Rebuilding Your Oral Health & Confidence

Surgical Instructions

Schedule Your Surgical Planning Visit Today
Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial injuries and conditions can cause a range of problems that affect a person’s health, well-being, and quality of life.

At Live Oak Oral Surgery of Texas, we understand the challenges our patients face in the wake of facial injuries, jaw deformities, or other oral/maxillofacial problems.

No matter if you’re experiencing bone loss, difficulty speaking, chronic pain, or require jaw surgery, our team is here to help you make informed decisions when it comes to oral surgery and facial reconstruction.

Call 940-386-3000
Request a Consultation
More Information for Patients

Helping Your Prepare for Your Oral Surgery

As the premier oral surgery clinic in North Central Texas, we perform a wide scope of surgical procedures to replace and restore missing, damaged, or diseased teeth. We welcome referring doctors and patients of all ages throughout the Wichita Falls and North Central Texas area to get in touch with our office.

Please use the guides below as a reference for how to prepare for your surgery and care for your mouth after your procedure.

jaw surgery

Before Anesthesia

  • You must fast for at least 8 hours prior to your appointment. This means you may not have anything to eat or drink (including water). Please check with Dr. Gliddon or Dr. Sohn prior to your surgical date for instructions if you take routine medications.
  • Do not take any tranquilizers or narcotics 8 hours prior to surgery.
  • Please refrain from smoking for at least 12 hours before surgery. It is ideal if you are able to cut down or stop smoking as soon as possible prior to the day of surgery.
  • A responsible adult must accompany the patient to our office, and remain in the office during your procedure, and drive you home. You should plan on having someone stay with you for 24 hours following your surgery.
  • Patients under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
  • The patient should not undertake any important matters, drive a vehicle, or operate machinery for 24 hours following anesthesia.
  • Please wear low-heeled shoes and loose-fitting clothing with sleeves which can be rolled up past the elbow.
  • Dentures must be removed at the time of surgery.
  • Jewelry and contact lenses should not be worn to your surgery appointment.
  • Do not wear excessive makeup, nail polish, or lipstick on the day of surgery.
  • Please notify the office if you have an illness such as a sore throat, cold, or stomach and upset bowels.
jaw surgery

Dental Implant Surgery

After your dental implants are placed, do not disturb the wound. On the day of surgery, please avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound. In most cases, there will be a metal healing abutment protruding through your gum tissue.

Following surgery, your partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should be worn as directed by Dr. Gliddon or Dr. Sohn.

Bleeding

It is normal to experience some bleeding or redness in your saliva for 24 hours after the dental implant procedures. If you are experiencing excessive bleeding, it can be controlled by biting down on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes.

It is uncommon to experience significant bleeding with dental implants, so if your bleeding continues and is not controlled by biting firmly on gauze, please call us at 940-386-3000 for further instructions.

Swelling

It is normal to experience swelling after surgery. Applying an ice bag, a plastic bag, or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery can help minimize swelling. Ice can be applied in a 20-minutes on/20-minutes off continuous system (as much as possible) for the first 24 hours.

Diet

Following your dental implant surgery, it is important to drink plenty of fluids. You should avoid hot liquids or food and stick to soft, creamy food and liquids. Any micromovements of the implants caused by chewing can cause the implants to fail. Dr. Glidden or Dr. Sohn will require you avoid foods that require chewing for the first two weeks following your implant placement.

Your doctor will let you know when it is okay to advance to a soft food diet (noodles, eggs, tuna/flaky fish, non-chunky soups). Additionally, you should continue to refrain from chewing in the area of your dental implant(s) for 2 ½ to 3 months.

Pain

If you are experiencing minor pain, one or two tablets of Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours. For more moderate pain, one or two 200 mg Motrin or Advil tablets (ibuprofen) may be taken every 3-4 hours.

For severe pain, take the prescribed tablets as directed. Your prescription pain medication will slow down your reflexes and make you groggy. Please do not operate machinery or drive a car while taking the prescription pain medication. In between doses of the pain medication, you may take ibuprofen, which can help reduce inflammation and aid in pain relief. Do not take any additional Tylenol when using the prescribed pain medication because it contains Acetaminophen.

