POST OPERATIVE CARE AFTER ORAL SURGERY
1. Take your medication as prescribed remembering that antibiotics can reduce the effect of oral contraceptives. For pain relief take one Nurofen alternately with one Panadol every two hours. Make sure you do not exceed their maximum dosage.
2. It is normal for the swelling and pain to increase on the second and third day after surgery and should subside over one week. Make sure you rest for the first 48 hours and avoid any excessive exercise. Sleep with your head elevated to reduce swelling. Icepacks should be applied to your face for 15 minutes every hour for the first 3 days.
3. Have a soft nourishing diet to ensure normal bowel function. Avoid any hot drinks or food whilst there is numbness present as this may cause burning and promote bleeding. If eating is difficult, Sustagen or Ensure (available at a Pharmacist) can provide a complete liquid diet.
4. Avoid rinsing or spitting forcibly for at least 24 hours after surgery as this will loosen blood clots. After 24 hours use the syringe provided to gently flush the sockets 4 times a day for 4 weeks after surgery. The syringe can be filled with either salt or water (half teaspoon salt dissolved in a glass of warm water) or diluted mouth wash (5 mls 0.2% chlorhexidine in 5 mls of water).
5. Strict attention to oral hygiene is essential. The teeth and gums not adjacent to the surgical site should be brushed normally after the first day, while those areas adjacent to the surgical sites should be cleaned gently with a soft child sized toothbrush.
6. The stitches are dissolvable and usually fall out in 7 – 10 days however some can remain for up to 4 weeks. Do not be concerned if one or two stitches are dislodged earlier.
7. A small hole or opening in the gum may be present after surgery. This is not a cause for concern as it will close over in a few weeks.
8. If you have had a top tooth removed it is important not to blow your nose or drink through a straw for 7 days following surgery.
POST-SURGICAL PROBLEMS
1. Occasionally you can experience nausea and vomiting after surgery. If so, stop all food, drink and medication and remain on a clear, liquid diet until the nausea subsides. If it continues Phenergan syrup can be purchased without prescription.
2. If excessive bleeding occurs, wash the mouth with cold water to dislodge blood clots and bite firmly on folded gauze or handkerchief for 20 minutes.
3. Pain is expected to worse on days 2 and 3. If the pain doesn’t settle after this or actually increases please contact the surgery. If you have any concerns please contact the surgery on (02) 6366 8033 or present to your local hospital.
Wisdom teeth can cause a lot of problems as we move from adolescence into adulthood. Wisdom teeth need to come through the gum just like other teeth, but in some cases remain impacted. This can be due to a lack of space in the jaw or they can have an incorrect angulation that prevents them from coming through.
Abnormalities within the mouth, especially in the presence of cigarette smoking and/or excessive alcohol intake can predispose to oral cancer. Some lesions can be pre-cancerous and early diagnosis and treatment is of critical significance.
Dentoalveolar surgery is the areas of dentistry specific to surgery of the jaw, gum and other bony or soft tissues in the mouth. Most common procedures would be difficult dental extractions or ones that previous attempts at extraction have not been successful.
An impacted tooth is one that has not erupted into a fully functional position. Generally, an impacted tooth is the result of not enough space available in the mouth.
A Frenectomy is a procedure performed by a dentist that reduces the size of a frenum - a soft tissue attachment of a muscle. In the mouth, you have a frenum underneath the tongue and also have a frenum on the top jaw connecting lip in between the two front teeth.
Over the phone quotes can be given at the time of booking which will include estimates for the hospital and anaesthetic fees. These can be confirmed by contacting each party [...]