Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Emergencies: If you have a dental emergency and are a patient of record, please call the office immediately.
Sedation Instructions
1. We require that a responsible adult escort you home following surgery and have someone with you for 24 hours. If this presents a problem, please let us know so we may help you make arrangements.
2. If you are receiving intravenous sedation for a morning surgery, you should not eat or drink after midnight. If you are receiving intravenous sedation in the afternoon, no solid food should be eaten 6 hours before surgery. You may take necessary medications with a sip of water. Even if you are receiving an oral medication for sedation, the same rules apply.
3. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing with short sleeves. If you wear contact lenses, please leave them out or have the things needed to remove them prior to surgery. Females should not wear jewelry, cosmetics or high heeled shoes. Do not wear nail polish or make up.
4. If you regularly take medication prescribed by your physician, please bring the medication with you (pills, inhalers, ...). All medications should be taken as prescribed unless you are told otherwise (such as high blood pressure medicine). Diabetics taking insulin are usually advised to take one half their usual morning dosage prior to a morning surgery. Please ask the doctor for specific instructions.
5. Patients having intravenous anesthesia will require time to recover from the medications after surgery (usually one half to one hour). Please be aware of this in scheduling arrangements for transportation home. Arrange to have the entire day off work, and limit your activity for the rest of the day.
6. Do not drive an automobile or operate any machinery (i.e. kitchen appliances, lawn mower, power tools, etc.) for twenty-four hours after surgery. Do not drink alcoholic beverages until at least twenty-four hours after surgery. Do not make important decisions or sign legal documents.
Medications
Take all of the medications prescribed for you as directed. They have been given to you for very important reasons. The only type of medicine that you do not have to take all of is the pain medicine. Take all the medications with food unless otherwise stated.
Pain medications (i.e. Vicodin, Percocet, Advil, Motrin, Tylenol)
Please take the narcotic medication every 6 hours the day of and the day after surgery, even if you have no pain. It is easier to keep you pain free, than to get you out of pain once it occurs. If you still have moderate to severe pain after taking the prescription then call the doctor. Do not drive or operate machinery if you are taking the prescribed pain medication. If you develop a rash, notify the doctor. If you develop difficulty in breathing seek emergency medical treatment. You may develop constipation from the narcotic medication and may need an over the counter laxative if necessary. If you are only having minimal discomfort, you may switch to over the counter pain relievers (Tylenol, Advil). Avoid aspirin as it may increase bleeding and slow healing.
Antibiotics (penicillin, amoxicillin, clindamycin)
You may be prescribed an antibiotic to help prevent infection. To be most effective, please take the medication as prescribed. You will start taking the antibiotic prior to surgery. It is important to take all of the antibiotic to completion. Failure to take this medication as directed will increase your risk of infection.
If you develop a fever, drainage and/or increased swelling after the surgery, please notify the doctor. If an allergy occurs (hives, itching, rash), discontinue the medication and contact the office immediately. If you develop difficulty in breathing seek emergency medical treatment. If you develop severe or persistent diarrhea, please notify the doctor.
Anti-inflammatory (Decadron - dexamethasone)
You may be prescribed an anti-inflammatory medication to help minimize swelling after surgery. Often, this medication is given to you while you are at the office. Unless you are told otherwise, you should take this medication in the morning for up to three day
General Instructions For Implant, Periodontal, or Oral Surgery
1. Increase your fluid intake following surgery and maintain a soft diet. If you have difficulty drinking fluids or swallowing contact the office.
2. Do not wear your dentures unless otherwise told by your doctor. Pressure from the denture can cause the sutures to loosen and disturb the healing area.
3. Do not pull on your lip to examine the surgical site. The incision may open which can delay healing and jeopardize the outcome.
4. Do not smoke for at least two weeks after surgery. Smoking will delay healing and contribute to a greater risk of graft and/or implant failure. Use the nicotine patch as directed if needed. You may also receive a prescription for Zyban (bupropion) to help prevent smoking. Ask the doctor if you need these anti-smoking medications
5. Avoid rinsing vigorously or spitting until the sutures are removed.
6. Do not brush your teeth in the operated area until the sutures are removed (one to two weeks). Starting the day after surgery you may gently brush your teeth in areas distant from the surgical site. Rinse your toothbrush under hot water to soften the bristles and avoid vigorous rinsing.
7. Please limit your physical activity following surgery. You should be able to resume light activity in a day or two. Avoid physical exercise or strenuous activity for at least one week.
