Care & Comfort

You have had an incision and drainage procedure to help evacuate pus from an infected area. A small drain has been placed to encourage drainage and will be removed by Dr. Loving in a few days as swelling improves. Do not disturb the wound or drain with your fingers or tongue.

Apply firm direct pressure with moistened gauze for 30 to 60 minutes to control bleeding. If bleeding persists, use a moistened tea bag (tannic acid is an astringent that helps constrict blood vessels) for 30 to 60 minutes, repeating as needed. Slight blood-tinged saliva may persist for a day or two, this is normal.

Avoid ice or heat immediately after draining an infection (ice slows resolution, and heat in the first 72 hours may spread infection). After 72 hours, a heating pad may help improve drainage if pain and swelling have improved.

Begin rinsing and brushing the evening of surgery or the next day, using a warm salt water rinse 5 to 6 times daily, and use any prescribed Peridex (chlorhexidine) rinse as directed. Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Call the office immediately for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, hives, itching, wheezing, or a fever of 101F or higher.

Swelling, pain and recovery vary with the extent and location of the biopsy. Sutures generally dissolve on their own; avoid the area and chew away from it. Keep gauze in place with firm pressure for 30 minutes, replacing if bleeding continues, and avoid vigorous rinsing or chewing near the area.

A liquid or soft diet is recommended for 24 hours, avoiding hard, crunchy or spicy foods. Restrict activity on the day of surgery, and use ice packs on the outside of the face for the first 48 hours to reduce swelling, which peaks 2 to 3 days after surgery.

Begin gentle rinsing the day of the biopsy (warm salt water twice daily if no rinse was prescribed) and brush gently. If IV sedation or general anesthesia was used, start with liquids and progress to solids as tolerated, staying hydrated. Nausea can be managed by not taking medication on an empty stomach and sipping clear carbonated liquids. Bruising and jaw tightness are normal and resolve over time.

Avoid disturbing the graft site to ensure proper healing. For heavy bleeding, reposition fresh gauze pads directly over the surgical area. Take a pain reliever before numbness wears off; over-the-counter options like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin are usually adequate, or a prescribed narcotic for more involved procedures (avoid driving or operating machinery on narcotics).

Swelling peaks at 48 hours. Keep your head elevated and use cold compresses (30 minutes on, 30 minutes off) for the first 48 hours, then warm compresses after. Bruising may appear 24 to 48 hours after surgery, and warm compresses help.

Take all medications as prescribed until gone. Do not swish a prescribed Peridex rinse, simply hold it at the surgical site for 30 seconds and spit. Eliminate tobacco and alcohol for the first two weeks after surgery.

Follow all post-op instructions and take medications as instructed. Avoid traumatizing or chewing directly on the area, and take care not to disturb sutures. Take antibiotics and prescription mouth rinse starting the day of surgery. Our office is on call 24 hours a day for questions.

Slight bleeding is common. If excessive, use fresh gauze with firm pressure for 30 to 40 minutes, repeating as needed, or a cold tea bag. Swelling peaks 2 to 3 days after placement; use ice packs immediately and keep your head elevated.

Begin gentle rinsing the day of surgery with warm salt water if no rinse was prescribed. Drink plenty of fluids, avoid hot liquids, and eat soft foods initially, returning to a normal diet as soon as possible. Refrain from smoking as long as possible, as it inhibits healing and increases pain.

A blood clot must form to stop bleeding and begin healing. Bite on gauze for 30 to 60 minutes after surgery, replacing if oozing persists. Avoid heavy lifting, spitting, smoking (3 to 5 days), rinsing, using a straw, and carbonated or alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours; let your mouth passively empty. The goal is to keep the blood clot in the socket to prevent dry socket.

Expect minor pain, swelling, bruising and limited jaw opening. Brush gently and use a lukewarm salt water rinse (do not spit forcefully). Use over-the-counter pain medication (ibuprofen, Aleve, Tylenol) as directed. Apply cold compresses at 10-minute intervals for the first 24 hours; swelling should diminish within 72 hours.

Some oozing is normal for 12 to 24 hours. For excessive bleeding, apply firm pressure with folded gauze or a damp tea bag for 30 to 60 minutes with your head elevated. Drink plenty of fluids and eat a soft diet (yogurt, milkshakes without a straw, soups, fish, pasta), avoiding carbonated or alcoholic drinks and spicy food.

If sutures were placed, avoid playing with them; a follow-up appointment may be needed in 7 to 10 days for suture removal. Take all prescribed antibiotics until finished. Call the office at (404) 289-2589 with any unusual disturbances, continuous bleeding, or post-surgical concerns.

Surgery has left a perforation in the membrane lining the sinus floor above the roots of the back teeth, connected to the respiratory system (which is why sinus trouble can accompany a cold). A blood clot, or a dissolvable barrier for a sinus graft procedure, should close the opening; it will usually heal without problems absent a prior infection.

Precautions: do not disturb the blood clot in the socket. Do not blow through your nose (pressure can force the clot out). Avoid sneezing or coughing, and if you must, do so with your mouth open. Avoid smoking, and if you must, do not blow smoke through your nose and take light drags.

Take recommended medications, which may include Sudafed. Do not be alarmed by occasional blood in the nose, since the nose connects directly to the sinus. Call the office with any questions or concerns.