Archives: FAQs

Discharge Checklist – Preprosthetic Surgery

  • Have the surgeons told you that you are ready for discharge?
  • Have you arranged for a drive home?
  • Have you had X-rays taken after your surgery?
  • Has the dietitian spoken with you about what you can and cannot eat?
  • Do you have a follow-up appointment for the Oral Surgery Clinic?
  • Do you have instructions from the oral surgeons about your care at home?
  • Do you know when to have your stitches taken out?
  • Do you have your prescriptions?

If You Stay In Hospital – Preprosthetic Surgery

  • Once you are in your room, you may have visitors. We will try to accommodate your needs and your family’s needs for contact. We also must respect the rights and needs of other patients. Please check with the nurses about visiting guidelines for your unit. Visitors may be asked to leave when the doctors or nurses come to see you.
  • You will be encouraged to drink fluids. The intravenous (IV) will be taken out only when all the IV medications have been given and you are drinking enough fluids.
  • Once you feel steady on your feet, you will be encouraged to get up and walk. You may need help walking on the first day.
  • The resident surgeons will see you every morning. Please tell them if you have any concerns or problems.
  • Facial swelling can go up over 3 days and will gradually go down over 3-4 weeks. Ice packs will be placed on your face to lessen the swelling.
  • A dietitian will talk with you about what you can and cannot eat during the healing period. If possible, have the person who will cook your meals at this meeting.
  • Your upper or lower denture may be secured in your mouth. This allows for the undisturbed healing of the jaw ridges. The surgeon will tell you when the dentures will be taken out.
  • If your dentures were not secured to your jaw ridges during surgery, the surgeon will tell you when you can start wearing your dentures. It is very important not to wear the dentures until this time.
  • It is very important to rinse your mouth as instructed. The surgeon and residents will talk about mouth care with you. Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is necessary to prevent infection.
  • If bone was taken from your hip or skin was taken from your thigh, you may find it uncomfortable to walk for several days. This will get better and is normal.
  • If bone was taken from your hip or skin was taken from your thigh, AVOID taking a bath for a period of time. It is OK to take a shower.
  • The surgeon can only estimate how many days you will be in hospital. You will be discharged only when you are eating and drinking well and are comfortable.

After Surgery – Preprosthetic Surgery

  • You will be taken to the recovery area. You will stay there for 1-4 hours depending on the length of your surgery.
  • The nurses will take your vital signs several times during your stay there. This is normal.
  • Medications will be given to make you comfortable, prevent nausea, and lessen facial swelling. These medications will be given to you by intravenous (IV) until you are drinking well.
  • A nurse will help you to the bathroom until you are steady on your feet.
  • You will have stitches near your waistline if bone was taken from your hip. These stitches are often covered by tape for several days. You may have a bandage over your thigh if skin was taken from there.
  • Once you are fully awake and comfortable, you will be taken to your hospital room if you are not able to go home.

 

Day of Surgery – Preprosthetic Surgery

  • You will be asked to arrive at the hospital at least 1 1/2 hours before your operation. Go to the Same Day Surgery Unit on the 10th floor of the Victoria Building, Victoria General site.
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Your surgery will be cancelled if you eat or drink after this time. Nausea and vomiting are more likely to happen during or shortly after your operation if you eat or drink.
  • Note to patients not staying overnight in hospital: You will need to have someone with you to take you home at the end of the operation. Your surgery will be cancelled if you do not have a drive home. Under no circumstance will you be allowed to drive yourself home – you are legally impaired for 24 hours.
  • Stop smoking at least 24 hours before your operation. Smoking can make your recovery harder and can delay healing. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital grounds. This includes electronic cigarettes.
  • Do not bring valuables to the hospital. The hospital is not responsible for them.
  • The nurse will ask you several health questions and take your vital signs.
  • Tell the nurse if you have any food or drug allergies.
  • You may need blood tests.
  • The oral surgeon may speak with you if he or she hasn’t yet.
  • If the surgeon asks you to, please bring your dentures to the Operating Room in a denture cup that the nurse will give you.
  • You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Please do not wear any undergarments.
  • Please give the nurse the name and phone number of the person you want contacted after your operation.
  • Note to those waiting: Patients who are having preprosthetic surgery are usually in the Operating Room and recovery area for 2-6 hours. The length of time depends on the type of surgery needed. At the end of the operation, the surgeon will contact a friend or family member when asked to do so by the patient.

Questions Or Concerns Once You Are Home

Urgent questions

If you experience any of the following:

  • Bleeding from the wound
  • Discharge from the wound
  • Difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • Significant nausea and/or vomiting
  • Increasing pain or pain not improving
  • Significant increase in swelling
  • Shift in bite (your teeth move, so it feels different when you bite into something)
  • Fever
  • The loss of several elastics or wires causing a loosening of the jaw immobilization (if present)

Call 902-473-5238 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Messages will be returned as soon as possible.

If it’s busy or outside of the above hours, call 902-473-2222 and ask for the oral surgery resident on call. Stay on the line and the resident will be with you shortly.

Non-urgent questions

Call the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic, Victoria General site between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

The phone number is 902-473-2070. Messages will be returned as soon as possible.

