Patient instructions Dr. Curtis

VERY IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Prior to surgery: fill prescriptions provided at consultation.

• Peridex rinse (prescription medication) – wait to use day after surgery.
• Antibiotic prescription – take first dose morning of surgery – 2 hours prior.

Morning of Surgery:

• NO FOOD for 8 hours prior to surgery
• Drink water up to 2 hours before surgery (3 glasses, 6-8oz)
• Take prescribed antibiotic 2 hours before surgery.
• No contact lenses, make-up dark fingernail polish or dangle jewelry.
• Please wear a short-sleeved shirt. NO flip flops or open back shoes.
• If you have long hair, please wear a low ponytail or braid.
• You may brush your teeth and rinse with water.
• If you are 10 years old or younger, please understand that anesthesia can make you very relaxed. Please have a change of clothes in your vehicle in case they are needed.
• Oral and Facial Surgery Associates requires you to have an escort present when you arrive for your appointment. Your escort MUST STAY IN THE PREMISES until you are ready to leave. They may wait where they feel most comfortable, in the waiting room or in the car. The Doctor will call your escort when your procedure is finished, and they will receive a phone call from recovery when you are ready to go home. We recommend that your escort plan to spend a few hours with you at home following surgery.

POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING SURGERY

Bleeding:
You can expect some bleeding or oozing for up to 8 hours after surgery as the blood clot forms.  This may vary for each individual.  Don’t be alarmed, a little blood mixed with saliva can seem like a lot.  Bite on gauze for thirty minutes, then remove and examine for active bleeding.  Replace with new gauze until active bleeding has diminished.  A moistened tea bag may also be used instead of the gauze supplied.

Swelling:
Expect swelling to occur during the normal healing process.  To reduce the amount of swelling, ice packs applied to the face are effective for the first 48 hours.  The swelling may increase for the first 48 to 72 hours and then begin to subside.  Warm, moist heat should be applied after 48 hours to reduce the swelling and provide comfort.

Pain:
Pain for several days following surgery can be expected and is normal.  Pain medication should be taken as prescribed by the doctor.  Avoid driving, exercising, working and general decision making while taking narcotic medications.  Taking pain medicine on an empty stomach may upset your stomach and cause nausea &/or vomiting.

Diet:
While numb, softer (non-chew) foods should be eaten. Examples include soup, pudding and ice cream. Follow your regular diet as tolerated after numbness has worn off. Drink plenty of fluids.

Hygiene:
Do not rinse your mouth vigorously until clotting is complete. Gentle rinsing after 24 hours with warm salt water about 6 times a day is soothing and helps decrease swelling. Clean your mouth gently with a toothbrush after the first day following the surgery but avoid disturbing the blood clots with the toothbrush.

Smoking/Exercising:
Avoid vigorous exercising for three days or longer if instructed by your doctor. Absolutely avoid smoking to prevent disturbing the healing process.

Bruising:
There may be some discoloration of the skin during healing. First, you may notice a black-blue color, which may turn yellow and disappear in a few days.

If any problems occur or any questions arise, please contact our office (513) 791-0550.

POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING SURGERY

Bleeding:
You can expect some bleeding or oozing for four to six hours after surgery as the blood clot forms. Don’t be alarmed, a little blood mixed with saliva can seem like a lot. Bite on gauze for thirty minutes, then remove and examine for active bleeding. Replace with new gauze until the active bleeding has diminished. A moistened tea bag may also be used instead of the gauze.

Swelling:
Expect swelling to occur during the normal healing process. To reduce the amount of swelling, ice packs applied to the face are effective for the first 48 hours. The swelling may increase for the first 48 to 72 hours and then begin to subside. Warm, moist heat may be applied after 48 hours to help reduce the swelling and provide comfort.

Pain:
Pain for several days following surgery can be expected and is normal. Pain medication should be taken as prescribed by the doctor. Avoid driving, exercising, working and general decision making while taking narcotic pain medications.

Diet:
Softer (non-chew) foods should be eaten the first day, such as soup, pudding and ice cream. During the healing period, a soft diet is recommended initially to prevent stress on the implants. 

Hygiene:
Do not rinse your mouth vigorously until clotting is complete. Gentle rinsing after 24 hours with warm salt water or warm water is strongly encouraged after eating. Clean your mouth gently with a toothbrush after the first day following surgery, but avoid disturbing the blood clots with the toothbrush.

