Surgical Instructions

If you are preparing for surgery, please take a look at these surgical instructions. We’ve provided recommendations for before and after the procedure takes place. These instructions are aimed to help create the most comfortable experience and fastest healing process possible. If you have any questions or concerns or would like any additional information, please call us at (407) 647-2295.

General Notes

Before your surgery, we will provide you with pre and/or post-operative prescription medications as well as a detailed instruction sheet. Please fill your prescription before the surgery and bring them to your appointment. It’s critical to inform us of any antibiotic sensitivities or allergies before prescriptions are provided.

Follow-up Appointments

For up to five weeks after the procedure takes place, we require that you come in for weekly follow-up appointments. Roughly 10 to 12 weeks after the procedure, we will schedule an appointment so that we can examine the healing and maturation of the affected tissue.

Pre-Operative Instructions

If you have been prescribed an antibiotic pre-medication, please take these antibiotics one hour before your surgery begins. Be sure to dress warmly, as we keep our office cool. If you’d like to listen to music or any other audio during the procedure, feel free to bring your MP3 player or iPod. If you elect IV sedation or oral sedatives, you are required to have transportation to and from our office.

Post-Operative Instructions

Immediately following surgery, you may experience heightened pain and discomfort in the treated area. We will provide you with pain medication that you may take as directed to help alleviate pain. To stay ahead of soreness, pain medication may be taken more frequently than four to six hours. To avoid nausea, don’t take pain medication with an empty stomach.

Some patients opt for over the counter ibuprofen and Tylenol in place of prescription medications. Please note that Tylenol contains acetaminophen, and should therefore not be taken with other acetaminophen-containing medications such as hydrocodone, Percocet, Vicoden, or Tylenol with Codeine.

Swelling and Bleeding

Patients may experience post-operative swelling. To reduce swelling on the first day, treat the outside cheek area with an ice pack for 20 minutes on, followed by 20 minutes off. On the second day, switch to moist warm heat instead of ice. Small amounts of bleeding are normal. However, if bleeding is excessive or persistent, please call the office if the following steps do not work.

If continuous or excessive bleeding occurs, take the following steps:

  • Avoid rinsing the mouth
  • Elevate the head while lying down
  • Use moderate pressure to apply moistened gauze to the area for roughly 20 minutes, repeating when necessary
  • Place a moistened tea bag inside a gauze square and apply moderate pressure for roughly 20 minutes

Oral Care

Avoiding rinsing your mouth for 24 hours after surgery. After the 24 hour period, you may rinse periodically with 1 cup of warm water and half a teaspoon of salt. You may brush and floss all other areas of the mouth the day after surgery, but avoid brushing the surgical site until we instruct you to do so. If you must come in for suture removal, be sure to take your prescribed antibiotics one hour before the appointment.

Health and Diet

Avoiding smoking for at least two weeks after surgery. Smoking can significantly slow the healing process, as well as compromise the results. Avoid drinking alcohol during your prescription pain medication regimen. A soft diet is recommended so that the surgical site is not aggravated. Avoid acidic foods, as well as hard and crunchy foods such as crusty breads and chips.

A recommended post-op diet includes soft, easy-to-chew foods such as:

  • Eggs
  • Oatmeal
  • Yogurt
  • Soup
  • Pasta
  • Casseroles
  • Smoothies
  • Soft fruit
  • Fish
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Apple sauce