After Your Treatment

AFTER YOUR TREATMENT - DANA POINT, CA

Let the Healing Begin

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Good Habits And Diet Are Key

After your oral surgery has been completed at our Dana Point, CA office, it’s important to remember that you still need adequate time to heal. During your recovery, follow all of your post-surgical instructions exactly as they’re given to you. This will bolster your oral health, shorten your healing time, and decrease your chances of developing any complications.

Dr. Eric Baker and Dr. Tim Betita also partner with a nutritionist, who can offer personalized post-surgical diet recommendations to you. This enables you to have foods that are most conducive to healing delivered right to your door. Request more information and discover how good nutrition can help you get better after oral surgery!

Promote Healing After Oral Surgery

  • Give it time
  • Keep a healthy diet
  • Follow all post-surgical instructions
dental patient eating healthy food Dana Point CA

Care After Dental Implants

Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There will usually be a metal healing cap level with or just above the gingival (gum) tissue.
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues please call us for further instructions.

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an icepack or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice off and on every 20 minutes continuously, as much as possible, for the first day until you go to bed.

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet, with the exception of hard crunchy food, as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For mild-moderate pain,1 or 2 Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 4 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.
Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection.
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. If prescribed, use the Peridex Oral Rinse beginning the night before surgery. After surgery, the Peridex should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth is recommended, just be gentle in the area of the surgery.
Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. Exercise may cause throbbing, swelling or bleeding. We recommend no vigorous activity for 1 week after surgery. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking normal nourishment. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.
Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should be used at the direction of the doctor.

Care After Exposure and Bonding

Do not disturb the wound. If surgical packing was placed, leave it alone. The pack helps to keep the tooth exposed. If it gets dislodged or falls out do not get alarmed
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding which results in your mouth filling rapidly with blood can frequently be controlled by biting with pressure on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, please call us for further instructions.
Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice pack or towel filled with ice cubes on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice off and on every 20 minutes continuously, as much as possible, until you go to bed.
Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet, with the exception of hard orcrunchy food,as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.
You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. Formild-moderate pain, 1 or 2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) may be taken every 4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 4 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed.

Mouth cleanliness is essential to good healing. Clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal beginning the day after surgery. Brush your teeth as best you can. Rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) six times a day. Continue this procedure until healing is complete.


REMEMBER: A clean wound heals better and faster.

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. Increased activity may cause throbbing, swelling, or bleeding. We recommend no vigorous exercise for 1 week following surgery.
hannah jaw surgery patient Dana Point CA
  • Hannah - Jaw Surgery Patient

Follow-Up Care Is Crucial To Regaining Your Oral Health

Dr. Baker and Dr. Betita don’t consider their job done after your oral surgery has been completed. Many procedures such as dental implants and oral pathology treatments call for follow-up care. In addition, some complex procedures cannot be accomplished in a single visit and require additional work during subsequent appointments. Be assured our oral surgeons will complete your oral surgery in as few visits as possible, with your health and safety always top priority. We’re here to verify your procedure was successful, to continue your care when necessary, and to check up on your progress to confirm that you’re healing properly.

Care After Teeth Extractions

The removal of impacted teeth is a serious surgical procedure. Post-operative care is very important. Unnecessary pain and the complications of infection and swelling can be minimized if the instructions are followed carefully.

•The gauze pad placed over the surgical area should be kept in place for a half hour. After this time, the gauze pad should be removed and discarded.


•Vigorous mouth rinsing or touching the wound area following surgery should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged.


•Take the prescribed pain medications as soon as you begin to feel discomfort. This will usually coincide with the local anesthetic becoming diminished.


•Restrict your activities the day of surgery and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable.


•Place ice packs to the sides of your face where surgery was performed. Refer to the section on swelling for explanation.

