Every patient recovers differently after surgery. Whether you have had wisdom teeth removal, implant surgery or jaw surgery, the following advice is best practice for ongoing care.

Resting

After your procedure you should return home and rest quietly for the remainder of the day. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for a minimum of 48 hours.

Pain Relief

Pain should be managed by taking regular pain relief medication.  Pain relief is most effective if you get ahead of the pain.  Do not wait for the pain to come on, as it will be more difficult to control.

Often strong pain killers prescribed will have side effects such as nausea, vomiting and constipation.  Should any of these occur it is best to stop the medication and discuss alternative pain relief measures with Dr Nova Gibson.

Eating

Eat and drink what you can manage, but in general cold and soft food are best for the first few days.  Avoid hot temperature drinks and foods for the first 24 hours.

Suggestions for the first week following surgery include drinking lots of fluids and eating soft foods (for example – mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, boiled vegetables and noodles).

After Jaw Surgery a special diet is recommended.
Click here for further information ‘Post Jaw Surgery Diet’

Cleaning

Minimal cleaning of the area of surgery for the first 24 hours is best.  After surgery, warm salty mouth washes after eating. Gentle brushing of teeth, not near the surgery site/s.  It may be useful to use a small children’s toothbrush.

Salt water mouth rinse

Is made up by dissolving one teaspoon of table salt in a cup of warm water and allowing this to cool before use.

Swelling

Swelling is normal and is at a maximum after 2-3 days and will start to recede by 4-5 days.  Cold compresses can help to reduce swelling and help with pain in the first 24 – 48 hours.

Bleeding

Some blood or blood stained saliva is normal for three days after surgery.  Cleaning of teeth may also produce more bleeding – this is normal.

Continued bleeding can be treated by placing a firm pad of gauze or clean linen directly to the wound – keep this in place with moderate pressure (by closing your jaw and biting firmly, but gently).  The pressure stops the bleeding and a blood clot should form.  It is best to sit down and maintain this pressure for at least 20 minutes. This procedure may need to be repeated several times.  If bleeding cannot be stopped or is excessive despite applying pressure with the gauze, please contact our office immediately.

Stitches

Most of the stitches placed in the mouth will dissolve, and it is variable how long the stitches will dissolve, but a guide is between three days and two weeks.  Should there be any loose ends of stitches and they become annoying, they can be trimmed if necessary with sharp nail scissors, or alternatively contact our office and we will remove them for you.

Jaw Stiffness

Some limitation when opening the mouth is normal after oral surgery.  Once the pain and swelling has settled, mouth stretching exercises can be started to return the range of jaw movements to normal.