Surgery Instructions

We are proud of the courtesy and consideration our staff provides to all our patients. We understand the concern and anxious feelings our patients have before periodontal treatment, and we will do whatever is necessary to insure and maintain your comfort.

The following instructions and important requests should be read carefully and followed completely to assure our patients the most effective and professional periodontal treatment.

Below you will find information on preparing for your surgery as well as information on healing after your treatment.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Pre-Op Instructions (Preparing for surgery):

Specific Instructions

1. You may eat a light meal the day of your surgery, but nothing should be eaten at least three hours prior to your surgical appointment.

2. Take the antibiotic prescribed by Dr. Calvert with a ½ glass of water or fruit juice before coming to the office. Do not drink any coffee, tea, or milk at least three hours prior to your surgical appointment. If your are thirsty, you may drink another ½ glass (4 oz.) of water.

3. Plan on being in the office for approximately 2-3 hours. If your procedure includes sedative medication, someone will be required to drive you to the office and home. If your procedure does not include sedative medication, plan on being in the office for 1-2 hours.

General Instructions

1. One of the prescriptions you may have been given is an antibiotic medication. The antibiotic Dr. Calvert usually will prescribe is called either Tetracycline or EES400. Take the antibiotic that you have been given according to the instructions on the prescription. If Dr. Calvert substitutes another type of antibiotic, take the medication according to the instructions on the prescription.

2. Another prescription that you may be given is an anti-inflammatory or anti-swelling medication called Medrol. Get this medication filled at your pharmacy. Bring the medication with you to your surgical appointment. DO NOT take the medication at home before the appointment. We will dispense the medication to you at the office.

3. If your procedure includes sedative medication, please bring the name and phone number of the person who will pick you up after your appointment.

4. Wear comfortable clothing to your appointment.

5. Please brush and floss your teeth thoroughly before your appointment.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS · TAKE ALL ADDITIONAL MEDICATIONS AS PRESCRIBED BY YOUR PROFESSIONAL PHYSICIAN. · NO ALCOHOL, NON-PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS OR RECREATIONAL DRUGS SHOULD BE USED AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR SURGICAL APPOINTMENT. · IMPORTANT: PLEASE ADVISE DR. CALVERT IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES IN YOUR GENERAL MEDICAL HEALTH OR IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY OTHER MEDICATIONS THAT YOU DID NOT LIST ON YOUR MEDICAL HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE.


Post-Op Instructions (Healing from Periodontal Treatment)

What should I do the first & second day?

1. Take all medications that were prescribed to you by Dr. Calvert. Please read or have your escort read all the instructions given to you by the office.

2. If you were given a sedative medication, stay quiet, recline in a chair or lay down and elevate your head on 2 to 3 pillows. When moving about or using the restroom, please use caution; the medication makes you sleepy for several hours. Even if you were not given a sedative medication, use caution in your activities.

3. Remove any gauze or cotton materials from your mouth when you arrive at home, and begin to drink icy cold liquids immediately.

4. You should stay on a cold liquid diet for 48 hours; sip or drink cold liquids, such as Carnation Instant Breakfast or Ensure or other high protein liquid diet supplement, Slurpee (7-11), Icee (AM/PM Mini Mart), iced tea, smooth yogurts, custards, puddings, applesauce, jell-o (or similar type food), or any other cold foods liquefied in a blender. Stay on a cold liquid diet for the first 48 hours after surgery. This will help to reduce swelling and improve healing. NO straws should be used. You should not drink or eat anything hot after surgery.

5. You should apply an ice pack to your face upon arriving home. Apply to one or both sides, depending on where the surgery was performed. This is to be applied to the outside of your face (against your cheeks or under your jaw) and alternate 20 minutes on, 10 minutes off, 20 minutes on, ect., for as long as possible the first two days. This will help to reduce swelling and improve healing.

