Anesthesia & Surgical Instructions

Home Care After Oral Surgery

DIET: Begin with clear liquids and advance to soft diet during the first 24 hours (soups, eggs, pastas, etc.). Do not drink through a straw for 5-7 days. Avoid milk products until you are taking clear liquids without difficulty. Avoid crunchy foods (peanuts, popcorn, chips) for 2 weeks. Cold foods can help reduce swelling.

ACTIVITY: Relax and take it easy for the first couple of days. Avoid lifting, bending or stooping. Elevate your head above heart level-this will help to promote drainage and reduce swelling.

BLEEDING: A certain amount of bleeding is expected following surgery. Leave gauze in your mouth for 30-60 minutes following surgery. If you have continued bleeding, place 2 folded gauze squares over the socket and bite with moderate pressure for 60 minutes. Blood tinged saliva is expected for 36 hours. A moist tea bag may be placed over the area and gentle pressure applied. If an excessive amount of bright red bleeding occurs despite the above directions, notify the office or our answering service.

SWELLING: It will reach its peak in 2-3 days and decrease over time. To minimize this; apply ice packs for the first 24 hours only, 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off. Alternate sides if indicated.

THINGS THAT MAY OCCUR: Sore teeth, earache and/or sore throat, bruising to outside of face, tightness of jaw muscles and dry/cracked lips. There will be an opening where the tooth was removed. This will fill in with new tissue. Do not disturb the blood clot; it’s grayish or yellow appearance and slight odor do not indicate an infection. Keep your tongue away from the surgical area.

NUMBNESS: Due to local anesthetic, you can expect the lower jaw (lip, teeth, gums, chin) to be numb for up to 6-12 hours and the upper jaw to be numb for up to 1-4 hours, following surgery.

MOUTH RINSING: No rinsing or brushing around the surgical site for the first 24 hours.

STITCHES: They will fall out on their own in 5-10 days, unless your doctor re-appoints you to have them removed.

FEVER: Elevated temperature for 24-48 hours is normal. Notify our office or answering service if you temperature is over 101 F for 2 days in a row.

ANTIBIOTICS: If you are given antibiotics, take them until the prescription is finished.

SMOKING: Avoid completely.

DENTURES: Keep dentures in for the first day and night. Expect some bleeding around the denture to occur.

FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY, DO NOT sign any legal documents, drive, or operate machinery for 24 hours following general anesthesia. DO NOT drink alcoholic beverages.

Please contact the office you were seen at if you have any questions or concerns.

Your Greater Omaha Oral Surgeons at Oral Surgery Associates Proudly Offers the Following Oral Surgery Services:

Wisdom Teeth Extraction, Tooth Extractions, Dental Implants, Bone Grafting, Impacted Teeth, Facial Trauma, Chin Surgery, Jaw Surgery, Oral Pathology, TMJ Disorders, Sleep Apnea, Cleft Lip, and Cleft Palate

Serving Greater Omaha and the Omaha-Council Bluffs Area and the following Nebraska and Iowa cities:

Omaha NE, Council Bluffs IA, Papillion NE, Bellevue NE, Fremont NE, Norfolk NE, Atlantic IA, Carroll IA

Oral Surgery Associates

Omaha Office: 13215 Birch Drive, Suite 100 • Omaha, NE 68164 • Phone: 402-397-1205 • Fax: 402-390-4587
Omaha Office: 9239 West Center Road • Omaha, NE 68124 • Phone: 402-393-4433 • Fax:402-397-1687

Fremont Office: 1437 East 23rd Street • Fremont, NE 68025 • Phone: 402-721-3600 • Fax: 402-721-2472

Norfolk Office: 109 North 29th Street • Norfolk, NE 68701 • Phone: 402-371-5880 • Fax: 402-371-1362

Council Bluffs Office: 201 Ridge Street, Suite 308, • Council Bluffs, IA 51503 • Phone: 712-328-8892 • Fax: 712-328-8845

Carroll Office: 718 Simon Avenue • Carroll, IA 51401 • Phone: 712-792-6086 • Fax: 712-792-6090

Atlantic Office: 1501 East 10th • Atlantic, IA 50022 • Phone: 712-243-6390

Business Office: 13215 Birch Drive, Suite 100 • Omaha, NE 68164 • Phone: 402-390-0770 • Fax: 402-390-1074