Biopsy Post-Op Care

Expect a certain amount of bleeding after your biopsy procedure. You can control bleeding by using some rolled gauze and applying pressure by biting down for a 90-minute period. After that time, you may remove the gauze and may eat or drink.

If bleeding persists, place a moist teabag in the area of bleeding and bite firmly for one hour to aid in clotting the blood. Please note that herbal teas will not be effective. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding persists, contact our office.

After your procedure:

• Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours.
• Do not touch the surgical site with your fingers or tongue.
• Use cold packs to manage discomfort for the first 48 hours (20 minutes on and 10 minutes off).
• Use prescribed medications as directed and mild pain relievers as needed to manage discomfort.
• Stay hydrated but do not use a straw.
• Avoid smoking for at least five days.
• Avoid vigorous exercise for three to four days.
• Use warm, moist heat to relax any stiff muscles.
• Maintain a soft diet and avoid eating foods that could get stuck in your teeth.
• Rinse with a warm saltwater mixture after meals (½ teaspoon salt in an 8-ounce glass of water).

Biopsy materials are usually sent to a pathologist for review. The pathologist will send back a formal result, which we will review with you when you return for your follow-up visit. We will also examine the biopsy site at the time of your follow-up appointment. Please contact our office if you have any questions.

Bone Grafting Post-Op Care

After your bone grafting procedure, you may find some small granules in your mouth during the first day. This is normal and will stop as you continue to heal.

After your procedure, please:

• Do not touch or disturb the surgical site.
• Do not rinse or spit for two days.
• Do not apply pressure with your tongue or fingers to the grafted area.
• Do not lift or pull up on your lip to look at your stitches.
• Do not smoke for at least five days after your surgery.
• Use all prescribed medications as directed.

You may gently rinse your mouth the second day after your procedure but take care not to rinse vigorously. You may take mild pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as needed to manage discomfort.

Please contact our office if you have problems such as excessive bleeding, pain or difficulty in opening your mouth.

Impacted Tooth Exposure Post-Op Care

After your impacted tooth exposure treatment, we recommend that you:

• Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours after the surgery.
• Keep your fingers and tongue away from the surgical site.
• Use ice packs on the side of your face over the surgical area for the first 48 hours, alternating 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off.
• Use mild pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to manage discomfort and use any prescribed medications as directed.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, but make sure you do NOT use a straw.
• Do not smoke for at least five days after your surgery.
• Avoid strenuous activity and do not exercise for at least three to four days after your procedure. After that time, be careful when exercising so that you do not experience light-headedness, dizziness or weakness.
• Use warm, moist heat over areas that have become stiff.
• Use a warm saltwater rinse following meals to clean your mouth (½ teaspoon salt in about 8 ounces of water).
• Maintain a soft diet and avoid anything that may get stuck in your teeth (such as seeds, nuts, rice or popcorn).

Contact our office if you experience severe bleeding or pain.

Implant Placement Post-Op Care

Please follow your post-op care instructions as closely as possible to help you recover quickly and avoid complications in your healing process following implant placement. We recommend that you:

• Do not rinse your mouth for the rest of the day after your procedure. 
• On the day following your procedure, begin rinsing with warm saltwater every two to three hours. (Use ½ teaspoon salt in 8 ounces of water.) Do this for several days. Then rinse after meals and at bedtime for two weeks. 
• Use prescribed medications, antibiotics and mouthrinses as directed. 
• Use mild pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to relieve discomfort. 
• You may begin brushing your teeth the day after your procedure but be sure to avoid the surgical site for several days. 

• If a temporary crown was placed, do not bite down until given permission to do so. 
• Do not wear your denture, partial denture or other oral appliance until given permission to do so. 
• You will likely experience some swelling. Apply ice or cold compresses to the side of your face at 15-minute intervals for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours, switch to heat instead and continue applying heat until the swelling diminishes. 
• Keep your lips moist with lip balm or petroleum jelly to prevent cracking. 
• Do not operate machinery for at least 12 hours following your procedure. 

• Do not smoke or use tobacco products — they can cause your implants to fail. 
• If the cover screw or healing abutment of your implant falls out, call our office so that we can replace it. Bring the loosened component with you to this appointment. 
• If you use oral contraceptives and have been prescribed an antibiotic, use an alternate method of birth control until you have completed your course of antibiotics. 

