Surgical Instructions

Dr. Yanich and his staff provide the highest quality care. That’s why we provide patient education on preparing for surgery and advice on what to expect before and after your procedure.

Before Intravenous Anesthesia Sedation

An Intravenous Anesthesia Sedation procedure is a safe and effective way to manage pain during specific oral surgery procedures. However, consider the following before undergoing IV sedation:

Medication: Be sure to have all prescriptions filled and ready before surgery. Dr. Yanich wants you to take your morning medications at least two hours before your appointment, but only with water and no other liquids unless he tells you otherwise.
Food and Drink: Do not consume food or beverages, including water, for at least 8 hours before your surgery. This includes gum, mints, and candy.
Nail Polish: Remove nail polish or acrylic gel from both index fingers.
Make-up: Do not wear make-up on the day of surgery.
Body Moisturizing: Do not wear lotion, oils, or Vaseline on your body on the day of your surgery.
Jewelry: Do not wear any jewelry on the day of surgery.
Piercings: Remove all facial and tongue piercing(s) before your surgery, or we may reschedule your appointment.
Contact Lenses: Remove contact lenses before your surgery. Please bring eyeglasses if necessary.
Clothing: It’s important to WEAR A SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT and loose, comfortable clothing. Shoes should be easy to walk in. We do not recommend wearing flip-flops, clogs, and sandals.

Post-Operative Instructions for Surgical Procedures

Post-operative care is critical for a successful recovery from surgery. You must follow all post-operative instructions to ensure a safe and successful recovery.

Taking all medications as prescribed, keeping the surgical site clean, eating soft foods that do not require much chewing, and avoiding strenuous activities is essential.

It is also important to pay attention to signs of infection, such as redness or discharge from the surgical site. You may feel some mild pain and discomfort after surgery. However, contact us immediately if you experience severe pain or other abnormal symptoms.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Medications

If Dr. Yanich has given you the following prescriptions for your post-surgery care, please follow the directions below:

Antibiotics: Take exactly as prescribed, without missing any dose, until all are taken. If you had taken antibiotics before surgery, resume the antibiotics 6 hours from the preoperative dose unless instructed otherwise.
Pain Medication: Pain medications are best taken with food (liquid, soft, or solid). This helps to reduce nausea and vomiting.
- Non-narcotic: If you only have mild to moderate discomfort, you can take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory every 6-8 hours for adults. For children, follow the bottle’s directions (the dose depends on age).
- Narcotic Medication: If you were given a prescription for narcotics, you may take the narcotic in addition to Ibuprofen for additional pain relief. If you are taking narcotics, you should not drive or operate machinery.
- Your Own Medications: If you take oral medications, take them as instructed to you during your consultation. You may resume oral diabetic medications the day following surgery. If you are on insulin, you should regulate your dose depending on your blood sugar level. You may continue all other medications in a usual manner unless instructed otherwise.

Regular Routine

If Dr. Yanich has given you the following prescriptions for your post-surgery care, please follow the directions below:

Diet and Eating: Adequate fluid intake following surgery is essential. Once you get home, you should start with clear liquids. You can move on to soft foods if you tolerate clear liquids. After the first week, progress to regular foods avoiding spicy, chewy, or crunchy foods until the extraction sites are healed (approximately 2-3 weeks). Refrain from drinking through a straw for 4-7 days.
Rinsing and Brushing: Rinsing should begin the day after surgery. Rinse with warm salt water (a half teaspoon in eight ounces of warm water) twice per day for one week. Carefully brush in all areas. Do not use an over-the-counter mouthwash while the area is healing.

Discomfort

Swelling and Bruising: You may have a considerable amount of swelling. Use ice packs in the areas 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the first 48 hours. Keep your head elevated when lying down for the first two days.
Bleeding: Maintain firm pressure by biting the gauze placed on the surgery site for 45-60 minutes. If bleeding continues, change the gauze every 30 minutes or use a moistened tea bag. Maintain pressure and remain still for at least one hour. Bleeding for several hours following surgery is not unusual.
Stitches: If absorbable sutures are used, they will dissolve and fall out within a few days. On occasion, sutures can fall out within a few hours. This is ok, and the socket will heal.
Muscle Pain: Expect difficulty opening your mouth and chewing for several days after surgery due to swelling and inflammation in the jaw muscles. Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth.

