At Advanced Periodontics, we know that undergoing any type of surgical procedure or treatment can be a stress-inducing experience. That’s why we want to ensure our clients are armed with the information about what to do before and after surgery, allowing them to feel prepared for what they are about to undergo and for what comes after. Our team has compiled a comprehensive list of surgical instructions to guide you in preparing for your procedure and what to do after you get home. By closely following these guidelines, you’ll be able to head into surgery with confidence and recover with greater comfort and peace of mind.
Surgical Instructions
Preparing for Your Procedure At Advanced Periodontics
Pre-Operative Instructions - Ensuring a Smooth Surgical Experience
We strongly recommend you review these instructions prior to your upcoming procedure. By doing so, you will better understand what to expect and be able to make any necessary adjustments to your medication, food intake, and daily activities. Our team is always here to help, so if you have any last-minute questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at 206-223-1501 during our regular business hours.
- Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early for your scheduled appointment.
- Please be sure to pick up your prescriptions in advance of your appointment.
- Please review your prescriptions closely, some antibiotics and sedative pills may need to be taken prior to your appointment.
- If you will be sedated, please ensure you have a driver available to escort you to and from our office.
- We recommend parking in Pacific Place or The Medical Dental Building, where we validate parking for new patient exams and surgical procedures.
- It may be important to stop taking aspirin and non-steroidals such as Motrin and Advil, 7-10 days prior to your surgery.
- If you are taking Coumadin or another blood thinner, remember to discontinue them as directed.
- If you take antibiotic premedication for heart issues or prosthetic joints, please take it as directed before your surgery.
- You will feel better if you have eaten prior to surgery, however you will need to fast if you are scheduled for Intravenous Sedation.
- We keep the office cool, so dress warmly. You may bring your iPod or MP3 player with you if you like.
Post-Operative Instructions For a Successful Recovery
In order to evaluate your progress and healing, we will see you for post-operative checks during the first 1-5 weeks. In most cases, after surgery, we also look forward to seeing you back for periodontal maintenance cleaning and an examination of tissue maturation about 8-12 weeks following the surgery. It’s important to note that every patient’s recovery/post-operative experience will be unique, so we encourage you to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have
The local anesthetic will wear off within 1 to 4 hours following surgery. It is essential to take your pain medication prior to discomfort. If you have been prescribed ibuprofen for pain, please take it every 6 hours. If it is insufficient for your pain level, you may add Extra Strength Tylenol (1000mg Acetaminophen) every 6 hours, staggering doses with your ibuprofen, so you take a pain medication every 3 hours.
Ibuprofen → 3 hours →Ibuprofen → 3 hours → Ibuprofen → 3 hours → Tylenol → etc.
You may experience some swelling following surgery, and it often takes three days before it reaches a maximum. Bruising may also occur, including beneath your eye. To decrease this, ice packs can be applied outside of the face over the area of surgery for 10 minutes at a time, 4-5 times throughout the day. Please avoid holding ice on for more than 10 minutes to prevent frostbite. If swelling continues to increase after day 4, or if you have a foul odor, taste, or pus coming from your surgical site, please contact our office, as this may be an infection.
Do not rinse vigorously in the first few hours, as this may disrupt the coagulation process. Slight bleeding may continue for 48 hours. This is not unusual and is no cause for alarm. Crimson-colored blood clots (“liver clots”) with a gelatinous consistency may collect near your surgical site. These may be wiped away with gauze or left to wash out on their own. If excessive bleeding occurs, take a moist piece of 2×2 gauze or gauze soaked in a black tea solution (a tea bag will also work) and apply constant, firm pressure over the bleeding area for 10 minutes. An exception is an area that received a gum graft, which should not be disturbed. If you are still concerned about bleeding after following these instructions, please call our office.
Avoid hard, chewy, or spicy foods for the first week and foods with small seeds. Acidic foods (orange and grapefruit juice) may sting. Cold, soft foods like ice cream, Jell-O, pudding, yogurt, and milkshakes are ideal during the first 36 hours. Anything hot can make the surgical site bleed. Warmer-temperature foods are fine after 36 hours. Avoid straws, vigorous rinsing, and forceful spitting. Concentrated alcoholic beverages and smoking should be avoided for the first few days.
Get plenty of rest and avoid strenuous activity for 72 hours following your surgery.
Sutures (stitches) are used and are selected based on the type of surgical procedure performed. Some sutures are resorbable (dissolvable) and may come out a few days following surgery. Do not be alarmed by this. If they come loose and bother you, you may carefully trim them or let them dissolve and fall out on their own.
Call (206)223-1501 and follow the prompts to be connected to your doctor.
Please view printable post-operative instructions here
Oral Sedation Instructions
- If you elect to use an oral sedative such as Halcion (Triazolam) you must have a ride to and from the office. Remember, we encourage you to eat prior to your surgery.
- The purpose of taking this medication is to decrease anxiety prior to and during your dental treatment. It is to be used only short term. The benefit of Halcion (triazolam) is that it has a short period of effect, on average 5-6 hrs and a maximum of 6-8 hrs.
- Do not drive while taking this medication
- Be sure not to take other sedatives, benzodiazepines or sleeping pills with this drug. Do not drink alcohol when taking benzodiazepines. Alcohol can lower blood pressure and your breathing rate to the point of unconsciousness.
- If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding, do not take this medication. Do not use if you had negative reactions to other benzodiazepines, you have a history of drug dependence, or if you are seriously depressed. Do not take if you have a history of glaucoma.
- The most common side effects with Halcion (Triazolam) are dizziness, drowsiness, headache, amnesia, and confusion.
IV Sedation Instructions
Eating and Drinking
To avoid vomiting and complications during treatment, do not eat any food or drink 8 hrs prior to your scheduled surgery.
It is extremely important that patients have an empty stomach.
- If your surgery is in the morning, do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
- If your surgery is in the afternoon, only a light breakfast before 7:00am is encouraged.
Medications
You may take your normal daily medications with small sips of water unless otherwise instructed by the doctor.
Clothing
Short sleeves are advised, and we recommend wearing loose-fitting pants and comfortable shoes. Be aware that wearing acrylic nails or fingernail polish may cause problems with our monitoring equipment. And please do not wear contact lenses to your I.V. sedation surgery appointment.
Change in Health
Any change in your health, especially developing a cold, flu, sore throat, or any other illness, is reason for concern. Please call our office as soon as possible. For your safety, your appointment may need to be rescheduled to a time when you are more physically fit, as some illnesses may necessitate delaying treatment.
Designated Driver
It will be necessary to have a designated driver to accompany you to the surgery and home afterward. The individual must remain in the waiting area until the surgery is completed and the doctor releases you to leave.
After Care
Full mental alertness will not return for several hours. Therefore, you should limit activity requiring full concentration power for the remainder of the day. You may not:
- Drive an automobile or operate machinery
- Drink alcoholic beverages
- Provide supervision to small children
- Be able to do other tasks requiring concentration or high dexterity
Trust Our Team to Guide You Every Step of the Way
If you have any last-minute questions or concerns about your procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us at 206-223-1501 during our regular business hours.