Sinus Surgery
8. Avoid rinsing vigorously (ballooning your cheeks) or spitting until the sutures are removed.
9. Do not blow your nose and sneeze with your mouth open if you have to. You may experience some bleeding from the nose. If you feel congested, the doctor may recommend an over the counter nasal spray such as Afrin and decongestants such as Sudafed tablets. Do not use the nasal spray for more than 3 days.
Bleeding
Slight bleeding for a number of hours following surgery is not unusual. Your saliva may be tinged with blood for up to 48 hours. If heavy bleeding is still present a few hours after surgery, moisten a wash cloth, piece of gauze or tea bag and place it over the area applying pressure for one-half hour. Repeat this if necessary. Holding small amounts of ice water in your mouth will usually stop any slight oozing. If there is excessive bleeding the day of or continual bleeding the day after surgery, call for instructions.
Pain
You will probably have pain in the area the day of and the day following surgery and possibly longer. Take your prescribed pain medication after surgery even if you do not feel pain. It is easier to prevent pain than decrease it. Take pain medication when you arrive home and every 6 hours for the next 24 hours, then as needed. Do not drive or operate machinery when taking narcotic medications such as Vicodin (hydrocodone), Percocet (oxycodone), or Tylenol #3. Limit your activity the first few days after surgery. Trying to do too much too fast increases the swelling which increases your pain.
Swelling
To minimize swelling, a cold pack should be intermittently applied to the face next to the operated area (use crushed ice in zip-loc bags or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in paper towel). Keep the cold pack on for 10 minutes, then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this sequence for 4 to 6 hours the day of surgery. The key is to do this immediately following the surgery. Bed rest immediately after surgery with your head elevated by a pillow is also recommended. By limiting your activity the day of surgery, you will significantly limit the degree of swelling. Swelling usually peaks three days after surgery and may persist for several days. There may be numbness associated with the swelling. Fair skinned patients or those who bruise easily may anticipate some discoloration of the skin over the area. If the swelling is severe and/or you feel feverish as well, please call. It may be helpful to apply Vaseline to your lips to keep them moist.
Dietary Instructions
Drink plenty of cool fluids after surgery such as water and fruit juice. Avoid carbonated beverages (soda) and very hot foods or drinks for at least two days. A soft non-chewing diet is recommended for two weeks after surgery to allow the gum tissue to heal. It is also advisable to avoid acidic foods such as tomatoes, peppers, or citrus fruits and highly seasoned foods that may irritate the mouth. You may resume eating these foods in a few weeks after the mouth sutures are removed.
After the sutures are removed from your mouth it is still important not to disturb the area so that the bone graft or implants may fuse to your jawbone. Do not eat with your dentures or removable teeth. We realize that you may occasionally be in social situations that you will want to wear your dentures. If you occasionally need to eat a meal with the denture in place, choose a diet that is soft and does not require much chewing. If you need to use your denture for eating more that once a week please discuss this with Dr. Friedberg or Dr. Friedman.
Patients that maintain a good diet of soft foods generally feel better, have less discomfort, and heal better. A nutritious diet throughout the healing period is important to your comfort, temperament and healing. Chop food in smaller pieces or use a blender to puree. A daily multiple vitamin and calcium supplements (i.e. Citrical) are also recommended. Food supplements such as Metrecal, Nutrament, Ensure, Enrich, Sego, Instant Breakfast, etc. may be helpful. Also avoid foods that may cause trauma to the gums such as popcorn, chips, nuts or shells.
Suggestions: Apple juice, water, milk, coffee, tea. Yogurt, cooked cereals such as oatmeal or cream of wheat. Scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, milktoast, applesauce, home cooked broth, bouillon, soups. Ground beef, baked or broiled fish, broiled or stewed chicken (finely chopped). Macaroni and cheese, scrambled eggs, bread softened with gravy. Baked or mashed potatoes. Asparagus, peas, carrots, lima beans, string beans (all mashed). Cottage cheese, canned bartlett pears. Jell-O, puddings, pound cake. Milkshakes and ice cream.
Notify the Doctor if any of the following occur:
1. If pain or swelling increases after 3 days (it should be decreasing).
2. If the sutures become loose or dislodged before 3 days.
3. If you have any signs which may indicate a drug reaction or allergy such as itching, hives, rash or difficulty breathing.
4. You develop a fever or body temperature that becomes higher than 100 degrees F.
5. Numbness persists three days after surgery.
6. Pain in your jaws is not relieved by the prescribed pain medication.
7. If you have any difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
8. If you have persistent nausea or pain that prevents drinking adequate fluids.
9. If you are having difficulty not smoking after surgery.
