231-946-3512 When you visit Grand Traverse Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Centers, our oral surgeons and team will do everything possible to ensure the effectiveness of your treatment. However, once you are home, the success of your procedure will be up to you and the approach you take to your aftercare. Before your treatment begins, our doctors or one of our team members will talk with you about what you should do during your recovery, and you can also review the information below. If you develop complications or if you have questions about your postoperative instructions in Traverse City, Michigan, or in Alpena, Cadillac or Gaylord, you should contact our office right away.
Biopsy Post-Op Care
Expect a certain amount of bleeding after your biopsy procedure. You can control bleeding by using some rolled gauze and applying pressure by biting down for a 45-minute period. After that time, you may remove the gauze and may eat or drink.
If bleeding persists, place a moist teabag in the area of bleeding and bite firmly for one hour to aid in clotting the blood. Please note that herbal teas will not be effective. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding persists, contact our office.
After your procedure:
- Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours.
- Do not touch the surgical site with your fingers or tongue.
- Use cold packs to manage discomfort for the first 48 hours (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off).
- Use prescribed medications as directed and mild pain relievers as needed to manage discomfort.
- Stay hydrated but do not use a straw to prevent bleeding.
- Avoid smoking for at least five days.
- Avoid vigorous exercise for three to four days.
- Use warm, moist heat to relax any stiff muscles after 48 hours.
- Maintain a soft diet and avoid eating foods that could get stuck in your teeth.
- Rinse with a warm salt water mixture after meals (½ tsp. salt in an 8 oz. glass of water) after the first 48 hours.
Biopsy materials are usually sent to a pathologist for review. The pathologist will send back a formal result, which we will review with you when you return for your follow-up visit. We will also examine the biopsy site at the time of your follow-up appointment. Please contact our office if you have any questions.
Bone Grafting Post-Op Care
After your bone grafting procedure, you may find some small granules in your mouth during the first day. This is normal and will stop as you continue to heal.
After your procedure, please:
- Do not touch or disturb the surgical site.
- Do not rinse or spit for two days.
- Do not apply pressure with your tongue or fingers to the grafted area.
- Do not lift or pull up on your lip to look at your stitches.
- Do not smoke for at least five days after your surgery.
- Use all prescribed medications as directed.
You may gently rinse your mouth the second day after your procedure, but take care not to rinse vigorously for 2 weeks. You may take mild pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed to manage discomfort.
Please contact our office if you have problems such as excessive bleeding, pain or difficulty in opening your mouth.
Impacted Tooth Exposure Post-Op Care
After your impacted tooth exposure treatment, we recommend that you:
- Do not rinse or spit for 48 hours after the surgery.
- Keep your fingers and tongue away from the surgical site.
- Use ice packs on the side of your face over the surgical area for the first 48 hours, alternating 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
- Use mild pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to manage discomfort and use any prescribed medications as directed.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, but make sure you do NOT use a straw for 3 days.
- Do not smoke for at least five days after your surgery.
- Avoid strenuous activity and do not exercise for at least three to four days after your procedure. After that time, be careful when exercising so that you do not experience light-headedness, dizziness or weakness.
- Use warm, moist heat over areas that have become stiff after 48 hours.
- Use a warm salt water rinse following meals to clean your mouth (½ tsp. salt in about 8 oz. of water) after the first 48 hours.
- Maintain a soft diet and avoid anything that may get stuck in your teeth (such as seeds, nuts, rice or popcorn).
Contact our office if you experience severe bleeding or pain.
Implant Placement Post-Op Care
Please follow your post-op care instructions as closely as possible to help you recover quickly and avoid complications in your healing process following implant placement. We recommend that you:
- Do not rinse your mouth for the rest of the day after your procedure.
- On the day following your procedure, begin rinsing with warm salt water every two to three hours. (Use ½ tsp. salt in 8 oz. water.) Do this for several days. Then rinse after meals and at bedtime for two weeks.
- Use prescribed medications, antibiotics and mouth rinses as directed.
- Use mild pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve discomfort.
- You may begin brushing your teeth the day after your procedure, but be sure to avoid the surgical site for several days.
- If a temporary crown was placed, do not bite down until given permission to do so.
- Do not wear your denture, partial denture or other oral appliance until given permission to do so.
- You will likely experience some swelling. Apply ice or cold compresses to the side of your face at 20-minute intervals for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours, switch to heat instead and continue applying heat until the swelling diminishes.
- Keep your lips moist with lip balm or petroleum jelly to prevent cracking.
- Do not operate machinery for at least 24 hours following your procedure if sedated or received or are taking narcotics.
- Do not smoke or use tobacco products — they can cause your implants to fail.
