After All-On-4 Surgery
HOME INSTRUCTIONS AFTER RECEIVING AN ALL-ON-4 PROCEDURE
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SURGERY
You will be wheelchaired out to your driver. Our office will instruct your driver to pick up your mediations from your pharmacy. Typically, we prescribe an antibiotic, medicated oral rinse, and pain medication.
If possible, an elevated head rest (an extra pillow) should be used during the first two days/nights after the procedure, to reduce swelling of the operated area.
Rest for the remainder of the day of surgery. You should plan to have someone with you until you are fully recovered from your anesthesia and able to take care of yourself.
Have something very easy to eat immediately when you get home. (examples: pudding, mashed potatoes, soup, jello) As soon as you have some food in your stomach, take the pain medicine you were prescribed. This way when the numbness wears off, you will have pain medicine in your system.
DIET
Only semi-liquid food may be consumed during the first 2 days in order to avoid inadvertent food particles contaminating the wound. A soft chewing diet is recommended for 10-14 days after that. If you are in doubt as to whether an item is too hard, it is too hard. Eating things that require too much effort will cause your implants to fail.
After each meal the mouth should be thoroughly rinsed with a saltwater solution.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Do not eat or drink hot or spicy foods for 2 weeks after surgery.
PAIN
Ice may be used during the first 48-72 hours to relieve swelling and discomfort. A thin barrier should be used between the ice pack and skin, 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off to avoid frost bite.
Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day.
Notify the doctor if you have any increase in pain, swelling or bleeding.
ORAL HYGIENE
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The day after surgery, start brushing your new teeth with an extra soft toothbrush. Stay off the gum tissue completely with the toothbrush.
Avoid tobacco for as long as possible after surgery. Smoking should be avoided during healing period. Avoid smoking anything the first 4-6 months.
Specific mouth rinses or other disinfectants should not be used, unless prescribed by your doctor. Typically, our doctor will prescribe Peridex Oral Rinse: use as instructed. Be sure not to rinse your mouth or spit aggressively for 24 hours after surgery.
Purchase a “WaterPik” sometime soon after surgery. DO NOT start using it until your doctors tells you to do so.
BLEEDING
Should oozing bleeding occur in the operated jaw, it may usually be stopped by softly biting for 15 minutes on a rolled gauze dressing soaked in saline. If the bleeding does not stop by doing so, your oral surgeon should be contacted.
You may have small amounts of bleeding after surgery, off and on for several weeks. This is quite normal.
FINALLY
After your procedure, you may resume taking all regularly prescribed medications as ordered unless otherwise instructed by your provider.
NO nose blowing for three weeks after surgery.
NO blowing a wind instrument for three weeks after surgery.
You will have bruising on your face and neck after surgery. Usually this is subtle. In can however be dramatic. You may have black eyes. This is normal and will slowly resolve.
You will likely have altered sensation / numbness in areas of your face, lips, chin that persists for a time after surgery. This typically slowly resolves over weeks or months as you heal.
PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
