After Socket Bone Grafting

Your bone graft is made up of many particles. You may find some small granules in your mouth for the first several days. Do not be alarmed by these. It’s normal to have some of them come out of the graft site and into your mouth. There are some things you can do to minimize the amount of particles that become dislodged:

• Do not disturb or touch the surgical site. The membrane over the grafting material is is essentially a wet scab protecting the surgical site. As the site heals, the membrane will slowly change colors as it heals and your tissue begins to cover the site (this healing process turns the membrane white, yellow and pink).
• Do not apply pressure with your tongue or fingers to the grafted area, the material is mobile during the initial healing.
• Do not lift or pull on your lip/cheek in the area to look at the sutures. Most sutures will dissolve within a few days. If sutures are present at your post-operative visit, they will be removed to allow for adequate cleaning of the area.
• Do not smoke. 

Swelling: Use a cold pack to help minimize swelling, 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off after surgery to help minimize swelling and discomfort in the area. The use of ice is ONLY beneficial for the first 24 hours after surgery. After 24 hours, warm moist heat/heat compresses should be used to reduce jaw and muscle stiffness.

Bleeding: Place gauze directly over the surgical site(s) and gently close your teeth together maintaining light but continuous pressure on the gauze. When the gauze over your surgical site becomes saturated (soggy) it is time to change it. As the bleeding slows you will notice that it will take longer periods of time for the gauze to become saturated with blood.

Diet: Keep your diet room temperature or colder the first 24 hours after surgery (hot/warmer foods can increase your bleeding). Soft foods are preferred as crunchy, hard foods may hurt the surgical site. DO NOT USE A STRAW.

Pain Relief & Antibiotics: For moderate pain, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) 600mg may be taken ever 6 hours after surgery. For severe pain take the stronger pain reliever that was prescribed (Tylenol with Codeine, Hydrocodone, etc.). Pain and/or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day. If you were prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed until gone. If you develop a rash or any other unfavorable reaction, contact our office.

Hygiene: Avoid vigorous rinsing, spitting and suction for 5 days. The day after surgery, use the Chlorhexadine Gluconate Mouth Rinse (Peridex Mouth Rinse) at the surgical sites 3 times a day. You may use a cotton swab (Q-tip), gauze or a cotton ball to transfer the liquid onto the site. Rinsing with the Chlorhexadine (Peridex) can stain your teeth over time, therefore localized use of the Chlorhexidine rinse on the surgical site is preferred.

Utilize the soft tooth brush, to brush the adjacent teeth but not the surgical site until the doctor has told her brushing the surgical site is okay.

*If you have a partial denture or temporary, you may have to see your restorative dentist to have it adjusted properly. If you would like to wear your temporary (unless you have been directed otherwise), wear it for 24 hours, remove it after 24 hours, rinse it off and then replace it as soon as possible. Swelling in the soft tissues around the site may occur and if the area swells without the temporary in place, the temporary will not fit until the swelling has decreased, which may be up to one week after surgery.