Surgical Instructions
These instructions are not intended as medical advice, but as a helpful resource for our patients. Always consult Dr. Karpovck and his staff or your own physician to make sure these guidelines apply to you and your condition(s).
Before I.V. Sedation
Acceptable up to 4 hours prior to surgery
Not Acceptable up to 12 hours prior to surgery
- You may consume a light snack, such as toast and juice up to 4 hours prior to your appointment
- We suggest that the patient stop smoking a week prior to surgery.
- A responsible adult must accompany the patient to the office, remain in the office during the procedure, and drive the patient home. Transportation will be discussed during the consultation appointment.
- The patient should not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery for 24 hours following the anesthesia experience.
- Please wear loose fitting clothing with sleeves which can be rolled up past the elbow, and low-heeled shoes.
- Contact lenses, jewelry, and dentures must be removed at the time of surgery.
- Do not wear lipstick, excessive makeup, or nail polish on the day of surgery.
- If you have an illness such as a cold, sore throat, stomach upset, please notify the office.
- If you take routine oral medications, please check with Dr. Karpovck prior to your surgical date for instructions.
- Please bring all medications to the consultation appointment.
After Placement of Dental Implants
Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There will be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue.
Bleeding
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues please call our office at (352) 753-1114 for further instructions.
Swelling
Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag, or a plastic bag, or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously, as much as possible, for the first 36 hours.
Diet
Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids, such as milk shakes or smoothies, should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible, unless otherwise directed.
Pain
You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, 1 or 2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 3-4 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.
Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the Peridex should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.
Antibiotics
Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection.
Wearing Your Prosthesis
Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should not be used immediately after surgery and for at least 10 days. This was discussed in the pre-operative consultation.
Activity
Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking normal nourishment. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.