Anesthesia

• You may not have anything to eat or drink (including water) for six (6) hours prior to your surgery appointment.
• A responsible adult must accompany the patient to the office, remain in the office during the procedure, and drive the patient home.
• The patient should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following anesthesia.
• Please wear loose fitting clothing with short sleeves or sleeves which can be rolled up past the elbow. Please wear shoes that will allow you to walk safely after anesthesia.
• Contact lenses, jewelry, facial piercings, tongue rings and dentures must be removed prior to surgery.
• Do not wear lipstick, excessive makeup or nail polish on the day of surgery.
• If you have an illness such as a cough, cold, sore throat, stomach or bowel upset, please notify the office immediately at 970-498-0196.
• If you take routine prescription or herbal medications, please check with Dr. Thurgood prior to your surgical date for instructions on which medications should be taken and which should be held.

Dental Implant Surgery

Do not disturb the surgical site. There may be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gum tissue, if so, avoid using the abutment when chewing food.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, 1 or 2 tablets of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be taken every 4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter, comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 6 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescription pain medication should be taken as directed. Do not take your prescription pain medicine within 4 hours after taking Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.

Bleeding

A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon. A large amount of saliva with a small amount of blood can appear to be a large amount of blood. Excessive bleeding which results in your mouth filling with blood can frequently be controlled applying pressure by biting on a moistened gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding site for 30-45 minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened black tea bag for 30-45 minutes. The tannins in the black tea help to reduce bleeding by causing contraction of the blood vessels. To minimize further bleeding, remain calm, sit upright and avoid excessive activity. If your bleeding does not subside after following the directions above, please call the office at 970-498-0196 for further instructions.

Swelling

The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. Typically your swelling will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until two to three days following surgery. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. Two plastic bags filled with ice or ice packs should be applied to the areas of the face and jaws where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be left on for no longer than twenty minutes at a time, with a twenty minute break between applications. After twenty-four hours, ice has limited beneficial effect and should be discontinued. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Twenty-four hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the affected areas of the face and jaws is beneficial in reducing stiffness and improving your range of jaw motion.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids and abrasive or spicy food. Liquids and soft foods should be eaten on the day of surgery. Unless otherwise directed, you may return to a normal diet as soon as the discomfort subsides at the surgery site.

Antibiotics

Be sure to take and finish any prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection at tghe surgical site.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential for proper healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed chlorhexidine oral rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the chorhexidine rinse should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 60 seconds before spitting it out. Warm salt-water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in an 8 ounce cup of warm water) can be used as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth with the healing abutments is not a problem. Be gentle when brushing the surgical areas.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. Vigorous exercise may cause throbbing pain or increased bleeding to occur.

Wearing your Prosthesis

Limited use of partial dentures, “flippers” or full dentures is recommended in the first few weeks following implant surgery. Avoid chewing with your prosthesis as this has the potential to cause harm to the healing implant site.

Wisdom Tooth Removal

Post-operative care is very important. Unnecessary pain and the complications of infection and swelling can be minimized by following these instructions.

Immediately Following Surgery

• The gauze pad placed over the surgical area should be kept in place for 30-45 minutes. After this time, the gauze pad should be removed and discarded.
• Vigorous mouth rinsing or touching the wound area following surgery should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged.
• Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you begin to feel discomfort. This will usually coincide with the effects of the local anesthetic becoming diminished.
• Restrict your activities on the day of surgery and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable.
• Place ice packs on the sides of your face where your surgery was performed, use the 20 mintues on and 20 minutes off regimen described below in the section on swelling.

CAUTION: If you suddenly sit up or stand from a lying or reclined position, you may become dizzy. If you are lying down following surgery, make sure you sit up straight for one minute before standing. It is recommended that you stand up with assistance to prevent falling.

Bleeding

A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Mild bleeding, oozing, or blood tinged saliva is common. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by first rinsing or wiping any old clots from your mouth, then placing a fresh, moist gauze pad over the area and bite firmly for 30-45 minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened black tea bag for 30-45 minutes. The tannins in the black tea cause blood vessel contraction which helps decrease bleeding. If you are experiencing bleeding, sit upright, remain calm and minimize activity. If your bleeding does not subside, call the office at 970-498-0196.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, 1 or 2 tablets of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be taken every 4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 6 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescription pain medication should be taken as directed. Do not take your prescription pain medicine within 4 hours after taking Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. If you experience a change in the nature of your pain 3-5 days following surgery with symptoms such as: throbbing, ear ache, sore throat or pressure in your teeth, it is possible that you have a dry socket. Please call the office at 970-498-0196 for further instructions.