- If the cover screw or healing abutment of your implant falls out, call our office so that we can replace it. Bring the loosened component with you to this appointment.
- If you use oral contraceptives and have been prescribed an antibiotic, use an alternate method of birth control until you have completed your course of antibiotics.
If you have questions or concerns about your post-operative care, please contact our office to speak with a member of our team or schedule a follow-up appointment with our oral surgeons.
Sinus Lift Post-Op Care
Sinus lifts are a type of bone grafting provided in the upper jaw. The bone that has been grafted in is most commonly a combination of freeze-dried bone, artificial synthetic bone and your own bone tissue. Because of this, you may have two post-surgical sites: the donor site and the recipient site.
After your sinus lift procedure:
- DO NOT BLOW YOUR NOSE FOR FOUR (4) WEEKS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. You may sniff, but do not blow.
- Avoid all activities that could cause pressure in your nasal cavity.
- If you need to sneeze, sneeze with your mouth open. Do not hold your nose.
- Do not drink with straws.
- Do not spit.
- Do not go scuba diving or fly in a pressurized aircraft for 4 weeks.
- Take decongestants as needed to help reduce pressure in the sinuses.
- Avoid bearing down, such as when lifting heavy objects, blowing up balloons or playing a musical instrument that involves a blowing action for 4 weeks.
- Avoid smoking for at least two weeks.
- Take all prescribed antibiotics as directed.
- Light bleeding from the nose is normal for the first 48 hours.
Oral hygiene after your procedure:
- Do not rinse or spit on the day of your surgery.
- Start salt water rinses the day after your procedure. Use ½ tsp. salt dissolved in 8 oz. water and gently rinse with portions of the solution, taking five minutes to use the entire glassful. Repeat at least four to five times daily, including after eating, for the next five days.
- Do not brush the teeth in the area of the surgical site for 48 hours. Brush all other teeth.
- When brushing and spitting, be very gentle.
- We may prescribe an antibiotic rinse — please use this as directed.
Oral appliances after sinus lift surgery:
Do not wear an oral appliance immediately after your surgery. Avoid wearing appliances until your post-op treatment unless instructed otherwise. Contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.
Contact our office immediately if you notice any of the following problems:
- An unexpected flow of air or liquids between your mouth and nose
- Small particles of graft material being discharged from your nose
- Sinus or nasal congestion on the side your surgery was performed
- An increase in swelling in your mouth or cheek or under your eye after three days
Tooth Extractions Post-Op Care
Your initial healing period after having a tooth or teeth extracted will be about one to two weeks. You will experience some swelling and discomfort for the first 48 hours.
We recommend that you:
- Do not touch the surgical site with your fingers or tongue.
- Use ice packs as needed for the first 48 hours (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off).
- Use all prescribed medications as directed and mild pain relievers to manage discomfort as needed.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated but do not suck on straws for 48 hours.
- Limit vigorous exercise for three to four days.
- Use warm, moist heat on the outside of your face for any stiff muscles.
- Gently rinse using a warm salt water rinse every four hours and following meals (½ tsp. salt in an 8 oz. glass of water) after the first 48 hours.
- Restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods. Gradually resume a normal diet as you heal. Avoid foods that could become stuck in your teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction Post-Op Care
Following your wisdom teeth removal procedure, we recommend that you:
- Do not rinse or spit for 48 hours after your surgery.
- Do not touch the surgical site with your fingers or tongue.
- Use ice packs at 20-minute intervals to relieve swelling and manage discomfort. After the first 48 hours, you may also use warm, moist heat.
- Use mild pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as needed. (You should begin taking pain medication within two or three hours after your procedure.)
- Use any prescribed medications as directed.
- If you received sedation during your procedure, do not drive for 24 hours.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
- Do not use a straw to drink for 48 hours.
- Avoid smoking or using any tobacco products for at least five days after surgery.
- Avoid strenuous activities and do not exercise for three to four days after surgery.
- If the muscles of your jaw become stiff, apply warm, moist heat to that area of your face.
- After 48 hours, use a warm salt water rinse after eating to flush out food debris (we recommend ½ tsp. salt in an 8 oz. glass of water).
- Maintain a soft diet and do not eat anything that could get stuck in your teeth (such as nuts, seeds, rice, popcorn or sticky candy). You may resume a normal diet as soon as you feel comfortable doing so.
Please be aware that some bleeding is expected after your procedure, and you may see slight bleeding or redness in your saliva for up to 48 hours. This is normal and should stop, but if it continues or bleeding becomes heavy, please contact our office. Please also do not accept advice from friends. If you have questions or concerns, or are experiencing discomfort or pain, contact our office to speak with our oral surgeons or a member of our team.