continue rinsing with that as well.
Dissolvable Stitches: If stitches were used, they are dissolvable unless otherwise instructed.

Day 5

Irrigating/Rinsing: If you have a plastic Monojet syringe, begin using 5 days after surgery to rinse food particles from the sockets (lower sockets in particular) with lukewarm water.
- Continue doing so for 2-4 weeks until sockets completely heal closed.

CONTACT US

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your recovery. In case of an emergency, our answering service can reach the doctor on call, who will return your call promptly.