Nausea and Vomiting

In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for an hour including any prescribed medication. You should then slowly sip on cool, clear fluids such as water, ginger ale or 7-up. A cool, moist compress to the forehead may also be useful. When the nausea subsides, you can begin increasing the intake of clear liquids and resume taking the prescribed medication. If nausea and/or vomiting continues, please call the office at 970-498-0196 for further instructions.

Swelling

The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. The swelling will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until two to three days post-operatively. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. Two plastic bags filled with ice, or ice packs should be applied to the areas of the face and jaws where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be left on for no longer than twenty minutes at a time, with a twenty minute break between applications. After twenty-four hours, ice has no beneficial effect, and can actually increase the incidence of swelling. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Twenty-four hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the affected areas of the face and jaws is beneficial in reducing the stiffness in the jaws.

Diet

After general anesthetic or I.V. sedation, clear liquids should be taken initially. You may eat soft, cool foods and avoid chewing near the surgical sites. High calorie, high protein intake is very important following surgery. You should prevent dehydration by taking fluids regularly. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. At least 5-6 eight ounce glasses of fluids should be taken daily. Try not to skip meals. You will have more strength, less discomfort and heal faster if you maintain proper nutrition and hydration.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential for proper healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed chlorhexidine oral rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the chlorhexidine rinse should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 60 seconds before spitting out the rinse. Warm salt-water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in an 8 ounce cup of warm water) should be used as well, especially after meals. You can gently brush your teeth near the surgical areas. On the fourth day following surgery, you may use the curved syringe given in the packet with your gauze to gently irrigate the extraction sockets with the chlorhexidine rinse twice daily.

Discoloration

In some cases, discoloration of the skin follows swelling. The development of black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days following surgery. Moist heat applied to the area may speed up the fading of the discoloration.

Antibiotics

If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the tablets or liquid as directed. Antibiotics will be given to help prevent infection. Discontinue antibiotic use in the event of a rash or other unfavorable reaction. Call the office at 970-498-0196 if you have any questions.

Other Complications

• If numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue occurs there is no cause for alarm. As stated before surgery, this is usually temporary in nature. You should be aware that if your lip or tongue is numb, you could bite it and not feel the sensation. So be careful. Call the office at 970-498-0196 if you have any questions or conerns.
• If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as vaseline or lip balm.
• Stiffness (Trismus) of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days following surgery. This is a normal post-operative event which will resolve in time.

Exposure of Impacted Tooth

Do not disturb the surgical site. You will notice a gold chain that protrudes from the gum tissue and is secured to one of your orthodontic brackets. You may gently brush and rinse the gold chain and the surgical site in order to keep them clean.

Bleeding

A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by first rinsing or wiping any old clots from your mouth, then placing a gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for thirty minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened black tea bag for thirty minutes. The tannins in the black tea cause blood vessel contraction which helps decrease bleeding. If you are experiencing bleeding, sit upright, remain calm and minimize activity. If your bleeding does not subside, call the office at 970-498-0196 for further instructions.

Pain

For moderate pain, Over the counter, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be used. For patients who are younger than 12 years of age, pediatric dosing should be followed when taking over the counter pain medications. If you were given a prescription pain medication by Dr. Thurgood, this dosing has been calculated for you. You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.

Swelling

The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. Often, the swelling will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until two to three days following surgery. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. Two plastic bags filled with ice, or ice packs should be applied to the areas of the face and jaws where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be left on for no longer than twenty minutes at a time, with a twenty minute break between applications. After twenty-four hours, ice has no beneficial effect, and can actually increase the incidence of swelling. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Twenty-four hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the affected areas of the face and jaws is beneficial in reducing the stiffness in the jaws.

Diet

After general anesthetic or I.V. sedation, clear liquids should be taken initially. You may eat soft, cool foods and avoid chewing near the surgical sites. High calorie, high protein intake is very important. Nourishment should be taken regularly. You should prevent dehydration by taking fluids regularly. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. At least 5-6 glasses of liquid should be taken daily. Try not to miss meals. You will have more strength, less discomfort and heal faster if you maintain proper nutrition.

