Pre and post-operative instructions
Pre-operative instructions for sedation or general anesthesia
1. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.
2. If you're surgery is scheduled for after 1:00 p.m. you may drink clear fluids until 2 hours prior to your surgery. (a clear fluid is water, tea or coffee (no milk), clear apple juice, 7-Up, or ginger ale.
3. You must be accompanied by an adult who MUST remain in the waiting room and who will be responsible for escorting you home after surgery. You CANNOT drive home from the office. YOU CANNOT TAKE A BUS HOME.
4. If you are a minor, you must be accompanied by your birth parent or legal guardian (guardians please bring legal documentation).
5. Please wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing with a short sleeved shirt/blouse. This allows for ease in placement of anesthesia monitors (electro-cardiograph, blood pressure, and oxygen equipment).
6. If you take any medications daily (insulin, blood pressure medication, fluid pills, etc.) continue to take these medications in your regular dosage unless otherwise instructed by the surgeon or anesthesiologist. Take your medications with a small amount (1 sip) of water only at least 2 hours before surgery.
7. If you have any questions, please call us at 804-628-6637. The office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
8. If the above instructions are not followed, your surgery will be postponed to a later date.
9. No cell phones, pictures or video taping allowed in surgical rooms.
10. Please park at the VCU Dental Building 1 Valet Parking (will be on the right side driving down 11th street underneath the building).
Post-operative instructions for our appointments
Care instructions after an uncomplicated tooth removal. Carefully read and follow these instructions.
1. Bite on the gauze for approximately 30 minutes. Be sure the gauze puts gentle pressure directly on the extraction site. Repeat as needed to control bleeding. Expect some oozing from the area for one or two days.
2. Take the first dose of pain medicine with a full glass of water and soft food if tolerable before the numbness wears off. Expect pain and swelling to increase over the first 48 hours then slowly decrease thereafter. .
3. Avoid rinsing your mouth hard for the rest of today as this can cause a loss of the blood clot forming in the extraction site and prolong healing.
4. You may apply a cold compress to your face today if your doctor instructed. Hold a bag of ice (frozen peas work very well) against the area of the extraction 20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off. Repeat for the rest of the day. 24 hours after the procedure you may exchange the cold compress for a warm compress
5. Drink plenty of cool liquids. Eat soft, cool foods today and resume your normal diet tomorrow or when it feels comfortable. Examples: oatmeal, scrambled eggs, ice cream, soups.
6. You should brush your teeth normally this evening but avoid the area around the extraction site. Rinse your mouth gently after brushing.
7. Beginning tomorrow, you may rinse your mouth with warm salt water (a tall glass of warm water with l/2 teaspoon of salt added). Hold a mouthful of water until it loses its heat, then gently swish and spit out the water. Repeat after meals for four days.
8. Do not smoke. This can lead to a painful condition called “dry socket”. If you must resume smoking in a few days, smoke as few cigarettes as possible.
9. Contact the clinic if your bleeding cannot be stopped, if your pain or swelling gets worse after three to five days or if you have a reaction to any prescribed medicine.
If you have any questions about your progress or any symptoms you are experiencing, please call our office at 804-628-6637. After hours (after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends) call 804-828-0951 (VCU Medical Center Operator) and ask for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon on call. You can also reach us via email at omfs@vcu.edu or contact us via this form.