After Care Instructions

Thank you for choosing Dr. Swan’s practice for your oral surgery needs.  It was our pleasure taking care of you.  Please review After Care Instructions and give our practice a call at 312.245.9000 if you have any questions.

DIET: You may start eating any soft and nourishing foods when you get home.  Refrain from consuming foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn, etc., for the next two (2) weeks, because they may get lodged in the surgery site(s)/area(s).  Over the next several days following surgery, you can progress to solid foods at your own pace.

ORAL CARE:  Begin your normal oral hygiene routine as soon as possible after surgery.  Soreness and swelling may not permit normal brushing around surgery site(s)/area(s), but please make every effort to keep teeth around surgery site(s)/area(s) clean using gentle circular motions.  If you have an electric toothbrush, turn it off when you reach surgery site(s)/area(s) and use it as a mechanical toothbrush.  Please begin using StellaLife product(s) as instructed on the box/bottle.  If you did not receive StellaLife product(s), please begin warm salt water rinses, at least 2 times a day, and continue for the next 7 days.

PAIN/DISCOMFORT:  Unfortunately, most oral surgery procedures are accompanied by some degree of discomfort, however, you can stay ahead of the pain/discomfort by taking over-the-counter Tylenol (500mg-1000mg) every six (6) hours for the next 48 hours.  Please start this regimen as soon as you get home and before the numbness wears off.  If you were prescribed narcotic based pain relievers, use with caution and only as instructed as they can cause drowsiness and decrease coordination.

SWELLING:  Swelling after surgery is normal and usually peaks 2-3 days after surgery.  You can minimize this by using a cold pack or an ice bag wrapped in a towel and applied firmly to the face or cheek adjacent to the surgical site(s)/area(s) twenty (20) minutes on and twenty (20) minutes off for the first 48 hours after surgery.  Switch to moist heat after the first 48 hours following surgery and continue for the next 48-72 hours.

BLEEDING:  Intermittent bleeding or oozing is normal, and can be controlled with pressure by placing fresh gauze over the surgery site(s)/area(s) and biting down firmly for 60 minutes.  If bleeding persists or becomes heavy after three (3) 60-minute rounds of biting down on fresh gauze, you may substitute a black tea bag (soaked in hot water, squeezed damp-dry and wrapped in fresh gauze) for 60 minutes.  If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our practice.  You may be instructed to return to the practice or go to the nearest ER. 

ANTIBIOTICS:  Any antibiotics should be taken with food, plenty of water and until gone.  We recommend that you also take over-the-counter probiotics for your gut health while taking antibiotics.  If you develop diarrhea, stop taking antibiotics and call our practice immediately.

IV SEDATION/GENERAL ANESTHESIA:  In the first 24 hours after surgery, do not use stairs unassisted, drive or operate heavy machinery, or make any important life or financial decisions.  Nausea is not an uncommon event after surgery under IV sedation/general anesthesia, and it can also be caused by narcotic pain relievers.  Nausea may be reduced by staying hydrated following surgery, and preceding each narcotic pain tablet with a small amount of soft food, then taking the tablet with a large volume of water.  If nausea persists or you begin to experience repeated vomiting, call our practice immediately.

SINUS PRECAUTIONS:  Following removal of upper back teeth and/or sinus surgery such as a sinus lift, you may be instructed to follow sinus precaution instructions for 2-4 weeks with no nose blowing, sneezing with mouth and nose uncovered, and no traveling by plane.  Musicians will be instructed to refrain from using instruments with mouth pieces for the same duration of 2-4 weeks.

EXERCISE/WORKING OUT:  Please avoid strenuous exercises such as lifting weights especially in the first 72 hours after surgery.  You may gradually return back to your normal exercise routine after 5 days.

GENERAL CARE:  Avoid spitting forcefully or using straws for the next 5 days.  Dr. Swan may have placed sutures (stitches) around your surgery site(s)/area(s).  Do not cut or pull sutures out as they will dissolve on their own in the next 4-7 days, unless sutures used do not dissolve, Dr. Swan will advise you when to return to clinic for suture removal.  DO NOT SMOKE OR VAPE for at least 5 days after surgery, as smoking is detrimental to healing.

SHARP EDGES:  If you feel sharp edges around surgery site(s)/area(s) with your tongue, it is probably the bony walls which originally supported the teeth.  Occasionally small spicules (slivers) of bone may work themselves out during the first couple of weeks after the surgery.  They are not pieces of tooth and, if necessary, we will remove them.  Please call our office if you are concerned.

IMPORTANT:  If you develop a fever of 101.5 F or above, have difficulty swallowing and/or breathing, have uncontrolled, pulsating bleeding from surgery site(s)/area(s), and believe this is an emergency, please dial 911 or proceed to the nearest ER.

Thank you again for entrusting us with your oral surgery needs!

Dr. Swan and Team