• Make sure to begin all of the prescribed medications prior to surgery. 
• If you have an illness such as a cold, fever, sore throat, runny nose or productive cough, please notify the office before your surgery. This can negatively affect the results of the surgery, and it may be best to delay the procedure in order to achieve the best possible results. 

DO NOT, FOR ANY REASON, BLOW YOUR NOSE FOR THE NEXT FOUR (4) WEEKS. If indicated, this period may be longer. It is okay to sniffle as much as you’d like, but NO BLOWING. If you experience leakage from the nose, gently dab it with a tissue. Afrin® Nasal Spray may be used to help with sinus drainage. A nosebleed can be expected for the first several days following surgery. 

Additionally, for the next 4 weeks DO NOT:

• Sneeze while holding your nose. Instead, sneeze with your mouth open. 
• Drink with straws
• Spit
• Smoke. If needed, we will prescribe Nicoderm patches.
• Go scuba diving or fly in pressurized aircraft, if possible, as these can increase sinus pressure, and should be avoided
• Bear down, such as when lifting heavy objects, blowing up balloons, playing musical instruments that require blowing
• Any other activity that increases nasal or oral pressure

Do NOT disturb the wound. If you had grafting for socket preservation, there might be a cover protecting the socket held in with sutures. DO NOT touch the site with your tongue or fingers. If you touch the area with your tongue, the area will not heal and complete loss of the graft and tissue WILL result. (just like wearing tight shoes and getting blisters, constantly rubbing the area with your tongue will cause the area to blister and the graft WILL fail). Avoid chewing on the side of the graft until you are instructed to begin normal eating by your surgeon. 

Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures may be worn as soon as it is comfortable but only if the prosthesis doesn’t touch the graft site.

On the day of your surgery, DO NOT rinse or spit, as this may disrupt the blood clot that is forming, open the wound, and slow the time it takes to heal. You should not see a large amount of blood in your mouth or saliva, but if you do, it is okay to swallow your saliva. 

You must keep your mouth clean after surgery to reduce the chances of developing an infection. The day after the procedure, you should begin gentle saltwater rinses. This should be done by dissolving a ½ teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of warm (NOT HOT) water and then taking 5 minutes to work through the entire glass, gently rinsing and spitting. You can repeat this as frequently as you’d like, but at least 4-5 times each day and ALWAYS after you’ve finished eating for the next 5 days. 

DO NOT brush your teeth near the surgical site for the first 48 hours. Be very gentle when you brush and also when you spit, avoiding any forceful motions. 

You may be prescribed an antibiotic rinse, such as Clorhexadine, Periogard, or Peridex. You can begin using the rinse on day 3 after surgery. You should use the rinse in the morning and at bedtime with your routine oral care. Do not eat, drink, or rinse your mouth immediately after using the medicated rinse. Using the rinse more than twice per day can lead to teeth staining. 

DO NOT smoke for at least two weeks after your surgery, and consider quitting altogether. Smoking dramatically increases the chances the bone graft and augmentation will fail. If you feel you need it, we can prescribe you a Nicoderm patch. 

Partial or full dentures and flippers should not be worn immediately after your surgery unless otherwise instructed, until your post-operative appointment. If you have any questions about this, please contact our office. If we’ve given you a temporary flipper to wear, do not place it until after the numbness has worn off. Once placed, it should not touch the gums in the area of the surgery. Doing so can cause ulceration of the edges of the wound, as well as break down the tissue and sutures, ultimately leading to loss of the graft. If you are unsure about the fit of your flipper, or partial or full denture, do not wear it until you’re seen by your general dentist or by our office. 

If you notice multiple small particles of graft material coming from your nose, let us know. 

Let us know if you have sinus or nasal congestion on the side we performed the surgery. 

If you notice an increase in mouth swelling, or under your eye after 3 days, let us know. 

It is very important that you avoid smoking for a minimum of 5 days. In fact, avoiding smoking for the duration of healing will significantly increase the likelihood of a successful bone graft and implant integration. Smoking will increase your bleeding; the nicotine and tar in tobacco impair healing. We cannot warranty implants for our patients who use tobacco (pipe, cigar, cigarette, or chewing).

We want your recovery to go as smoothly as possible. Following these directions will increase the chances of success. If these directions are not followed, there is a chance the procedure can fail. If you have questions about your healing, please give us a call.