Your pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more each day, and you may find you can manage your pain with just over-the-counter meds. However, if your pain persists, it may require additional attention and you should contact our office

Antibiotics

To help prevent infection, please take the prescribed antibiotics. To avoid an upset stomach, you may want to avoid taking antibiotics and pain medicine at the same time. In the event of a rash or any other unfavorable reaction, discontinue use of the antibiotic and contact our office immediately. If you are experiencing an allergic reaction, take Benadryl/Diphenhydramine according to the over-the-counter instructions.

Oral Hygiene

Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of the surgery, you should gently brush your teeth. The day after your surgery, you should complete warm salt water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) at least 4-5 times a day, especially after meals. Make sure to brush your teeth and the healing abutments. Be gentle when initially brushing the surgical areas!

Activity

Immediately following surgery, keep physical activities to a minimum. You should plan to rest for at least 2 days following your surgery. If you regularly exercise, it is recommended you minimize your activity and avoid exercise in the first week following surgery. A raised heart rate and blood pressure can interfere with your healing. It is also important to keep in mind that your normal nourishment intake is reduced following surgery.
jaw surgery

Wisdom Tooth Removal & Tooth Extractions

Removing impacted teeth is a serious surgical procedure, which makes post-operative care very important. Following the instructions below can help minimize unnecessary pain and complications such as infection and swelling.

Immediately Following Surgery:

  • For 30 minutes after leaving our office, the gauze pad over the surgical area should be kept in place.
  • After this time, the gauze pad should be removed and discarded.
  • Following surgery, touching the wound area and/or mouth rinsing should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged.
  • As soon as you have something creamy (such as yogurt or a milkshake) in your stomach, take the prescribed pain medications. This is will usually coincide with the local anesthetic diminishing, but do not wait until you feel pain.
  • The day of your surgery, restrict your activities. You can resume normal activities when you feel comfortable.
  • To help reduce swelling, place ice packs to the sides of your face where surgery was performed. For a more thorough explanation, please refer to the section on swelling.

After the Removal of Multiple Teeth:

The removal of many teeth at one time is quite different from the extraction of one or two. Post-operative care following surgery to remove permanent dentition will be critical for you to avoid unnecessary pain, and complications such as infection and swelling can occur if these instructions are followed carefully by an attentive dentist with experience performing this type of procedure. Because bone shaping must precede any Insertion into a Denture (a common part needed post-op), certain normal conditions may arise, including:

  • Swelling and discoloration may occur around the eye or the area that was operated on for a maximum of 2-3 days.
  • You may develop a sore throat which should subside in 2-3 days.
  • Sore spots may develop if immediate dentures have been inserted.
  • Your dentist will meet with you within 24-48 hours following the procedure to check in on your recovery progress.

Bleeding

For 24 hours following surgery, a certain amount of bleeding is to be expected. Slight bleeding, oozing or redness in the saliva is common. Avoid swallowing or spitting blood. You can control bleeding by placing direct, firm pressure with a folded gauze pad(s) over the extraction area and biting firmly for 30 minutes. Repeat as necessary — you may need to purchase additional gauze.

If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened tea bag for 30 minutes. The tannic acid in the tea helps to form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels. Keeping your head elevated, avoiding excitement, and avoiding activity, exercise, and excitement will help minimize further bleeding. If bleeding does not subside, please call our office at 940-386-3000 for further instructions.

Sutures

To minimize postoperative bleeding and help healing, sutures are placed in the area of surgery. Sometimes a suture will become dislodged and result in minor bleeding; it is no cause for alarm. This can be alleviated with biting on gauze with firm, direct pressure for about 20 minutes.

Sutures may begin to break down between day 1 and day 10 following your extraction, but in most cases the sutures start to dissolve around day 4. If you can remove the suture without pulling, just remove the suture from your mouth and discard it.

Swelling

After wisdom teeth removal, it is common to experience swelling around the mouth, eyes, cheeks, and sides of the face. This is a normal reaction in your body in reaction to the surgery and eventual repair. Swelling may not become apparent until the day following surgery and will reach its maximum 2-3 days post-operation.

Swelling can be minimized by using ice packs immediately. Baggies filled with ice or ice packs should be applied to the sides of the face where the extraction was performed. These ice packs should be left on continuously while you are awake. After 24 hours, discontinue your use of ice — it has no beneficial effect after this and may delay your healing process.

