Your Oral Surgery Post Op Guide at Arizona Smile Designers

What To Do & Expect After Oral Surgery

After completing your oral surgical procedure, your local Cottonwood dentists Drs. Lord & Vergara want you to know how best to stay healthy and comfortable following the operation. It is important to realize that there will be some discomfort and pain afterwards. Depending on if it was a tooth extraction or cosmetic reconstruction, there are a few different things to note for each post op instruction set.
Extracting decayed teeth is one of the most common dental procedures. Following an extraction, a blood clot usually forms in the vacated socket to stop bleeding and cover the exposed jawbone. A painful condition called a “dry socket” can occur if a blood clot does not develop properly or becomes dislodged. Our dentists can assist you if this happens, and they will place a medicated dressing over the area to heal and soothe. During this time, please do not suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol, exercise vigorously, or brush near the socket for up to 72 hours. Ice packs and taking ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin can also help with the pain. To stop normal bleeding after a procedure, place gauze over the area and apply bite pressure for 45 minutes to an hour. If pain or bleeding persists, please reach out to us immediately.
In comparison with tooth extractions, cosmetic reconstruction is a much more intensive surgery with a longer recovery period. Following the operation, it will take some time to get used to your new bite, and your teeth may have heat, cold, and pressure sensitivity. The gums will probably be sore and swollen, so we recommend rinsing with warm salt water at least three times a day to alleviate any pain. Your speech may also be affected for the first few days as your mouth and jaw adjust to their new shape and feel. As always, to maintain your new beautiful smile, brush and floss regularly and make sure to keep up with your dental appointments at least every six months. We do recommend that you refrain rom eating hard or sticky foods that could damage your new teeth, and avoid smoking and drinking coffee, red wine, and tea as little as possible, as these can stain teeth.
Following these simple steps will ensure that you and your smile are back to normal in no time. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us at 928-634-8610 and one of our friendly team members will get back to you as soon as possible.