Oral Surgery in Las Vegas

Post-Op Care Guide for Oral Surgery

Welcome to the first steps of your healing journey. We believe in the strength within each patient to overcome and thrive after surgery. Your path to recovery is unique—it’s a testament to your resilience and courage. Our team is here to support you every step of the way because your well-being matters to us. You deserve a recovery that is as smooth and comfortable as possible. As you embark on this healing process, know that our hearts and expertise are right alongside you, ensuring that each moment is filled with gentle care and understanding. When questions or concerns arise, remember that we’re just a call away, ready to bring comfort and clarity to your recovery experience.

Oral Surgery Post-Op Care: Your Personalized Path to Healing

Thank you for trusting us with your care. Your healing journey is unique, and while these guidelines are here to support you, always follow what feels right for you. If you’re unsure, we’re just a call away—your comfort matters to us.

Embrace the First Hour

In the first hour after your surgery, gently hold gauze over the surgical site. This time is about letting your body start its natural healing. After 30 minutes, replace the gauze (or use a soothing damp tea bag) and avoid eating or drinking with it in place. We believe in the peaceful start to your recovery.

Should bleeding continue, it’s simply a nudge to adjust the gauze:

• Remove it with care.
• Reapply to ensure direct pressure on the site.
• Rest easy, letting it sit for 30 minutes to an hour.

Navigating Bleeding and Oozing

A little oozing is normal. Blood mixed with saliva might look more than it is—check for actual bleeding. Trust your instincts with gauzing, and let peace invite the healing to continue uninterrupted while you rest.

Meeting Pain with Strength

Discomfort is a companion many meet post-surgery. Yet within you lies strength, and with the right support, even this hurdle is manageable. Opt for over-the-counter pain relievers before numbness fades, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, pending no allergies. For more complex procedures, your prescribed medication can become a supportive partner, only enhancing that healing journey when taken with food. Remember, these meds can cloud judgment, so delay driving and machinery.

Antibiotics: Your Shield

Antibiotics may be your shield against infections. Listen to your body—if reactions like rashes or nausea arise, pause the intake and call on antihistamines to help. We picture you safe, so seek immediate aid if you struggle with severe reactions.

Swelling: A Temporary Visitor

Swelling peaks at 48 hours, a visible marker of healing. When you recline, keep your head high on pillows. Cold compresses during the first two days soothe (30 minutes on, 30 minutes off); warmth offers comfort thereafter. See that as care you are giving yourself.

Rinsing: Gently Begin

Hold off all rinsing for 24 hours, giving space for clots to form securely. With dawn comes gentle saltwater rinses—one teaspoon in warm water, three to four times a day for a week.

Spitting and Brushing: Tender Care

Embrace healing by avoiding spitting—it may dislodge the hard-working blood clot. Gentle brushing near surgical sites after the first day ensures those tender areas remain undisturbed.

Syringe Support

One week in, if you have a syringe, use it to clean, filling it with warm water. Your tooth’s former space will heal over weeks and eventually solidify with bone—a vision of completion.

Nourish Your Healing

A balanced diet fuels wellness. In your initial 24 hours, savor cool, soft foods like soups and shakes. Let each meal be an energy boost, progressing to solids as you’re comfortable. Regular nutrition empowers your strength and speeds up recovery. Diabetics, follow your routine faithfully for balance.

Easing Nausea

Gentle sips of ginger ale or cola, paired with crackers, can settle unease. Keep discomfort at bay and reach out if needed.

Dry Socket: Tending to Discomfort

If a dry socket comes, you’ll feel it by the third or fourth day—constant, radiating pain. Think of it as the body’s alert for care. If discomfort persists, reach out as our dressing may help alleviate.

Bruises: Signs of Healing

Bruising may greet you post-surgery. Just like swelling, alternating warmth offers your skin kindness, ushering in healing.

Intentional Avoidance of Smoking and Alcohol

Create the best healing conditions: avoid tobacco and alcohol, especially while medication’s role continues in your life.

Acknowledging the Past

Feel a bony area? It’s part of the journey—remnants of the tooth’s support. It’s all part of healing’s embrace. Remember we’re committed—your ongoing care matters immensely to us. We’re here whenever needed.

Soft Start Diet Suggestions

For the first day, enjoy cool, comforting foods such as:

• Soft drinks, gentle dairy, baby foods
• Smooth shakes, mashed peas, enriching soups
• Plain yogurts, Jell-O®, milk
• Ice creams, custards, pureed apples, homemade blends

Avoid textures like seeds and nuts. Until the numbness eases, keep foods chilled and get stronger daily.

Let nature build your clot by avoiding straws for a week—they can disrupt healing.

Call Us Immediately with Any Questions About Your Post-Op Care

At Dr. Snyder Cosmetic Dentistry, your comfort is our top concern. Contact us today at (855) 863-3800 to clarify any questions about your care.