If swelling or jaw stiffness continues for several days, this is a normal reaction to surgery. 24 hours following the surgery, you may apply warm, moist heat to the sides of the face — this is beneficial in promoting circulation for healing and reducing the size of the swelling. This swelling comes on quickly but is much slower to resolve.

Pain

If you are experiencing minor pain, one or two tablets of Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours. For more moderate pain, one or two 200 mg Motrin or Advil tablets (ibuprofen) may be taken every 3-4 hours, unless there is a contraindication (such as stomach problems, kidney disease, or a bleeding disorder).

For severe pain, take the prescribed tablets as directed. Your prescription pain medication will slow down your reflexes and make you groggy. Please do not operate machinery or drive a car while taking the prescription pain medication. In between doses of the pain medication, you may take ibuprofen, which can help reduce inflammation and aid in pain relief. Do not take any additional Tylenol when using the prescribed pain medication because it contains Acetaminophen.

Your pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more each day, and you may find you can manage your pain with just over-the-counter meds. However, if your pain persists, it may require additional attention and you should contact our office.

Diet

After IV sedation or general anesthetic, only liquids should initially be consumed. Drink from a glass and do not use straws, as the sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot and cause more bleeding.

After general anesthetic or IV sedation only liquids should initially be consumed. Drink from a glass and do not use straws. The sucking motion can cause more bleeding by dislodging the blood clot. You may eat anything soft or creamy but avoid foods that require chewing close to the surgical sites. A high calorie, high protein intake is very important. Our staff can provide suggested diet instructions. 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 any meals. 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 up for one minute before standing. Staying well hydrated will help.

Keeping Your Mouth Clean

Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The day after your surgery, you should complete warm salt water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) at least 4-5 times a day, especially after meals. Make sure to brush your teeth and the healing abutments. Be gentle when initially brushing the surgical areas!

There will be a void in your mouth where the tooth was removed. New tissue will gradually grow into this void over the month following your surgery. While it is healing, the area should be kept clean with salt water rinses or a toothbrush, especially after meals.

Brushing your teeth is okay – just be gentle at the surgical sites. A soft washcloth with toothpaste may be a good option for the first day or two

Discoloration

In some cases, discoloration of the skin follows swelling. Blood spreading beneath the tissue can lead to development of blue, black, green, or yellow discoloration, This may occur 2-3 days after your procedure and is a normal occurrence. Applying moist heat to the area may speed up the removal of the discoloration.

Antibiotics

If you have been prescribed antibiotics, take the liquid or tablets as directed. Antibiotics will be prescribed to prevent infection. To avoid an upset stomach, you may want to avoid taking antibiotics and pain medicine at the same time. In the event of a rash or any other unfavorable reaction, discontinue use of the antibiotic and contact our office immediately.

If you are experiencing an allergic reaction, take Benadryl/Diphenhydramine according to the over-the-counter instructions. If you have questions, please call our office at 940-386-3000.

Nausea & Vomiting

If you are experiencing nausea and/or vomiting following your surgery, do not ingest anything by mouth for at least an hour, including prescribed medicine. After an hour, you should then sip on “flat” coke, ginger ale, or tea, as carbonation should be avoided. Sip slowly over a 15-minute period.

When your nausea subsides, you can begin taking soft, creamy solid foods, and your prescribed medicine. If your nausea or vomiting persists, please do not hesitate to contact our office; staying well hydrated is a must.

Other Complications

After your procedure, there are other complications that may arise. If you are experiencing numbness in your lip or tongue, increased temperature, or hard projections in the mouth, please notify the office. Tylenol or ibuprofen should be taken to reduce the fever.

You should also be careful going from the lying down position. Before standing up, you should sit for one minute before getting up. Sore throats and pain when swallowing are not uncommon and will subside in a few days. You may also experience stiffness in the jaw muscles, which is normal and will resolve in time.

Finally

The pain and swelling should subside more and more usually as days pass after surgery. However, it is important that you lay low the following week after surgery. The area should be kept clean, especially after meals, with salt water rinses or a toothbrush. Brushing your teeth is okay – just be gentle at the surgical sites.