Oral Hygiene

Mouth cleanliness is essential to good healing. Clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal beginning the day after surgery. Brush your teeth as best you can, it is ok to gently brush the surgical site and the gold chain. Rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) six times a day. Continue this procedure until healing is complete.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced. Exercise may weaken you. If you get light headed, stop exercising.

Extractions

Post-operative care is very important. Unnecessary pain and the complications of infection and swelling can be minimized by following these instructions.

Immediately Following Surgery

• The gauze pad placed over the surgical area should be kept in place for 30-45 minutes. After this time, the gauze pad should be removed and discarded.
• Vigorous mouth rinsing or touching the wound area following surgery should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged.
• If you were prescribed pain medications, take them as soon as you begin to feel discomfort. This will usually coincide with the effects of the local anesthetic becoming diminished.
• Restrict your activities on the day of surgery and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable.
• Place ice packs on the sides of your face where your surgery was performed, use the 20 mintues on and 20 minutes off regimen described below in the section on swelling.

CAUTION: If you suddenly sit up or stand from a lying or reclined position, you may become dizzy. If you are lying down following surgery, make sure you sit up straight for one minute before standing. It is recommended that you stand up with assistance to prevent falling.

Bleeding

A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Mild bleeding, oozing, or blood tinged saliva is common. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by first rinsing or wiping any old clots from your mouth, then placing a fres, moist gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for 30-45 minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened black tea bag for 30-45 minutes. The tannins in the black tea cause blood vessel contraction which helps decrease bleeding. If you are experiencing bleeding, sit upright, remain calm and minimize activity. If your bleeding does not subside, call the office at 970-498-0196.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, 1 or 2 tablets of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be taken every 4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 6 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescription pain medication should be taken as directed. Do not take your prescription pain medicine within 4 hours after taking Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. If you experience a change in the nature of your pain 3-5 days following surgery with symptoms such as: throbbing, ear ache, sore throat or pressure in your teeth, it is possible that you have a dry socket. Please call the office at 970-498-0196 for further instructions.

Nausea and Vomiting

In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for an hour including any prescribed medication. You should then slowly sip on cool, clear fluids such as water, ginger ale or 7-up. A cool, moist compress to the forehead may also be useful. When the nausea subsides, you can begin increasing the intake of clear liquids and resume taking the prescribed medication. If nausea and/or vomiting continues, please call the office at 970-498-0196 for further instructions.

Swelling

The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. The swelling will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until two to three days post-operatively. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. Two plastic bags filled with ice, or ice packs should be applied to the areas of the face and jaws where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be left on for no longer than twenty minutes at a time, with a twenty minute break between applications. After twenty-four hours, ice has no beneficial effect, and can actually increase the incidence of swelling. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Twenty-four hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the affected areas of the face and jaws is beneficial in reducing the stiffness in the jaws.

Diet

If you had a general anesthetic or I.V. sedation, clear liquids should be taken initially. You may eat soft, cool foods and avoid chewing near the surgical sites. High calorie, high protein intake is very important. Nourishment should be taken regularly. You should prevent dehydration by taking fluids regularly. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. At least 5-6 eight ounce glasses of liquid should be taken daily. Try not to skip meals. You will have more strength, less discomfort and heal faster if you maintain proper nutrition.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential for proper healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed chlorhexidine oral rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the chlorhexidine rinse should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 60 seconds before spitting out the rinse. Warm salt-water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in an 8 ounce cup of warm water) should be used as well, especially after meals. You can gently brush your teeth near the surgical areas. On the fourth day following surgery, you may use the curved syringe given in the packet with your gauze to gently irrigate the extraction sockets with the chlorhexidine rinse twice daily.

Discoloration

In some cases, discoloration of the skin follows swelling. The development of black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days following surgery. Moist heat applied to the area may speed up the fading of the discoloration.

Antibiotics

If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the tablets or liquid as directed. Antibiotics will be given to help prevent infection. Discontinue antibiotic use in the event of a rash or other unfavorable reaction. Call the office at 970-498-0196 if you have any questions.

