Dear patient, below you will find instructions on how to behave during the post-operative course; take note of both the general instructions and those relating to the specific intervention that you have supported (at the bottom of the page, before the recommended diet).

If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to contact my office on 02/4452754.

 

General post-operative instructions for oral surgery.

 

• Take antibiotic, analgesic / anti-inflammatory therapy and perform topical disinfection (mouthwash) according to what is already prescribed in the pre-operative instructions, respecting times and duration.

 

• Apply ice to the face in contact with the operated area for four hours at 20 minute intervals (20 minutes of application, 20 minutes no).

 

• Refrain from driving for 12 hours if tranquilizers (benzodiazepines) have been taken before the operation.

 

• Do not rinse your mouth for the first 10 hours (it is possible to drink immediately and eat 2 hours after the operation): any minor bleedings are normal. In case of bleeding it is important to compress the area with a gauze soaked in mouthwash and contact the study as soon as possible.

 

• Do not exert effort or intense physical activity in the days following the operation (especially in the first 48 hours).

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• Do not stretch cheeks or lips to try to look at the wound (the stitches could break!)

 

• Do not chew from the operated side until the sutures are removed

 

• Do not take hot food for the first 5 days (room temperature is fine.

 

• Do not take hard food for 15 days (see the recommended diet below).

 

• Do not smoke for at least 10 days.

 

• Sleep for the first two nights with two pillows so as to position the head higher than the rest of the body.

 

• Do not brush, do not use dental floss or pipe cleaners in the operated area until the sutures are removed.

 

• Edema, swelling and bruising may occur, especially on the third day.

 

Specific post-operative instructions for operations of:

 

- Dental extractions.

In the event of major unevenness in the following hours do not rinse the mouth but use as a buffer the rolled cotton garzine soaked in mouthwash (or water): place the swab in correspondence of the bleeding extraction zone and firmly tighten the dental arches in order to apply good compression. Keep for at least 20 minutes; use your fingers directly to apply compression on the pad if there are no teeth on the arch opposite to the extraction area.

 

 - Immediate loading implantology.

In the case of complete rehabilitations (full arch), refrain from chewing hard foods for two months and avoid bringing teeth into contact except to swallow saliva and chew food (soft).

In the case of partial rehabilitation (one or a few teeth), chew the hardest foods only on the opposite side for two months.

 

- Maxillary sinus elevation.

Refrain from water sports for two weeks; do not sneeze or blow your nose by inducing internal pressure (try to perform these maneuvers as gently as possible).

Do not go to the sauna or steam room for two weeks.

Do not bend your head to lift weights even of modest size.

 

- Muco-gingival surgery (covering of radicular recessions with and without connective tissue grafts).

 

Refrain from hygiene operations with brushing, wire and pipe cleaners for 3 weeks. Use the prescribed mouthwash (chlorhexidine 0.12%) three times a day after meals for one minute without shaking the liquid inside the mouth. Don't eat for the next half hour.

Attempts to view the wound must absolutely be avoided; in these interventions very thin and fragile suture threads are used: their rupture could compromise the successful outcome of the therapy.

 

Recommended diet in the post-operative period (cold foods or at room temperature).

 

During healing soft foods must be chosen that do not require a real chewing; this is to limit damage and pain in the event of accidental direct injury to the wound.

 

• Rice - soft dough

• Boiled fish

• Soft cheeses

• Minced meat

• Boiled vegetables

• Soft pudding and desserts

• Cooked fruit

• Grated apples

• Smoothies and yogurt