You should plan to rest for at least 2 days following surgery. If you are involved in regular exercise, we recommend that you minimize activity and avoid exercise in the first week following surgery. Raising your heart rate and blood pressure can interfere with your healing. Also, be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced.

jaw surgery

Exposure of an Impacted Tooth

If an impacted tooth is exposed, do not disturb the wound. It is important to not disturb any surgical packing because it helps keep the tooth exposed.

Please contact our office for instruction if the surgical packing falls out or gets moved. If there was a gold chain bonded to the impacted tooth, it is important to avoid toughing it or manipulating it with your tongue.

Bleeding

For 24 hours following surgery, a certain amount of bleeding is to be expected. Slight bleeding, oozing or redness in the saliva is common. Avoid swallowing or spitting blood. You can control bleeding by placing direct, firm pressure with a folded gauze pad(s) over the extraction area and biting firmly for 30 minutes. Repeat as necessary — you may need to purchase additional gauze.

If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened tea bag for 30 minutes. The tannic acid in the tea helps to form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels. Keeping your head elevated, avoiding excitement, and avoiding activity, exercise, and excitement will help minimize further bleeding. If bleeding does not subside, please call our office at 940-386-3000 for further instructions.

Swelling

After wisdom teeth removal, it is common to experience swelling around the mouth, eyes, cheeks, and sides of the face. This is a normal reaction in your body in reaction to the surgery and eventual repair. Swelling may not become apparent until the day following surgery and will reach its maximum 2-3 days post-operation.

Swelling can be minimized by using ice packs immediately. Baggies filled with ice or ice packs should be applied to the sides of the face where the extraction was performed. These ice packs should be left on continuously while you are awake. After 24 hours, discontinue your use of ice — it has no beneficial effect after this and may delay your healing process.

If swelling or jaw stiffness continues for several days, this is a normal reaction to surgery. 24 hours following the surgery, you may apply warm, moist heat to the sides of the face — this is beneficial in promoting circulation for healing and reducing the size of the swelling. This swelling comes on quickly but is much slower to resolve.

Diet

After IV sedation or general anesthetic, only liquids should initially be consumed. Drink from a glass and do not use straws, as the sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot and cause more bleeding.

After general anesthetic or IV sedation only liquids should initially be consumed. Drink from a glass and do not use straws. The sucking motion can cause more bleeding by dislodging the blood clot. You may eat anything soft or creamy but avoid foods that require chewing close to the surgical sites. A high calorie, high protein intake is very important. Our staff can provide suggested diet instructions. 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 any meals. 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 up for one minute before standing. Staying well hydrated will help.

Pain

If you are experiencing minor pain, one or two tablets of Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours. For more moderate pain, one or two 200 mg Motrin or Advil tablets (ibuprofen) may be taken every 3-4 hours, unless there is a contraindication (such as stomach problems, kidney disease, or a bleeding disorder).

For severe pain, take the prescribed tablets as directed. Your prescription pain medication will slow down your reflexes and make you groggy. Please do not operate machinery or drive a car while taking the prescription pain medication. In between doses of the pain medication, you may take ibuprofen, which can help reduce inflammation and aid in pain relief. Do not take any additional Tylenol when using the prescribed pain medication because it contains Acetaminophen.

Your pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more each day, and you may find you can manage your pain with just over-the-counter meds. However, if your pain persists, it may require additional attention and you should contact our office.

Oral Hygiene

It’s important to keep your mouth clean after surgery. A toothbrush is the perfect tool for this job! We also suggest rinsing your mouth out with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of table salt per cup),up to six times a day.

Activity

After surgery, you should avoid physical activities for at least the first day or two. If it is too much strain on your body and causes pain to occur after this period of rest has passed — stop exercising altogether until you receive further instructions from your dental team.

Schedule a Consultation for Facial Plastic Surgery

For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact us at 940-386-3000 today.

Visit

Live Oak Oral Surgery of Texas
2708 Southwest Pkwy, #130
Wichita Falls, TX 76308
— Get Directions

Contact

Phone: 940-386-3000
Fax: 940-386-3002

Hours

Monday ‒ Thursday 8 AM ‒ 5 PM
Friday 8 AM ‒ 2 PM
Saturday ‒ Sunday Closed