PURPOSE: The purpose of these instructions are to assist you in having a pleasant and
uneventful experience following your periodontal treatment.
Patients who have undergone periodontal treatment utilizing sedation (oral sedation or I.V.
sedation) are NOT PERMITTED TO DRIVE while under the influence of these medications
and should be carefully attended by a responsible person for at least four (4) to six (6) hours
after treatment.
You should relax for the remainder of the day following your surgery.
DO NOT drive while taking medications for discomfort with sedative properties such as:
Codeine, Hydrocodone, Percodan etc. Ask your doctor to prescribe a non-sedating medication
for discomfort if this is an issue for you.
DO NOT eat until the local anesthesia has worn off.
DO NOT eat until the local anesthesia has worn off.
DO NOT drink any alcoholic beverages.
DO NOT eat or drink hot liquids.
DO NOT drink carbonated liquids such as coke, 7-up, etc.
DO NOT drink through a straw or spit out your saliva as this will increase bleeding.
DO NOT smoke for 48 hours, and then limit your smoking to ensure proper healing.
After the procedure you will be numb for at least 4 hours. It is recommended that you DO NOT
eat until the numbness goes away, however, you may have cold liquids. Start taking your
medications after you begin cold liquids.
When you get home, lay or sit in a comfortable, reclined position. DO NOT lay flat, and DO
NOT lay in a position in which your head is lower than your feet. Place a few pillows under
your head and knees.
If a periodontal packing that resembles a band-aid (or silly putty) is placed over the surgery site
to protect the surgery area, it needs to be left in place for at least two (2) weeks. If it becomes
loose or comes out prior to your two week post-operative appointment, please call our office.
DO NOT pull on your lip to look at the surgery site, or to show someone else the surgery site.
This may cause trauma to the surgery area and could cause the surgery to fail.
When you start doing rinses, DO NOT swish the liquid around in you mouth. Place it in your
mouth and let it sit around the surgery site(s) for about 30 seconds. It is very important to
follow these directions. If you swish with the liquid, you may remove the packing and/or the
grafts that were placed.
The periodontal rinse should be started the morning of surgery. The warm salt water rinses
should be started the morning after the surgery (1cup of warm water mixed with ¼ teaspoon of
salt). Hold it in your mouth for a few seconds ( DO NOT SWISH ). You may do this as after as
you like to aid in the healing of the surgical site, however DO NOT do this immediately after
you use the rinse.
Continue to follow all post-operative instructions until your two (2) week post-operative visit
with our office. Further instructions will be given to you at that time.
If Anaprox has been prescribed to you for pain, try to take it for a few days after the surgery
(even if you do not feel pain or discomfort) to help prevent inflammation (swelling).
SWELLING: An ice pack should be applied to the face for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off
during the first 2 hours after surgery (example: ziplock bag with ice, wrapped in towel). It
should be placed on the area(s) of the face corresponding to the treatment.
BLEEDING: should be expected for the first 24-48 hours. It is not unusual for your saliva to be
slightly blood tinged for several days following the surgery. If bleeding is excessive, contact the
office immediately.
FEVER: You may experience a slight fever or chills. Do not be alarmed unless it persists for
more than 24 hours. Please call the office if a fever persists for more than 24 hours or if rises
above 101 degrees.
MEDICATIONS: Discomfort may be severe when Periodontal Treatment has been extensive.
Take analgesic medication as prescribed by the doctor; or for the moderate discomfort you may
use your usual headache remedy. If antibiotics are prescribed for you, complete the course
medication as directed. Avoid clenching or grinding our teeth after periodontal treatment as
pressure on the teeth will cause pain. It is normal for your teeth to temporarily feel loose and
become sensitive to cold. This will resolve over time.
ORAL HYGIENE: Do not brush or floss the teeth or areas that have been treated until the
doctor instructs you to do so. You may brush and floss your other teeth.
DIET: We will be giving you a sample menu with post-operative dietary suggestions.
Remember: Adequate nutrition is essential for normal healing. This in not the time to be
dieting.
** ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING IV SEDATION**
- Start drinking fluids as soon as you feel you can hold them down.
- DO NOT eat anything until 1-2 hours after you have started drinking fluids.
- The first time you empty your bladder after the surgery you may feel light-headed or
dizzy.
If you have any uncontrollable bleeding, discomfort, or rash, please call our office
immediately. After hours: please call (281) 494-2477 for an emergency number to reach
the doctor on call.
The goal of conservative, non-surgical therapy is the elimination of the microorganisms
responsible for periodontal destruction, from the pocket and surrounding tissue. The creation of
a clean tooth and a clean biologically compatible root surface that is as smooth as possible, and
the possible removal of diseased or infected tissues are essential to therapy.
Indications
Conservative procedures without surgery are indicated for mild, moderate, and severe
periodontitis. At 4 weeks, a re-evaluation will be performed by your periodontist to see if
further treatment is needed.
Home Care Instructions
**If you were given an oral sedation, see attached instructions for oral sedation.
**If you were given localized anesthesia, your mouth will not feel normal for 1 to 7 hours,
depending on the type of local anesthesia given. Do not eat or drink anything hot until the anesthesia wears off. You may have cold liquids.
This evening you can begin all instructions given by your hygienist or dental assistant. This
may include tooth brushing, flossing, proxabrush, D-Plaker (toothpick), or sulca brush. Only
use the tools that were instructed for you personally. You may start doing the mouth rinses the
morning of the procedure is scheduled for. Place rinse in your mouth and hold in area of
surgery for about 30 seconds.
The warm salt water rinses should be started the morning after surgery. One cup of warm
water mixed with ¼ teaspoon of salt. Hold it in your mouth for a few seconds. You may do this
as often as you like, especially after you eat. However DO NOT do this immediately after you
use the perio rinse. Continue perio rinses until finished.
YOU SHOULD CONTINUE ALL HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE NEXT 4
WEEKS, 2-3 TIMES DAILY. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE
TREATMENT PERFORMED TODAY!
At 4 weeks you should return to our office for the re-evaluation with your periodontist to
determine if further treatment is needed.