Preparing for post-op recovery from Oral Maxillofacial surgery is important for patients and caregivers.
Learn about recovery with our post-operation guidelines:
- You will have gauze placed in your mouth to help control bleeding after your surgery; please leave the gauze in place, biting firmly on it for 60 minutes following your surgery. Additional gauze will be sent home with you for use in the event bleeding continues or reoccurs.
- Please do not drive, conduct business, or care for small children the day of your procedure after receiving sedation.
- Please do not smoke, vigorously rinse your mouth, or use straws for one week following your surgery; these activities can cause continued bleeding by dislodging the blood clot at your surgical site/sites.
- Please apply an ice pack to your face (30 minutes on/30 minutes off) for the first 48 hours following surgery. Swelling will peak by the next day and will take 4-5 days to resolve. After 3 days switch to heat packs, 30 minutes 4-5 times daily.
- Please plan on limiting your physical activity the day of surgery; plan on resting with your head elevated on 2-3 pillows for the rest of the day.
- Begin your pain medication prior to the local anesthetic wearing off. Your numbness should last 2-4 hours. You will need to eat something prior to taking your pain medication or they may cause nausea.
- Narcotic pain medications can interfere with reaction time and judgment; therefore we recommend that you do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking these medications.
- Do not consume alcohol while taking narcotic medications.
- Please begin warm salt water rinses after meals the day after surgery; this will gently flush out any food particles which can lodge in the surgical areas and will also help soothe tender tissues. Use one-half teaspoon regular table salt in an 8 oz glass of warm water and gently rinse your mouth.
- A soft diet is recommended following any oral surgery; this includes foods which are easily chewed and swallowed such as soups, puddings, ice cream, pastas, and eggs. You should avoid foods such as chips/crackers with sharp edges and small items such as nuts/popcorn. Again, please do not use any straws for the week following your surgery.
- Be careful with warm/hot fluids/food while you are still numb to prevent burning your mouth.
- Keep your lips moist with a Chapstick/Vaseline type product following your surgery; lips are stretched and corners of the mouth may become cracked during the surgery.
- You may have stitches following your surgery; these will dissolve on their own after several days.
- You will have a postoperative appointment scheduled for approximately one week following your surgery; this is an opportunity for your surgeon to evaluate your healing and address any concerns that you may have. There is no charge for this appointment.