If you have questions or concerns about your post-operative care, please contact our office to speak with a member of our team or schedule a follow-up appointment with our oral surgeon. 

Sinus Lift Post-Op Care

Sinus lifts are a type of bone grafting provided in the upper jaw. The bone that has been grafted in is most commonly a combination of freeze-dried bone, artificial synthetic bone and your own bone tissue. Because of this, you may have two post-surgical sites: the donor site and the recipient site.

After your sinus lift procedure:

• DO NOT BLOW YOUR NOSE FOR FOUR (4) WEEKS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. You may sniff, but do not blow.
• Avoid all activities that could cause pressure in your nasal cavity.
• If you need to sneeze, sneeze with your mouth open. Do not hold your nose.
• Do not drink with straws.
• Do not spit.
• Do not go scuba diving or fly in a pressurized aircraft.
• Take decongestants as needed to help reduce pressure in the sinuses.
• Avoid bearing down, such as when lifting heavy objects, blowing up balloons or playing a musical instrument that involves a blowing action.
• Avoid smoking for at least two weeks.
• Take all prescribed antibiotics as directed.

Oral hygiene after your procedure:

• Do not rinse or spit on the day of your surgery.
• Start saltwater rinses the day after your procedure. Use ½ teaspoon salt dissolved in 8 ounces of water and gently rinse with portions of the solution, taking five minutes to use the entire glassful. Repeat at least four to five times daily, including after eating, for the next five days.
• Do not brush the teeth in the area of the surgical site for 48 hours.
• When brushing and spitting, be very gentle.
• We may prescribe an antibiotic rinse — please use this as directed.

Oral appliances after sinus lift surgery:

• Do not wear an oral appliance immediately after your surgery. Avoid wearing appliances until your post-op treatment unless instructed otherwise. Contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.

Contact our office immediately if you notice any of the following problems:

• An unexpected flow of air or liquids between your mouth and nose
• Small particles of graft material being discharged from your nose
• Sinus or nasal congestion on the side your surgery was performed
• An increase in swelling in your mouth or cheek or under your eye after three days

Tooth Extractions Post-Op Care

Your initial healing period after having a tooth or teeth extracted will be about one to two weeks. You will experience some swelling and discomfort for the first 48 hours.

We recommend that you:

• Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours.
• Do not touch the surgical site with your fingers or tongue.
• Use ice packs as needed for the first 48 hours (20 minutes on and 10 minutes off).
• Use all prescribed medications as directed and mild pain relievers to manage discomfort as needed.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated but do not suck on straws.
• Limit vigorous exercise for three to four days.
• Use warm, moist heat on the outside of your face for any stiff muscles.
• Gently rinse using a warm saltwater rinse every four hours and following meals (½ teaspoon salt in an 8-ounce glass of water).
• Restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods. Gradually resume a normal diet as you heal. Avoid foods that could become stuck in your teeth.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction Post-Op Care

Following your wisdom teeth removal procedure, we recommend that you:

• Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours after your surgery. 
• Do not touch the surgical site with your fingers or tongue.
• Use ice packs at 20-minute intervals to relieve swelling and manage discomfort. After the first 24 hours, you may also use warm, moist heat.

• Use mild pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as needed. (You should begin taking pain medication within two or three hours after your procedure.)
• Use any prescribed medications as directed. 
• If you received sedation during your procedure, do not drive for 24 hours.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. 
• Do not use a straw to drink. 
• Avoid smoking or using any tobacco products for at least five days after surgery.

• Avoid strenuous activities and do not exercise for three to four days after surgery.
• If the muscles of your jaw become stiff, apply warm, moist heat to that area of your face. 
• After the first day, use a warm saltwater rinse after eating to flush out food debris (we recommend ½ teaspoon salt in an 8-ounce glass of water). 
• Maintain a soft diet and do not eat anything that could get stuck in your teeth (such as nuts, seeds, rice, popcorn or sticky candy). You may resume a normal diet as soon as you feel comfortable doing so.

Please be aware that some bleeding is expected after your procedure and that you may see slight bleeding or redness in your saliva for up to 48 hours. This is normal and should stop, but if it continues or bleeding becomes heavy, please contact our office. Please also do not accept advice from friends. If you have questions or concerns, or are experiencing discomfort or pain, contact our office to speak with our oral surgeon or a member of our team.