Dr. Gossman.com Home Page - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

GENERAL

After any surgical procedure performed in your mouth, such as a tooth extraction or removal of an impacted tooth, you can expect SOME bleeding (oozing), SOME swelling and SOME pain and discomfort. PLEASE follow these instructions, as they will hasten your post-operative recovery and make you more comfortable.

I.V. SEDATION / GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Patient's who have had intravenous sedation / general anesthesia for their oral surgery, must be carefully observed and assisted for the 12 hours following discharge from the office. The RESPONSIBLE ADULT who accompanies the patient, should observe the following rules to insure a rapid and uneventful recovery:

1.	*The patient should walk as little as possible and ONLY* with assistance and FIRM support.**

2.	The patient should be placed in the bed and the head supported with one pillow; cover the pillow with a soft towel to absorb any blood tinged saliva that might drool from the patient's mouth, while they are recovering from the medication.

WHAT TO DO

Gauze has been placed in your mouth; please keep FIRM, CONSTANT PRESSURE on it for 4 hours. Please DO NOT open your mouth or talk excessively during this period.

IF active bleeding continues after this 4 hour period, discard the original gauze pack and replace it with a fresh one and keep FIRM, CONSTANT PRESSURE on it for 4 more hours. DO NOT open your mouth or talk excessively. Replace this pack in 4 hours and IF bleeding still persists, discard it and replace it with a fresh pack as before. IF after this last 4 hour period active bleeding persists, please call my office.

Pain medications are taken every 3-4 hours or as directed on by your prescription. DO NOT take any of the medications if you have no pain.

An ice pack placed on the face next to the surgical site for the first and second day to minimize the swelling. It should be placed ON for 15 minutes and the OFF for 15 minutes, until bedtime.

Drink at least 6 glasses of fluids (water, fruit juices, vegetable juices and water) the day of surgery. Eat soft foods the following day and return to your normal diet as soon as possible.

WHAT NOT TO DO

DO NOT eat any hard, chewy solid foods today.

DO NOT bite or pinch your lip while anesthesia is present. PARENTS, PLEASE observe and remind your children of this to prevent injury to the anesthetized areas.

DO NOT rinse or spit the first two days. Then rinse LIGHTLY with warm salt water six times a day or until the tenderness is gone.

DO NOT SMOKE the day of surgery!

DO NOT use a straw to drink liquids for two days after your surgery.

DO NOT remove any blood clots from the site of the operation.

EMERGENCY

The preceding instructions are intended to cover the post-operative problems that might occur and to aid in the recovery of the patient from any oral surgical procedure. HOWEVER, if any circumstances do occur that are not covered, or if there are any questions concerning any related problems, PLEASE CALL:

(305) 245-6633