COMMON QUESTIONS AFTER SURGERY
“Doctor, how do I know I have dry socket?”
- The discomfort is a distinct pulsatile throbbing or deep ache
- It occurs 3-5 days after an extraction
- It occurs on lower teeth
- It does not permit the patient to sleep or get rest for more than 1-2 hours
- Pain medication will not help with the discomfort!
- Patients who smoke or take birth control medications are at significant higher risk for “dry socket”.
If you think you have a dry socket, please call the office to be seen.
“Doctor, since I’ve been home from my procedure, I have been really nauseous. What do I do?”
Many factors contribute to post anesthesia nausea. Some of these are:
- An empty stomach (most stomachs are empty for 6 hours prior to the procedure!)
- Swallowing too much blood
- Medications such as antibiotics or pain medications
- The Intravenous anesthesia medications
- Eating/drinking too much too quickly after your procedure
You can help reduce the incidence of post anesthesia nausea by:
- Starting to drink modest amounts of clear fluids soon after your procedure. Continue to sip clear fluids even if you have episodes of vomiting
- do not take pain medications or antibiotics on an empty stomach
- slowly increase your diet to include modest amounts of soft foods 2-4 hours after your procedure
- do not engage in physical activity more than walking and relaxing in the first 12 hours after your procedure
- do not drive for 24 hours after your procedure and ride in a vehicle as little as possible to avoid motion sickness
If you cannot hold down clear liquids for more than 8 hours please call the office.