Discharge Checklist – Temporomandibular Joint Surgery

  • Have the surgeons told you that you are ready for discharge home?
  • Have you arranged for a drive home?
  • Have you had X-rays taken after surgery?
  • Has the dietitian spoken with you?
  • Have you received a follow-up appointment for the Oral Surgery Clinic?
  • Have you received instructions from the oral surgeons about your care at home?
  • Have you been told when to have your stitches removed?
  • If your jaws are wired together, have you received a pair of wire cutters and instructions on their use?
  • Do you have your prescriptions?
  • Have the surgeons suggested when you can return to work?

After Your Surgery – Temporomandibular Joint Surgery

  • You will be taken to the recovery area. You will remain there for 1-4 hours depending on the length of your surgery
  • The nurses will take your vital signs several times during recovery. This is normal
  • You will be given medications to make you comfortable, prevent nausea, and help reduce facial swelling. These will be given by intravenous (IV) until you are drinking well
  • Until you are steady on your feet, a nurse will help you to the bathroom
  • Facial swelling will increase over 3 days and will gradually reduce over 3-4 weeks. Ice packs may be used to minimize the amount of swelling
  • A small amount of blood will ooze from your nose and surgical incisions for the first 2 days. This is normal
  • You may have stitches in front of your ear or under your jaw. These stitches are often covered by tape for several days
  • You may have a pressure bandage over the stitches in front of your ear
  • You will have stitches on your chest if a rib bone was used to repair your jaw joint
  • Your jaws may be fixed together with either elastics or wires. This allows for the proper healing of the bones
  • You may find it hard to swallow and talk if your jaws are fixed together. This will improve after a couple of days
  • Vomiting can occur. Do not panic. Many spaces exist between your teeth even when they are wired together. These spaces will allow the vomit to pass through
  • Once you are fully awake and comfortable, you will be taken to your hospital room
  • You will be able to have visitors once you are in a hospital room. We will try to accommodate your needs and your family’s needs for contact. We also must respect the rights and needs of other patients. Please check with the nurses about visiting guidelines for your unit. Visitors may be asked to leave when the doctors or nurses come to see you
  • You will be encouraged to drink fluids. The IV will be taken out only when all the IV medications have been given and you are drinking enough fluids
  • Once you feel steady on your feet, you will be encouraged to get up and walk. You may need help walking on the first day
  • A dietitian will talk with you about what you can and cannot eat during the healing period. If possible, have the person who will be cooking your meals at this meeting
  • It is very important to rinse your mouth as you are told. The surgeon and residents will talk about mouth care with you. Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is necessary to prevent infection. Do not brush your teeth until told to do so. Brushing your teeth too soon after the surgery can damage the stitches in your mouth
  • The resident surgeons will see you every morning. Please tell them if you have any concerns or problems
  • The surgeon can only estimate how many days you will be in hospital. You will be discharged home only when you are eating and drinking well and are comfortable
  • If a rib bone was used for your jaw joint surgery you will be asked to AVOID taking a bath for a period of time
  • The surgeon will tell you what activities you will need to avoid to allow for proper healing of the jaw joints after surgery

The Day of Surgery – Temporomandibular Joint Surgery (Jaw Joint)

  • You will be asked to arrive at the hospital at least 1½  hours before your operation. You will go to the Same Day Surgery Unit on the 10th floor of the Victoria Building, Victoria General Hospital site
  • Note to patients not staying overnight in hospital: You will need to have someone take you home after your operation. Your surgery will be cancelled if you do not have a drive home. Under no circumstance will you be allowed to drive yourself home, as you are legally impaired for 24 hours
  • Do not bring valuables to the hospital. The hospital is not responsible for them
  • Please brush your teeth well before coming to the hospital. Do not swallow any water
  • The nurse will ask you several health questions and take your vital signs
  • Be sure to tell the nurse if you have any food or drug allergies
  • You may need some blood tests
  • The oral surgeon may speak with you unless he or she has already done so
  • You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Please do not wear any undergarments
  • Please give the nurse the name and phone number of the individual you want contacted after your surgery
  • Note to those waiting: Patients who are having TMJ surgery are usually in the Operating Room and recovery area for 2-8 hours. The length of time depends on the type of surgery needed. At the end of the procedure, the surgeon will contact a friend or family member when asked to do so by the patient

The Day Before Surgery – Temporomandibular Joint Surgery

Stop smoking at least 24 hours before your operation. Smoking can make your recovery more difficult and can delay healing. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the grounds of the hospital.

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Your surgery will be cancelled if you eat or drink after this time. Nausea and vomiting may occur during or shortly after your operation.

At Home – Corrective Jaw Surgery

  • You will be given prescriptions for antibiotics and pain pills if needed. It is very important to take these as instructed
  • You will be given a return appointment before you go home. This will enable the doctor to follow your progress and identify any problems
  • Continue to follow the diet recommended by your dietitian. You can expect a 5-10 pound weight loss. A greater weight loss should be reported to the doctor
  • Continue to brush your teeth as instructed. Rinse with salt and water (1 /2 tsp. salt in 8 oz. of water) as needed. Gum breakdown and accompanying soreness should be reported to the doctor
  •  For at least 2 weeks after discharge, you should lead a relaxed and quiet life. You will find that you have less energy than usual and need more rest. After 2 weeks, you may resume your usual activities. You must avoid contact sports and swimming while the jaws are wired
  • Do not drink alcohol while your jaws are wired
  •  Report signs of infection (such as fever, chills, increased pain, and swelling) to your oral surgeon
  •  You should have a humidifier in the bedroom to moisten the air