Post-operative care is important following oral surgery and recovery may be delayed if this care is neglected. Some swelling, stiffness, oozing of blood and discomfort is expected after surgery. It is helpful to have the patient observed by a responsible adult for the duration of the day of the surgery. The following includes our post-operative instructions and events, which may take place following this kind of surgery.

1. Post-operative Care After
Dental Extraction
PRESENTER-DR.NINAN THOMAS
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
BASELIOS DENTAL COLLEGE
KOTHAMANGALAM

2. Post-operative instructions
1.Wound Care
 Bite firmly on gauze pack for 30 minutes
 Don’t smoke

3. 2.Bleeding
 Some blood will ooze from the area of surgery
 Don’t spit/suck through straw
Pressure pack-place a small damp gauze pack
directly over socket and bite firmly for 30mts-
1 hour
Keep your head elevated with several pillows or
sit in a lounge chair

4. Pack preparation
*A piece of cotton enclosed within an outer layer of
gauze into the socket

5. 3.Pain
 During surgery the tissues should be handled with utmost care
 Sharp instruments must be used to avoid excessive trauma
 Pressure dressings and cold application should be used to avoid pain
from post extraction, edema and hemorrhage
 Analgesic drugs should be administered before the onset of pain
i.e.; either before surgery or immediately postoperatively

6. 3.Discomfort
 Some discomfort is normal after surgery.
 Take the pills with a whole glass of water and with a
small amount of food if the pills cause nausea
Do not drive or drink alcohol if you take prescription
pain pills

7. 4. Diet
 Drink large volumes of fluids. Don’t drink through
straw
 Cold, soft food such as ice cream or yogurt is
comfortable for the first day

8. 5.Oral Hygiene
 Don’t rinse your mouth/brush your teeth for first 8
hours after surgery
 After that rinse gently with warm saline every 4
hours
Brush your teeth gently but avoid the area of surgery
Hydrogen peroxide rinses should not be used initially
since it can remove the blood clot

9. 6.Swelling
 Swelling after sugery is a normal body
reaction.
It reaches its maximum about 48 hours after
surgery and usually lasts for 4-6 days
 Applying icepacks over the area of surgery for

10. 7.Rest
 Avoid strenuous activity for 12 hours after
surgery
 Necessary for prompt healing of wounds
 To remain quiet for several hours

11. 8.Bruising
 Mild bruising in the area of surgery is normal
It will disappear in 7-14 days

12. 9.Trismus
 After surgery there will be limited mouth
opening
This is normal and may improve within 7-10
days with proper muscle exercises

13. 10.Sutures
 Sutures placed should be removed after 7
days of surgery

14. 11. Numbness
• Persisting numbness is a complication which can
arise if the nerve in the area of extraction site is
disturbed.
• Commonly injury to inferior alveolar nerve and
lingual nerve occurs during the removal of third
molars.

15. • Lingual N - When lingual cortex fractures and
elevation of lingual mucoperiosteum.
Prevention:-
• Proper radiographic assessment
• Careful manipulation of instruments

16. Analgesics
Aspirin
 Effective analgesic and also possesses
antipyretic and anti inflammatory properties
Side effects
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Haematemesis
• Nausea
• Vomiting,Asthma,Rashes,

17. Contraindication
 In cardiac patients(pts on anticoagulant
therapy-Aspirin prolongs the PT)
Paracetamol
 Weaker than Aspirin
 Has no anti-inflammatory action
 Doesn’t cause Gastric irritation
 Can be given to the patients with h/o peptic
ulcer,dyspepsia

18.  Overdosage with paracetamol is dangerous as
it can cause hepatic damage which may not
become apparent for 4 to 10 days.
Side effects
• Diziness
• Sleepiness
• GIT disturbances

19. Codeine Phosphate
eg: mefanamic acid
Belongs to the Narcotic group of analgesics
To control mild to moderate pain
 Frequently combined with non narcotic
analgesics

20. Cold Application
• Intermittent application of cold to the surgical
site(30mts/hr) during the first 24 hrs
postoperatively helps reduces the pain
• Two ways of action
1.diminishes the nerve conduction and thereby has
an anesthetic effect

21. 2.Reduces swelling and thus decreases pain associated with
tissue distention
*Cold pack produces vasoconstriction and thereby reduces
the exudation of fluid and blood into the tissue spaces.
*Prolonged use of cold may leads to compensatory
vasodilatation and thus defeats its original purpose
Methods
1.Gloves
2.Plastic bag
3.By holding an ice cube in the mouth

22. Heat application
*Usually applied after 24-48 hrs
*Heat in the form of moist compresses can be applied
*MOA
1.Heat leads to vasodilatation with increased
circulation

23. 2. More rapid removal of tissue breakdown products
3.Greater influx of defensive cells and antibodies