Sameer N. Haté, D.M.D.

Post-operative Instructions for Dental Extractions: 

• Continue to bite on the gauze placed immediately after your surgery for 30 minutes (do not remove it to eat, speak or check the site for half an hour).
• If after you remove the gauze, you notice oozing from the surgical site, replace it with a new moistened piece of gauze.  Hold pressure for 30-45 minutes at a time.  If you are on blood thinners you may need to repeat this step several times before the bleeding stops.
• Avoid forceful spitting, drinking through a straw, or smoking to prevent dislodging or destroying the developing blood clot.
• Avoid rinsing with alcohol or peroxide based mouthwashes for three days after surgery.
• You may rinse gently with salt water or plain water for the first 24 hours.  You may begin gently brushing your teeth after that.
• You may hold ice against the side of your face where you had surgery for 15 minutes at a time for the first 4-6 hours to limit swelling. 
• If you have been prescribed an antibiotic after surgery, finish the entire prescription unless you experience an upset stomach, itching, hives or difficulty breathing.  Contact Dr. Haté immediately if you experience these symptoms.
• If you were prescribed a pain medication after surgery, begin taking it with food before your numbness wears off (usually within 2-3 hours of surgery).
• For the first day after surgery, stick to a soft almost liquid diet.  Milkshakes, frappes and pudding are ideal.  The next day you may advance your diet to the consistency of well-cooked pasta or eggs.  Slowly advance your diet over the next week until you are back to your usual diet.  Remember to rinse after meals to keep the surgical sites clean.
• Your stitches are dissolvable, and usually break and come out on their own within a few days.
• Post-operative swelling peaks approximately 3 days after surgery; don’t be alarmed if you are more swollen three days after surgery, it’s normal, it will get better.
• If after four days, you are experiencing a bad taste or odor from the surgical site and consistent discomfort without relief after taking pain medication, you may be experiencing symptoms of a “dry socket”.
• If you think you have a “dry socket”, call the office and make an appointment to be seen and treated.
• If you have any questions do not hesitate to call our office.  If you call after hours, the answering service will provide information of how to get in touch with Dr. Haté.

     Post-operative Instructions for Dental Implant/Bone Grafting:

• Continue to hold pressure at the surgical site with gauze for 30 minutes at a time until bleeding stops. 
• If you were prescribed antibiotics and a medicated rinse, use as directed.
• Stick to a bland, soft, almost liquid diet for the first 2-3 days.  Avoid chewing at the implant or bone graft site.
• If you are wearing a denture or “flipper” over your graft/implant site, avoid exceeding a soft diet for up to four weeks. 
• Stitches placed during implant or grafting surgeries typically last longer than other stitches, and will likely need to be removed during your follow-up appointment.