Patient Instructions

• Before Anesthesia
• After Dental Implant Surgery
• After Wisdom Tooth Removal
• After Surgical Exposure of an Impacted Tooth
• After a Tooth Extraction
• After Multiple Extractions

After Removal of Multiple Teeth

A small amount of bleeding is to be expected following the operation. If bleeding occurs, place a gauze pad directly over the bleeding socket and apply biting pressure for 45 minutes. If the bleeding or oozing persists, insert another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 45 minutes. You may have to do this several times. A moist tea bag can also be used with the gauze, as the tannins in the tea constrict blood vessels. If you have immediate dentures in place, expect some oozing around the side of the denture.  Do not remove the dentures unless Dr. Pennington or your dentist has specifically told you to do so.

Use ice packs (externally) on the same side of the face as the operated area. Apply ice continuously while you are awake for the first 36 hours.

For discomfort, use the prescription pain medication given to you. If the pain does not begin to subside after 3 days, please call the office. If an antibiotic has been prescribed, finish this medication regardless of how you feel.

Drink plenty of fluids. If many teeth have been extracted, the blood loss needs to be replaced, as well as the amount of fluid your body needs to heal. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days and you should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake.  You should aim for half of your body weight in ounces.  For example, if you weigh 200 lbs, you should drink around 100 ounces, or about twelve 8 ounce glasses of fluid a day.  This will also prevent dehydration, as long as you avoid all caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.  You will feel better, have more strength, have less discomfort, and heal faster if you stay hydrated and maintain your calorie intake.

Do not rinse your mouth for the first post-operative day, or while there is bleeding. After the first day, use a warm salt-water (One teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water) or a dilute mouthwash rinse every four hours and following meals to flush out particles of food and debris that may lodge in the operated area. Leave the denture in place until you have seen your dentist for an adjustment, then you may take out the denture and rinse three to four times a day.

The removal of many teeth at one time is quite different than the extraction of one or two teeth. Because the bone must be shaped and smoothed prior to the insertion of a denture, the following conditions may occur (all of which are considered normal):

• The surgical area will swell, reaching a maximum at two days after surgery. Bruising may also occur. The application of heat will help fade the discoloration. Heat should be applied as much as possible beginning 36 hours after surgery (remember that ice packs are used for the first 36 hours only).
• A sore throat may develop since the muscles of the throat are near the extraction sites. Swelling into the throat muscles can cause pain. This is normal and should subside in two to three days.
• The corners of the mouth may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as Vaseline. There may be a slight elevation of temperature for 24-48 hours. If temperature continues, notify the office.

If immediate dentures have been inserted, sore spots may develop. In most cases, your dentist will see you in a day or two after surgery and make the necessary adjustments to relieve those sore spots. Failure to do so may result in severe denture sores, which will prolong the healing process.