Multiple Extractions

The removal of many teeth at one time is quite different than the extraction of one or two teeth. Because the bone often must be shaped and smoothed prior to the insertion of a denture, the following conditions may occur, all of which are considered normal:

• The area operated on will swell reaching a maximum in 2-3 days. Swelling and discoloration around the eyes and below the chin may occur. The application of a moist warm towel will help eliminate the discoloration. The towel should be applied continuously for as long as tolerable beginning 24 hours after surgery (remember ice packs are used for the first 24 hours only).
• A sore throat may develop. The muscles of the throat are near the extraction sites. Swelling into the throat muscles can cause pain. This is normal and should subside in 2-3 days.
• If the corners of the mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment like Vaseline. There may be a slight elevation of temperature for 24-48 hours. If temperature continues, notify our office.

If immediate dentures have been inserted, sore spots may develop. In most cases, your dentist will see you within 24-48 hours after surgery and make the necessary adjustments to relieve those sore spots. Failure to do so may result in severe denture sores, which may prolong the healing process.

Post-operative care is very important. Unnecessary pain and the complications of infection and swelling can be minimized by following these instructions.

Immediately Following Surgery

• The gauze pad placed over the surgical area should be kept in place for 30-45 minutes. After this time, the gauze pad should be removed and discarded.
• Vigorous mouth rinsing or touching the wound area following surgery should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged.
• Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you begin to feel discomfort. This will usually coincide with the effects of the local anesthetic becoming diminished.
• Restrict your activities on the day of surgery and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable.
• Place ice packs on the sides of your face where your surgery was performed, use the 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off regimen described below in the section on swelling.

CAUTION: If you suddenly sit up or stand from a lying or reclined position, you may become dizzy. If you are lying down following surgery, make sure you sit up straight for one minute before standing. It is recommended that you stand up with assistance to prevent falling.

Bleeding

A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Mild bleeding, oozing, or blood tinged saliva is common. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by first rinsing or wiping any old clots from your mouth, then placing a fresh, moist gauze pad over the surgical site and biting firmly for 30-45 minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened black tea bag for 30-45 minutes. The tannins in the black tea cause blood vessel contraction which helps decrease bleeding. If you are experiencing bleeding, sit upright, remain calm and minimize activity. If your bleeding does not subside, call the office at 970-498-0196.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, 1 or 2 tablets of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be taken every 4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 6 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescription pain medication should be taken as directed. Do not take your prescription pain medicine within 4 hours after taking Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. If you experience a change in the nature of your pain 3-5 days following surgery with symptoms such as: throbbing, ear ache, sore throat or pressure in your teeth, it is possible that you have a dry socket. Please call the office at 970-498-0196 for further instructions.

Nausea and Vomiting

In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for an hour including any prescribed medication. You should then slowly sip on cool, clear fluids such as water, ginger ale or 7-up. A cool, moist compress to the forehead may also be useful. When the nausea subsides, you can begin increasing the intake of clear liquids and resume taking the prescribed medication. If nausea and/or vomiting continues, please call the office at 970-498-0196 for further instructions.

Swelling

The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. The swelling will not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until two to three days post-operatively. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. Two plastic bags filled with ice, or ice packs should be applied to the areas of the face and jaws where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be left on for no longer than twenty minutes at a time, with a twenty minute break between applications. After twenty-four hours, ice has no beneficial effect, and can actually increase the incidence of swelling. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Twenty-four hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the affected areas of the face and jaws is beneficial in reducing the stiffness in the jaws.

Diet

After general anesthetic or I.V. sedation, clear liquids should be taken initially. You may eat soft, cool foods and avoid chewing near the surgical sites. High calorie, high protein intake is very important. Nourishment should be taken regularly. You should prevent dehydration by taking fluids regularly. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. At least 5-6 eight ounce glasses of liquid should be taken daily. Try not to skip meals. You will have more strength, less discomfort and heal faster if you maintain proper nutrition.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential for proper healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed chlorhexidine oral rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the chlorhexidine rinse should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 60 seconds before spitting out the rinse. Warm salt-water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in an 8 ounce cup of warm water) should be used as well, especially after meals. You can gently brush your teeth near the surgical areas. On the fourth day following surgery, you may use the curved syringe given in the packet with your gauze to gently irrigate the extraction sockets with the chlorhexidine rinse twice daily.

Discoloration

In some cases, discoloration of the skin follows swelling. The development of black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days following surgery. Moist heat applied to the area may speed up the fading of the discoloration.

Antibiotics

If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the tablets or liquid as directed. Antibiotics will be given to help prevent infection. Discontinue antibiotic use in the event of a rash or other unfavorable reaction. Call the office at 970-498-0196 if you have any questions.