After TMJ Surgery

POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR TMJ SURGERY

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.

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

A soft, non-chewing diet is recommended for the first six weeks. After six weeks you may slowly expand your diet. Avoid foods that hurt your jaw, such as raw vegetables and whole apples. You should avoid practices such as cracking ice and nuts.

PAIN

Ice packs are recommended for the first 24-36 hours following surgery. Moist heat is then recommended until the swelling resolves.

Notify your doctor if you have an increase in pain, swelling or bleeding.

FINALLY

You will be instructed on the correct exercises for you before you are discharged from our facility. Jaw stiffness is normal, you will experience some discomfort while exercising. Moist heat should be used 15 minutes prior to exercising and ice packs for 30 minutes afterward.

IF a dermal graft is taken from your thigh, the following instructions should be followed closely to promote healing. Keep area clean and dry. Avoid rubbing or massaging the dermal graft site and wear loose fitting clothing until are is healed. A light protective dressing may be worn to prevent soiling of clothing. A small amount of watery drainage, bruising, and redness may be expected. You may clean the sutures only with a solution of ½ hydrogen peroxide and ½ water. Sutures will be removed in 7-10 days following surgery.
 

PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.