A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by first rinsing or wiping any old clots from your mouth, then placing a gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for thirty minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened tea bag for thirty minutes. The tannic acid in the tea bag helps to form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels. To minimize further bleeding, do not become excited, sit upright, and avoid exercise. If bleeding does not subside, call for further instructions.
The swelling that is normally expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. The swelling usually will not become apparent until the day following surgery and may not reach its maximum until 2-3 days post-operatively. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. Two baggies filled with ice, or ice packs, should be applied to the sides of the face where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be alternated every 20 minutes continuously while you are awake. After 36 hours, ice has no beneficial effect. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Thirty-six hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face is beneficial in reducing the size of the swelling.
For mild to moderate pain, one or two tablets of Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every three to four hours. Alternatively, Ibuprofen, (Motrin or Advil) two-four 200 mg tablets may be taken every 4 hours. For severe pain, take the pain medication as prescribed by the doctor. The pain medicine might make you groggy and will slow down your reflexes. Do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day. If pain persists, it may require attention and you should call our office.
After general anesthetic or I.V. sedation, liquids should be initially taken. Do not use straws. The sucking motion can cause more bleeding by dislodging the blood clot. Once the numbness has subsided, you may eat anything soft by chewing away form the surgical sites. High calorie, high protein intake is very important. Refer to the section on suggested diet instructions at the end of the brochure. Nourishment should be taken regularly. You should prevent dehydration by taking fluids regularly. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days. You should compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. At least 5-6 glasses of liquid should be taken daily. Try not to miss a single meal. You will feel better, have more strength, less discomfort and heal faster if you continue to eat. Caution: If you suddenly sit up or stand from a lying position you may become dizzy. If you are lying down following surgery, make sure you sit for one minute before standing.
No rinsing of any kind should be performed until the day following surgery. You can brush your teeth the night of surgery but rinse gently. The day after surgery you should begin rinsing at least 5-6 times a day, especially after eating, with a cup of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt.
In some cases, discoloration of the skin follows swelling. The development of black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days after your surgery. Moist heat applied to the area may speed up the removal of the discoloration.
If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the tablets or liquid as directed. Antibiotics will be given to help prevent infection. Discontinue antibiotic use in the event of a rash or other unfavorable reaction. Call our office if you have any questions
In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour. Avoid taking the pain medication. You should then try cola, tea or ginger ale, sipping slowly over a fifteen-minute period. When the nausea subsides you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medicine.

• If numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue occurs there is no cause for alarm. As stated before surgery, this is usually temporary in nature. You should be aware that if your lip or tongue is numb, you could bite it and not feel the sensation.


• Slight elevation of temperature immediately following surgery is not uncommon. If the temperature persists, notify the office. Tylenol or ibuprofen should be taken to reduce the fever.


• You should be careful going from the lying down position to standing. You were not able to eat or drink prior to surgery. It was also difficult to take fluids. Taking pain medications can make you dizzy. You could get light headed when you stand up suddenly. Before standing up, you should sit for one minute then get up.


• Occasionally, patients may feel hard projections in the mouth with their tongue. They are not roots, they are the bony walls which supported the tooth. These projections usually smooth out spontaneously.


• If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as vaseline.


• Sore throats and pain when swallowing are not uncommon. The muscles get swollen. The normal act of swallowing can then become painful. This will subside in 2-3 days.


• Stiffness (trimus) of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days following surgery. This is a normal post-operative event which will resolve in time.

Sutures are placed the area of surgery to minimize post-operative bleeding and to help healing. Sometimes they become dislodged, this is no cause for alarm. Just remove the suture form your mouth and discard it. The sutures will either be removed or dissolve approximately one week after surgery. The removal of sutures requires no anesthesia or needles. It takes only a minute or so, and there is no discomfort associated with this procedure. So it’s really nothing to worry about.


The pain and swelling should subside more and more each day following surgery. If your post-operative pain or swelling worsens or unusual symptoms occur call our office for instructions.


There will be a cavity where the tooth was removed. The cavity will gradually heal over the next month fill in with the new tissue. In the meantime, the area should be kept clean, especially after meals, with salt water rinses or a toothbrush.


Your case is individual, no two mouths are alike. Do not accept well-intended advice from friends. Discuss your problem with the persons best able to effectively help you: Dr. Baker and Dr. Betita or your family dentist.


Brushing your teeth is okay – just be gentle at the surgical sites.


A dry socket is when the blood clot gets dislodged prematurely from the tooth socket. Symptoms of pain at the surgical site and even pain to the ear may occur 2-3 days following surgery. Call our office if this occurs.


Increased activity may cause throbbing, swelling, and bleeding. We recommend no vigorous exercising for 1 week after surgery.

Questions About Your Post-Surgery Regimen?

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iv sedation dentistry patient smiling Dana Point CA