Stony Brook Medical Park Dental Group

Instructions for Caring for Your New Dentures
Instructions After Oral Surgery
Instructions After Periodontal Surgery

You should normally experience no severe pain from the procedure that was performed. However, some minor discomfort is expected and, therefore, it is useful to begin taking two (2) tablets of Tylenol as soon as possible and before the local anesthetic has worn off. If we have given you another prescription for another pain medication, the Tylenol should NOT be taken while taking this prescription medication.
The material that may have been placed around your tooth (teeth) is a dressing and should NOT be disturbed. It will become hard within a few hours. Refrain from drinking or eating hot foods at this time. After this, you may resume a regular diet, but avoid chewing on the affected side so that the dressing is not disturbed. The dressing should remain in place until your next appointment, at which time it will be replaced or removed. It is normal that some of the dressing will chip away during this time. If a large portion of the dressing comes off in the first 5 days and you are uncomfortable, please call the office. If a large portion of the dressing comes off in the first 5 days and you are comfortable, there is no need to call but just return on your scheduled appointment. Should the foil covering the dressing come off, do not be alarmed it was only placed to allow the dressing to remain in place while it hardens.
To help control any post-surgical swelling, put an ice pack (ice wrapped in a small towel) against the side of the face where surgery was performed, 15 minutes on and then 15 minutes off for the rest of the day. There is no need to wake from sleep to do this procedure.
Rinsing is not an important part of the treatment. Its purpose is to make your mouth feel like it is clean. You are NOT to rinse today (day of surgery). Beginning tomorrow (1 day after surgery), if your mouth does not feel clean, you may rinse every 2 hours with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz. of warm tap water).
You should use your toothbrush and dental floss as you normally do, but avoid the area of the dressing.
There may be occasional blood stains in your saliva for the first 4 to 5 hours. This is not unusual and will correct itself. If there is considerable bleeding, take a piece of gauze and press it against the bleeding area for 20 minutes. Repeat if necessary. Do not rinse to stop the bleeding.
If any problems arise, please call our office.