Frequently Asked Questions

It is best if you can stop smoking for 2 weeks leading up to your surgery date. If you are not able to do this, please do not smoke after your evening meal, the night before surgery. Smoking can cause more secretions in your lungs, and you could have problems with your breathing after your anaesthetic. Capital Health is smoke-free.

If you are taking Aspirin® (ASA) or blood thinners it is very important for you to notify your surgeon at least one week before your surgery. These medications may need to be stopped before your surgery. Bring all of your medications (including over the counter and herbal preparations) in their original containers with you on the day of your surgery.

With a general aesthetic, you will be given medication to put you to sleep for your surgery. A regional aesthetic means an area of your body is frozen. Sedation is usually given along with regional anaesthesia. If you are having a general or regional anaesthetic:

• Do not eat any food or drink any liquids including water after midnight, unless otherwise directed. Do not eat candy or chew gum after midnight
• You may take your medications as instructed by your doctor with sips of water unless you are given other directions

After a general anaesthetic, regional anaesthetic, or Intravenous (IV) sedation:

• You must have a responsible adult drive you home
• You should have a responsible adult stay with you for the first 24 hours who can look after you

For the first 24 hours after your surgery:

• Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery for 24 hrs
• Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours or while taking pain medication
• Do not sign any legal documents or important papers for 24 hours
• You are not to be the primary caregiver to dependants for 24 hours

 

As a day surgery patient you will:

• Come to the hosp ital on the day of your surgery
• Arrive 3 hours before your scheduled surgery time or as directed by your surgeon's office
• Have your surgery done in the Operating Room (OR)
• Return home after your surgery

Your surgery may be cancelled if you are late. Delays in the OR may cause a change in your surgery. There is a chance that your surgery could be cancel led if there is an emergency. If this should happen, your surgeon's office will call you to arrange a new date. You may need some tests before your surgery. This will depend on your general health or the type of surgery you are having. Same Day Surgery staff will contact you to arrange your Pre Operative testing if needed.

The stitches in your mouth will dissolve on their own and fall out.

Only drink cold fluids on the day of surgery, for example: ice cream, Jell-O®, eggnog, milkshakes. Then eat warm soups and very soft foods for the next couple of days.

Swelling is normal. It may go up until the 3rd day after surgery and then it will start to go down. '

• For the first 24 hours, use ice packs, alternating 20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off. Do not use ice packs after the day of surgery
• The day after surgery, use warm, moist heat on the area. A hot water bottle or warm, moist towel can be used until the swelling and stiffness go away

Some oozing and discoloration of saliva is normal. If bleeding continues, hold gauze in place for 30 minutes to 1 hour with constant firm pressure. If the bleeding does not stop, call your doctor.

• Do not suck or spit
• Do not use a straw when drinking
• Do not smoke
• Do not disturb the wound. This may start an infection, irritation and/or bleeding

Start rinsing your mouth the morning after your surgery. Use a small pinch of salt in a glass of warm water. Rinse several times a day. Be sure to rinse after meals and at bedtime.

When you get home, lie down with 2 pillows under your head. You may feel sleepy and lightheaded.

Take medication as prescribed by your doctor. Do not drink alcohol while taking pain pills.

Dry socket can occur after any dental extraction. It is recognized when:

• Initial pain from surgery is better
• Then, the pain returns to the same area
• Socket becomes very painful
• Pain medication does not work
• Pain spreads to front of the jaw and/or to the ear

Depending on how painful it is, you may have to come into the Clinic to get the socket treated with medication. Dry socket is more common in the lower jaw. It is more likely to occur in females than males, females who take birth control pills, older people and smokers. Remember that you may have only a few or all of the symptoms described depending on the difficulty of your extraction(s).

If you smoke, you should try to avoid smoking until the sockets heal over. This may take 2-3 weeks. If you cannot hold off for this period, it is in your best interest to stop smoking for as long as possible after the surgery. Smoking can complicate healing or lead to infection or “dry socket”.

You may have been given an intravenous sedative for your dental extractions. If so, you may or may not remember much about your procedure. Before you leave, the doctor and staff will ensure you have recovered adequately. Although you may feel awake and alert after your procedure, you may have some of the sedative drugs still in your “system”. This is why you are not allowed to drive a motor vehicle or perform any dangerous tasks for 24-48 hours (for example: do not use power tools). Do not sign any documents of legal importance. You should stay home and rest quietly for at least 24 hours. You must have someone at home with you for the first 24 hours.

If you had stitches inserted in your gums, they will dissolve on their own in 3-8 days. You may see a few spots of blood in your saliva when this happens.

Occasionally, infection can occur after the extraction of wisdom teeth. After the initial swelling period (2-3 days), continued swelling, pain and discomfort may be an indication of infection. You may develop a fever or feel sick. Pus may drain from the infected socket and leave a bad taste in your mouth. If this happens, call the Clinic.