Denture/Temporary:
If you have a prosthesis from your dentist, you may need to have it adjusted or have a soft-liner placed. Occasionally, you may need to leave out the teeth for a short period of time to allow initial healing.

Smoking/Exercising:
Avoid vigorous exercising for three days or longer if instructed by your doctor. Absolutely avoid smoking, if possible to prevent disturbing the healing process.

Bruising:
There may be some discoloration of the skin during healing. First, you may notice a black-blue color, which may turn yellow and disappear in a few days.

If any problems occur or any questions arise, please contact our office (513) 791-0550.

POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING SURGERY

Bleeding:
You can expect some bleeding or oozing for up to 8 hours after surgery as the blood clot forms. Don’t be alarmed, a little blood mixed with saliva can seem like a lot. Bite on gauze for thirty minutes, then remove and examine for active bleeding. Replace with new gauze until the active bleeding has diminished. A moistened tea bag may also be used instead of the gauze supplied.

Swelling:
Expect swelling to occur during the normal healing process. To reduce the amount of swelling, ice packs applied to the face are effective for the first 48 hours. The swelling may increase for the first 48 to 72 hours and then begin to subside. Warm, moist heat should be applied after 48 hours to reduce the swelling and provide comfort.

Pain:
Pain for several days following surgery can be expected and is normal. Pain medication should be taken as prescribed by the doctor. Avoid driving, exercising, working and general decision making while taking narcotic pain medications. Taking pain medicine on an empty stomach may upset your stomach and cause nausea &/or vomiting.

Diet:
Softer (non-chew) foods should be eaten the first day. Examples include soup, pudding, and ice cream. Eating after the first day is not restricted but your jaw may be sore, so eating soft foods such as pasta may be necessary for a few days. Drink plenty of fluids.

Hygiene:
Do not rinse your mouth vigorously until clotting is complete.  Gentle rinsing after 24 hours with warm salt water about 6 times a day is soothing and helps decrease swelling.  Clean your mouth gently with a toothbrush after the first day following the surgery but avoid disturbing the blood clots with the toothbrush.

Smoking/Exercising:
Avoid vigorous exercising for five days or longer if instructed by your doctor. Absolutely avoid smoking, if possible, to prevent disturbing the healing process.

Bruising:
There may be some discoloration of the skin during healing. First, you may notice a black-blue color, which may turn to yellow and disappear in a few days.

If any problems occur or any questions arise, please contact our office (513) 791-0550.

If sinus precautions are recommended, please follow the following procedures.

• DO NOT blow your nose for 3 weeks.
• It is OK to sneeze, but sneeze with your mouth open.
• Use Sudafed to reduce congestion.
• DO NOT drink out of straw for 3 weeks.
• DO NOT smoke for 3 weeks.

If any problems occur or any questions arise, please contact our office (513) 791-0550.

• Start taking pain medication after surgery, before the pain starts.
• Take Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and Advil (Ibuprofen) tablets together ON SCHEDULE rather than as needed. Start this as soon as you eat and continue for 5 days.
• Take medications with food and drink plenty of fluids.
• Most patients will need some pain medications for about 5-7 days after their procedure. The narcotic pain medicine (Oxycodone) usually can be tapered and discontinued by the 3rd or 4th day after surgery. At this point, continuing the Tylenol and Advil is usually adequate to control pain until they too can be weaned down and then stopped.

Start with food - Ibuprofen 800mg AND Tylenol 1000mg

6 hours later - Ibuprofen 800mg AND Tylenol 1000mg

6 hours later - Ibuprofen 800mg AND Tylenol 1000mg

6 hours later - Ibuprofen 800mg AND Tylenol 1000mg

Continue every 6 hours until feeling better, then start tapering off. 

Ibuprofen: Rx or OTC x 4

Tylenol: Extra Strength (500mg) x 2

*Oxycodone as needed to control pain throughout the day and night.

As long as you take narcotic pain medication:

• Do not drive or operate motorized vehicle or equipment
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages
• Do not make important decisions or sign legal documents
• Do not take on responsibility for anyone who depends on your care
• Tell your health care provider before you start a new medication
• Prescription pain medications can cause side effects such as constipation, light-headedness, dizziness, and nausea.  Their long-term use can lead to dependence