After an extraction with a bone graft
Use this page when graft material was placed, including socket preservation. It is stricter than a plain extraction. Sinus-lift patients also avoid forceful nose blowing until the office lifts that limit.
Extraction with bone graft post-operative instructions (PDF)
Bleeding
Fold gauze over the site and bite with firm pressure for about 30 minutes. Replace it until the bleeding stops. If it continues, bite on a moist tea bag for 30 minutes. Call the office if that does not slow it.
Day of surgery
- Do not rinse hard, and do not use a straw
- Ice the face 15 minutes at a time, on and off. Ice is for this first day only — not after
- Numbness through the rest of the day is expected because a long-acting local anesthetic is used
- Take pain medicine as it was prescribed, starting as the numbness wears off
- No heavy lifting for two days
- Do not eat on the graft side for one entire week
The next day
Start the prescribed mouth rinse the day after surgery and use it for five days. Swelling often begins the day after and is usually largest around day 3. Soreness is commonly worst in the first 24 to 48 hours, then improves. If you are still numb the morning after surgery, call.
Food and fluids
Aim for five or six glasses of fluid a day. Soft foods that you can cut with a fork are the usual list: juice, smoothies, eggs, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, pancakes, pudding, gelatin, ice cream, yogurt, applesauce, mashed banana, and avocado. Skip rice, chips, and very hot food.
The first two weeks
- Light workouts can resume after day 3 if you feel ready
- Brush gently
- Bruising can show in the first two or three days and sometimes takes about 14 days to fade
- Take antibiotics exactly as directed. Stop and call if you get a rash
Nausea
Nausea can follow IV sedation, general anesthesia, or narcotic pain medicine. Take nothing by mouth for one hour, then sip a clear drink such as cola, tea, or ginger ale over about 15 minutes.
During office hours call (561) 278-0004. The after-hours number printed on Dr. Curtis’s instruction sheet is (561) 646-7667.
Notes that apply to a graft
- A few sand-like grains can come out. Do not pick at the site
- Sutures are often left about two weeks
- Call if a membrane is exposed or graft material keeps spilling out
- After a sinus lift, do not blow your nose forcefully until you are told that limit is over
The gum can look quiet in a few weeks. The bone under it is still maturing, which is why the implant date waits on a later scan. Related pages: socket preservation and sinus lift.