Teeth Removal

Swelling and Bruising: You may have a considerable amount of swelling. Use ice packs in the areas 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the first 48 hours. Keep your head elevated when lying down for the first two days.
Bleeding: Maintain firm pressure by biting the gauze placed on the surgery site for 45-60 minutes. If bleeding continues, change the gauze every 30 minutes or use a moistened tea bag. Maintain pressure and remain still for at least one hour. Bleeding for several hours following surgery is not unusual.
Stitches: If absorbable sutures are used, they will dissolve and fall out within a few days. On occasion, sutures can fall out within a few hours. This is ok, and the socket will heal.
Muscle Pain: Expect difficulty opening your mouth and chewing for several days after surgery due to swelling and inflammation in the jaw muscles. Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth.

After Implant/Bone Graft Placement

Post Operative Instructions

Antibiotics: If you are given an antibiotic prescription, take them as directed until they are gone.
Note for women: some antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use alternate birth control methods for two months.
Bleeding: Small amounts of blood in your saliva can make it appear red, but this is normal after a procedure. You will need to bite on gauze for 30 minutes until the bleeding turns red to pink or brown or stops altogether. You can remove the gauze when this happens, as you no longer need it.
Pain: It is normal to feel some discomfort after surgery. To minimize pain, take Ibuprofen, Advil, or a similar non-aspirin pain reliever as needed for comfort. It is best to take pain relievers before the anesthesia wears off. If prescription medication is prescribed, follow the label instructions carefully. Do not exceed the recommended dosage on the label. Taking food or milk will help reduce an upset stomach.
Swelling: Apply ice to the face over the operated area. This will minimize swelling. Apply for 20 minutes, then remove for 20 minutes. Continue for 48 hours to reduce swelling. Contact our office if the swelling has not resolved five or six days post-operation.
Numbness: After the local anesthetic wears off, you may feel numbness or tingling in the area around the implant. Be careful not to bite, chew, pinch, or scratch this area. Call our office if you notice any residual numbness or tingling in the days following your surgery.
Smoking: Smoking should be stopped following surgery. Cigarette chemicals will substantially reduce the healing and success of the implant in your body.
Brushing: Do not brush your teeth for 24 hours after surgery. After this, you may brush your teeth gently, but avoid electronic toothbrushes in the area where the procedure was done.
Rinsing: Avoid all rinsing or swishing for 24 hours after your procedure. After 24 hours, you may begin gentle rinsing with a warm saltwater solution (1/2 teaspoon salt + 8 ounces warm water). Avoid commercial mouth rinses.
Diet: Eat soft foods for the first two days. Maintain a good, balanced diet. Return to regular everyday meals as soon as possible after the first two days. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol for 48 hours or while taking prescription medications.
Activity: After leaving the office, rest and avoid strenuous activities for the day. Avoid heavy exercise for a week after the procedure.
Sinus: If your sinus was involved in the procedure, additional instructions might be provided. The use of decongestant medications might be recommended.
Removable Appliances and Dentures: Sometimes, a temporary removable appliance is made for cosmetic purposes and worn during healing. You should not chew with this temporary appliance unless instructed to do so by your general dentist. Your dentist will give you specific instructions about your appliance.
Your denture or appliance might be adjusted or significantly modified to avoid putting any pressure on the new implants before they have healed. In some instances, you will need to go without your denture or appliance for a period (days or weeks) after the implants are placed.
Follow-up Appointments: If follow-up appointments are required, we will work with you to schedule them appropriately.

Please call our office if you have the following:

Important Notice

If you undergo general anesthesia or IV sedation, you will need someone to remain with you for the entire day. When getting up from lying down, do so slowly as there is a chance of feeling dizzy. In addition, it would be best if another person assists you when walking.

Lastly, make sure that your designated driver remains at our office during your surgery. We will have to reschedule your surgery if they drop you off and leave. Please notify us at least 24 hours before your appointment for cancellations or rescheduling.