Pre & Post Operative Instructions
Pre-Operative Instructions
It is the goal of our office to make certain that your visit will be as comfortable and as pleasant as possible.
The following instructions may be helpful when preparing for your upcoming surgery. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any last minute questions.
Medication Instructions
You should receive your pre/post-operative prescriptions with this instruction sheet. For your convenience, please have them filled prior to your scheduled surgery.
- Please stop the following medications 7 days before surgery: fish oil, flaxseed, omega 3’s, CoQ-10, Aspirin (if self-prescribed), ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories, vitamin E, and glucosamine.
- Have prescriptions filled out ahead of your surgical date.
If antibiotics have been prescribed, start them 24 hours prior to your surgical appointment. - If you need to take antibiotic premedication (for example if you have had a joint replacement), please take your premedication 1 hour prior to your surgical appointment.
- If you take blood pressure or heart medication in the morning, please take it with small amounts of water.
- If you are currently treated with a blood thinner (e.g. coumadin, pradaxa, xarelto, aspirin, plavix), do not stop these medications until instructed by our office.
- Morning of surgical visit, brush and floss thoroughly.
If being sedated, make sure you have someone with you to drive you home following your visit. - A large segment of your time has been set aside for your appointment. Notice for cancellation must be no less than 48 hours in advance of your appointment time, otherwise you will be charged for the visit.
- Wear short sleeves, long pants, and socks.
- No smoking day of surgery.
- If you have an inhaler, bring it with you the day of the surgery.
- Please do not apply make-up.
- If you are undergoing IV sedation, do not eat 6-8 hours prior to your procedure.
In order to evaluate your progress and healing, we will see you for post-operative checks usually 1-3 weeks after your procedures. In most cases, after surgery, we will also look forward to seeing you back for a periodontal maintenance cleaning and an examination of tissue maturation about 2-3 months following the surgery.
Antibiotics
Food Suggestions
- Ensure/Slim Fast
- Soups
- Pudding
- Rice
- Apple Sauce
- Oatmeal
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Mashed Potatoes
- Jell-O
- Bananas
- Yogurt
- Pasta
- Milk Shakes
- Casseroles
- Eggs
- Fish
- Cottage Cheese
Post-Operative Instructions
These instructions apply to the surgical procedure just completed and are designed to help you minimize post-surgical discomfort and inform you of any situation that may require special attention.
Pain Medications
It is not unusual to have discomfort for at least the first week following your surgical procedure. You may be given a prescription for medication to help you tolerate the post-surgical recovery period. Please take your medications as directed. It is advisable to not take pain medication on an empty stomach, as nausea may result.
As an alternative to prescription medications, most patients have found taking a combination of over-the-counter Ibuprofen and Tylenol to be effective. Ibuprofen is the generic brand for Advil and Motrin. Each tablet comes in 200mg each. You are allowed to take up to 2400mg in a 24 hour span, with each maximum single dosage being 800mg. Most patient do well taking 800mg of Ibuprofen every 8 hours (for example: 6am, 2pm, and 10pm). If necessary, you may combine this with Tylenol at 10am and 6pm.
Note: When taking any prescribed medication containing Acetaminophen (Tylenol), i.e.; Percocet, Hydrocodone, Vicodin or Tylenol with Codeine, you should not take additional Tylenol so as not to exceed the safety level of Acetaminophen. Please contact the office with any questions you may have.
Antibiotics
Please alert the office to any allergies or sensitivities that you might have to antibiotics. An antibiotic may be prescribed following your surgical procedure. Take as directed until gone. It is advisable not to take these medications on an empty stomach, as nausea may result. For women taking birth control pills, be advised that antibiotics may interfere with their effectiveness.
Swelling
After 48 hours, applying moist heat will help dissipate the swelling. Rinsing with warm salt water (one cup of water, as hot as you can stand, with 1-2 teaspoons of salt) several times/day will also be beneficial.
Bleeding
- Do not rinse your mouth.
- Elevate your head when lying down.
- Apply moistened gauze to the immediate area with moderate pressure for 20 minutes; repeat if necessary.
- Apply pressure with a moistened tea bag for 20 minutes.
- Call the office if bleeding persists.