After the operation, rest quietly at home. Avoid excessive exercise, stimulants, very hot food or drinks for the rest of the day to minimize the risk of postoperative bleeding. Do not rinse too vigorously, or change gauze too frequently (keep the gauze in the mouth for at least 20 – 30 minutes) as this prevents blood from clotting effectively. Do not take hot fluids.
If bleeding occurs, apply clean, folded gauze to the wound and bite firmly for at least 30 minutes. If bleeding persists after a few attempts, please return to the clinic during office hours or call the clinic at 6397 6540.
Should a rash or any other complication develop after taking the prescribed medicine, please return to the clinic during office hours or call the clinic at 6397 6540. Discontinue taking the medicine immediately.
The site of the operation should be cleansed by rinsing the mouth gently with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a large glass of water), or using the antiseptic mouthwash as provided at the end of the surgery, especially after meals and before going to bed.
After the operation, expect some swelling around the operation site. The swelling will start on the second or third day after the operation and will take about 7 – 10 days to subside. There may be some bruises around the operation area due to the blood that has collected under the skin. This should also resolve in 7 – 10 days time. A small amount of blood may ooze from the wound and may last 2 – 3 days.
You should have soft food for a few days after the operation. Eat what you can tolerate and does not give you much discomfort.
Avoid smoking. The local action of nicotine in the mouth has been shown to have a detrimental effect on healing after surgery and greatly increases the likelihood of wound infection developing.
If you have been given antibiotics, you should take these as prescribed and complete the course. Do not take alcohol if you are taking a course of metronidazole or flagyl. All antibiotics have the potential to reduce the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill. If this is relevant, you should use additional methods of contraception until the course is completed.
Please attend your next review appointment. Do not hesitate to contact the clinic should you require more gauze, medication or have any questions about the course of your surgery.