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After surgery

Caring for yourself after surgery

After oral surgery, follow the written instructions from your visit. In general, bite on gauze to control bleeding, use ice on the first day, eat soft foods, avoid straws and smoking, rinse gently with salt water from the next day, and take medicines as prescribed. Call (706) 969-7664 with any concern.

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How to use this guide

Your written instructions come first.

This page gives general guidance. Unless Dr. Abtin gives you different instructions, follow the written instructions from your visit, and call the office whenever something does not feel right.

Before anesthesia

Getting ready for sedation.

If you are having IV sedation, these steps help keep you safe on the day. The team will confirm the details for your procedure.

  • Do not eat or drink for the period the team gives you before your appointment. The team will explain the exact timing before your visit.
  • Bring a responsible adult who will drive you, wait at the office, take you home and stay with you for the rest of the day.
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing with short sleeves so the team can place an IV and monitors easily.
  • Leave contact lenses, jewelry and valuables at home, and skip nail polish on at least one finger for the oxygen monitor.
  • Take your regular medicines only as the team tells you. Ask before surgery about blood thinners, diabetes medicines and supplements.
  • Tell the office before your visit if you develop a cold, fever or any other illness. Your surgery may need to move to keep you safe.

After wisdom teeth

The first week after wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth sites are often deeper than other extractions, so give yourself a few quiet days.

Bleeding. Bite firmly on the gauze for 30 to 45 minutes, then replace it if needed. A little oozing through the first day is normal.

Swelling. Hold ice packs on your cheeks, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, during the first day. Swelling often peaks on day two or three. After that, moist warmth can ease stiffness.

Eating. Choose cool, soft foods and drink plenty of fluids. Skip hot, spicy, crunchy and seedy foods for the first week.

Cleaning. Do not rinse on the day of surgery. From the next day, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals and brush your other teeth carefully.

Protect the clot. No straws, smoking, vaping or forceful spitting for several days.

Rest and medicines. Keep your head raised and rest on the first day. Take medicines exactly as prescribed, and finish any antibiotics.

A calm waiting area with soft armchairs and natural light

After extractions

Caring for an extraction site.

A single extraction usually heals faster than wisdom teeth, but the socket still needs a few days of care.

  • Keep gentle pressure on the gauze until bleeding slows, and change it as it becomes soaked.
  • Use ice on the outside of your face during the first day if you notice swelling.
  • Chew on the other side and choose soft foods until the area feels comfortable.
  • Start gentle salt-water rinses the day after surgery, and avoid straws and smoking.
  • If a temporary tooth or denture was placed, wear and clean it exactly as you were shown.

After implant surgery

Letting an implant settle in.

An implant needs time to join with the bone before a crown is placed, so the first weeks are about protecting the site.

Pressure. Do not chew on the implant area until Dr. Abtin says it is ready. Eat soft foods on the other side.

Swelling and bruising. Some swelling or bruising is common. Use ice during the first day.

Cleaning. Rinse gently with warm salt water from the next day. If a small healing cap shows through the gum, keep it clean as you were shown.

Removable teeth. If you wear a denture or temporary tooth over the area, wear it only as Dr. Abtin instructs.

Grafts and sinus lifts. You may notice a few small grains in your mouth. After a sinus lift, do not blow your nose hard, and sneeze with your mouth open.

Smoking. Avoid smoking and vaping while you heal, since they slow healing around implants.

FAQ

Recovery questions.

General answers. Your own instructions from Dr. Abtin take priority.

Still wondering about something? Call (706) 969-7664

Light oozing is common for the rest of the first day and can tint your saliva pink into the next day. Steady bleeding that does not slow after an hour of firm pressure on fresh gauze is not expected, so call the office if that happens.

Swelling usually builds over the first two to three days and then starts to go down. Ice on the first day helps limit it. Swelling that keeps growing after the third day, or comes with fever, is a reason to call.

A dry socket happens when the blood clot in an extraction site breaks down or dislodges too early, leaving the socket sore. Avoid straws, smoking, vaping and forceful spitting or rinsing for the first several days to protect the clot. Call if throbbing pain starts a few days after surgery.

Many people return to desk work or school within a few days, though it depends on the procedure and how you feel. If you had IV sedation, plan to rest for the rest of that day and do not drive.

Start with cool, soft foods and add firmer foods as comfort allows, usually over about a week. Chew away from the surgical area until Dr. Abtin tells you otherwise, and avoid small seeds and crunchy foods early on.

Ready when you are

Talk with the team today.

Ask a question, ask about your insurance or book a consultation with Dr. Abtin at the Dawsonville office.

Request a visit Call (706) 969-7664