Other Post-Operative Information

Pain--Mild to severe pain should be expected depending on the type of procedure you had. The pain and swelling expected is usually proportional to the surgical procedure. Don’t wait until the pain is moderate to severe to take your pain medicine. To prevent this, begin taking your pain medicine as soon as possible and as directed.
Swelling--Swelling usually peaks two days after surgery and begins to decrease on post-operative day three. Swelling is not necessarily a sign of an infection. The best way to minimize your swelling is to use the ice packs as directed immediately after surgery. However, after two days the ice has no effect on decreasing the amount of swelling, moist heat may now help.
Jaw stiffness--Jaw stiffness can develop as a result of swelling. This is called “trismus.” It is a direct result of swelling in your jaw muscles and is considered normal in most cases. This will manifest itself as difficulty opening your mouth fully.
Excessive bleeding--If excessive bleeding develops, please follow the steps below:

Rinse your mouth and wipe away any visible old blood clots.
Place a gauze pad over the area and apply pressure by biting firmly on the gauze for one hour. Repeat as necessary.
If bleeding continues, bite firmly on a moistened tea bag for 30 minutes.
If bleeding does not subside, please call our office or go to the emergency room.

Eat whatever you want and what is comfortable for you. It may be easier to start with soft foods and work up to foods that require more chewing.
Make sure you do not get dehydrated. You should take in 5-6 glasses of liquid each day. High-calorie and sugar-containing drinks are the best.
Constipation--Keep your bowel movements normal. Pain medicine often causes constipation as a side effect. Use a mild laxative if necessary.
If numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue occurs, there is no cause for alarm. This is called “paresthesia.” As stated before your surgery, this is usually temporary in nature. It may remain for several days or months. Please notify your doctor of any numbness at your postoperative appointment or call our office.
Teeth close to the surgical sites may ache temporarily. This is referred to as “sympathetic pain” and is usually a temporary condition.
If the corners of your mouth are stretched during the surgery, they may dry out and crack. Make sure to keep your lips moist with a cream or ointment.
There will be a cavity or hole where the teeth were removed. As well as possible, keep this area clean by rinsing after meals using warm salt water rinses and a toothbrush 2-3 times a day. The hole or cavity will gradually fill in with new tissue.
A slight elevation in temperature is common after surgery. Use Tylenol or Ibuprofen to control your temperature as needed. If a fever persists, please notify our office.
Skin discoloration or bruising--The skin of the face or neck may turn black and blue following surgery. This will gradually disappear and is not a cause for alarm. Moist heat can help with this.
IV site--If you were given an injection or IV in the arm or hand, the skin may turn black and blue. The discoloration and any discomfort will disappear in 3-5 days. Moist heat can help with this.
Sore throats and discomfort when swallowing are not uncommon after surgery within the mouth. The muscles get swollen and the normal act of swallowing can become painful. Also, if your surgery was done at Beaufort Memorial Hospital or the Surgery Center of Beaufort, your sore throat can be due to the general anesthetic. This should subside in 3-4 days. If severe discomfort develops when swallowing or you experience difficulty breathing, please contact our office or go to the emergency room.
Nausea and vomiting--IV sedation and general anesthesia can sometimes cause nausea and vomiting. If this occurs, sip on some Coke, tea, or ginger ale. Dramamine (regular formulation) can also help. If these symptoms, persist please notify our office.
Antibiotics--If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the pills or liquid as directed. Antibiotics are given to help fight off or prevent infections. Discontinue the antibiotics if a rash or other reaction develops and notify our office immediately. Also, if you are a female on birth control, antibiotics can decrease the action of your birth control pills, so it may be even more possible to become pregnant.

Beaufort Oral Surgery
Hospital Medical Park
968 Ribaut Road
Suite #3
Beaufort, SC 29902
Office: (843) 525-0900
Fax: (843) 525-0380
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