PAIN
If he has found it relevant, your surgeon has prescribed one or more analgesic medicines (painkiller). It is important to follow the dosage carefully to obtain optimal control of the pain. The goal is to make you comfortable. It is possible and normal that mild discomfort persists despite proper use of your medications. However, if you do not achieve acceptable relief, it is important to call us, as this could be a sign of a complication (see possible complications).
Here is a list of the main medications prescribed by our team:
Anti-inflammatory drugs (Naproxen, Naprosyn, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Toradol, Ketorolac).
These drugs are prescribed in the first line for the control of moderate pain. They do not affect the level of swelling.
Possible side effect: Heart burns.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Atasol)
It is often advisable to combine acetaminophen with the anti-inflammatory to enhance the analgesic effect. This helps control the pain more effectively without experiencing any unpleasant side effects.
Narcotics (Oxycodone, Empracet, Codeine, Dilaudid, Hydromorphone, Tramacet, Tramadol)
Narcotics are prescribed when greater pain is expected. They are not needed after every dental extractions. It is desirable to avoid them if your pain is adequately controlled by an anti-inflammatory drug and acetaminophen, since narcotics can cause several unpleasant side effects.
Possible side effects:
- Drowsiness; it is therefore better to avoid activities that require vigilance (driving a car).
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Constipation.
SWELLING
The swelling of the cheeks and gums is a normal and almost inevitable phenomenon following oral surgery. Swelling progressively sets in, reaching a maximum of 72 hours after surgery and can persist for 7 to 10 days. If you have been operated on both sides of the face (wisdom teeth for example), it is quite possible that your swelling is not symmetrical. Moreover, know that the level of swelling is not proportional to the level of pain .
After the first 72 hours, your swelling should gradually decrease. If swelling reappears, you may have a post-operative infection.
Here are some tips to minimize your swelling:
- Apply ice on your face (ice crushed in a washcloth, bag of frozen peas, ice pack, magic bag …) about fifteen minutes per hour. This instruction can be applied during the first 3 days following surgery.
- Or, hot and moist compresses can be applied to accelerate the resolution of the swelling.
- Be sure to sleep with your head elevated (2 or 3 pillows) for at least the first 3 days after surgery. If the head is not raised, fluid may accumulate and cause more swelling.
BLEEDING
It is normal to notice slight bleeding in the days following oral surgery. Bleeding may start again, even if it was well controlled when you left the clinic. These oozing or reappearing bleeding may occur during the 10 days following your surgery. The early loss of stitches will not cause you uncontrollable bleeding.
To prevent bleeding:
- Avoid spitting during the first 72 hours.
- Avoid drinking with a straw and avoid any sucking effort.
- Avoid brushing the gum of the operated area for a week.
- Adopt a soft diet (see suggested menus).
- Keep your head elevated.
To stop bleeding:
Bite on a compress for 30 minutes. It is important to apply pressure on the gum to the site of bleeding. To do so, you must ensure that the compress is not positioned between the teeth, but on the gum. The formation of a blood clot takes time. Do not remove the compress too frequently.
- If you do not have a compress, a tea bag can be used.
- If you can not control the bleeding after 2 compression cycles of 30 minutes, contact us at 819-378-4353.
BRUISES
Bruising is frequent and without consequences. They are often found in the cheeks and neck. As the days go by, they become yellowish in color and tend to descend by gravity, and then gradually disappear for up to 2 weeks.
NAUSEA
Some patients may experience nausea and even vomiting during the first few days after oral surgery. These symptoms are mostly caused by narcotic analgesic medication (Percocet, Oxycodone, Empracet, Codeine, Dilaudid, Hydromorphone, Tramacet). The oozing and bleeding also predispose to nausea and vomiting.
Here’s what you need to do in case of nausea or vomiting:
- Stop narcotic medication if the level of pain allows it.
- Call the surgeon on call if you can not stop the narcotic medication.
- Take Gravol (Dimenhydrinate) according to the dosage suggested by the manufacturer. We advise you to use the suppository medicine because your stomach is already irritated.
- Wait at least 45 minutes after taking Gravol before attempting to feed. Start with light foods that are easy to digest (broth, for example).