WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AFTER SURGERY
The following information has been prepared to help answer the many questions you may have regarding the surgical procedure that has just been performed.
Please read the instructions carefully.
- BEFORE the anesthesia wears off, begin the medications recommended by Dr. Romano to prevent discomfort and swelling.
- A periodontal dressing has been placed around your teeth. It serves a very useful purpose and should not be disturbed. The periodontal dressing will become semi-rigid within a few hours. It can then withstand some of the forces of chewing without breaking. Do not worry if your tongue knocks it off. The dressing should be permitted to remain in place as long as possible. Small particles may chip off during the week.
- Please limit yourself to a semi-solid diet and avoid excessively hot foods for the first week. After this period, you may return to your regular diet. However, avoid eating on the side with the dressing.
- Begin rinsing with PERIDEX the day after the surgery; it is a very important part of the treatment. It will aid in healing and prevent any infections to the area.
- For the initial 2 days apply ICE (crushed in a zip-lock bag and wrapped in a cloth) as often as possible. (15minutes on – 15 minutes off)
- There may be occasional bleeding or oozing of the wound with blood taste after the operation. This is not unusual and will correct itself. If there is considerable bleeding, take a piece of sterile gauze, wet it with Peridex and fold it in half, and hold it under pressure for 10 minutes. Do not remove it during this period to examine it. If the bleeding does not stop at that end of this time, please contact the office. Under no conditions should rinsing be used to try to stop the bleeding.
- You may brush your teeth as you where taught by us, except over the surgical area, but not hard rinsing.
- You may follow your regular daily activities. Avoid excessive Athletics exercises of any type, long exposure to the sun and no swimming.
- If an Internal Maxillary Sinus elevation was performed; do not hold your nose to sneeze, just cover your mouth. Don’t forget to take your Nasal decongestant. (Tylenol Sinus NON DROWSY)
- A slight experience and feeling of weakness, chills of fever during the first 24 hours is normal and should not be cause for alarm, but it should be reported to the office. Please feel free to call the office for any other questions. Thank you and remember to take all the precautions and medications given.
- See you in 1 wk.