6. Mild to moderate discomfort may be present at first when the anesthesia wears off. The anesthesia will wear off in two to four (2-4) hours. A pain medication has been prescribed or will be provided. The first dose should be taken within one hour after your surgery; then continued as directed. If the discomfort is very mild, 2 to 3 Tylenol (Acetaminophen) or 3 to 4 Advil or Motrin (Ibuprofen) every 3 to 4 hours as needed may be substituted for the stronger medication dispensed to you. Take all medications with a ½ glass of water.

7. Do not rinse your mouth or spit for at least 4 hours after surgery. Rinsing the mouth and excessive spitting interferes with the clotting of blood and healing. After 4 hours, if you need to rinse, use only COLD water. No vigorous swishing; just tip your head from side to side and let the water run out into a cup or the sink.

8. Do not smoke for at least 48 hours. Smoking can seriously delay the healing process. Smoking will also make any sutures or stitches stay in the mouth longer by prolonging the dissolving process. Smoking will also produce increased sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet foods and liquids.

9. Do not drink any alcohol for at least 48 hours after surgery. The combination of alcohol, the sedative medications and pain tablets can cause serious reactions.

10. Refrain from unnecessary talking or movement of the jaw for the next 48 hours.

11. Do not drive an automobile for at least 12 hours after surgery. Driving after taking sedative medications is considered driving under the influence, and is very dangerous.

12. If it was necessary to consult your medical doctor before or after surgery, please follow all his instructions and take all medications that have been recommended by your medical doctor and Dr. Calvert.

What should I do the 3rd day and afterwards?

1. After 48 hours, it is important to have a warm diet instead of cold liquids. Warm liquids will now improve normal healing. Suggested warm liquids are clear or smooth soups, tea, hot chocolate, warm milk, heated Carnation Instant Breakfast, or heated Ensure or other high protein liquid diet supplements, or any warm liquids you desire.

2. You may gently rinse after 48 hours. We suggest an equal amount of Listerine mouthwash, Hydrogen Peroxide, and warm water. This rinsing may be performed every 4 hours, if necessary. Chloraseptic Sore Throat Spray may also be used for rinsing. It is available over the counter at most markets and drugstores. Chloraseptic has an anesthetic or numbing effect to the gum tissue. Many patients like Chloraseptic!

3. Begin gently brushing and flossing your teeth after 48 hours with the soft toothbrush dispensed to you at your surgical appointment and Johnson and Johnson Dentotape. You may begin using toothpaste or a mixture of ½ Listerine mouthwash and ½ Hydrogen Peroxide. Be careful not to irritate your gum tissue and the surgical area. It is best to keep the brush and floss away from the gum line for at least 5 days. It is normal to have minor bleeding or seepage from the gum tissue when you first begin brushing and flossing again. If brushing is difficult or painful, use the soft sponge, Toothettes that were dispensed at your surgical appointment to clean your teeth for another 1 to 2 days.

4. Begin gently irrigating between your teeth and around your gum line after 48 hours with your Monoject 412 Syringe which was dispensed to you at an earlier appointment. We suggest an equal amount of Listerine mouthwash, Hydrogen Peroxide, and warm water. Be careful not to irritate your gum tissue and the surgical area.

5. Begin gently cleaning your gum line after 48 hours with the soft sponge Toothettes that were dispensed to you after your surgery. The Toothettes can be reused several times.

6. Do not use an automatic or electric toothbrush or irrigation device for at least 10 to 14 days after your surgery. When you begin, you may exert gentle pressure on the teeth and lightly on the gum tissue with the brush.

7. It is important for you to begin eating! You may begin a soft food diet after 3 days. You may eat food such as eggs (poached or soft boiled), soups, baby food (junior foods may taste better), noodles, lean ground meat, soft fish, or foods prepared in a blender. This diet should be followed for at least 5 to 7 days unless instructed otherwise. Do not resume a normal diet for at least 7 days after surgery. And even then, be careful not to eat foods with small hard particles that could catch or lodge between your teeth and gums and cause infection. Try to maintain a high protein diet and drink plenty of fluids.

Further Appointments at Our Offices

The office has scheduled a follow-up examination appointment approximately 7 to 14 days after your surgery to see how your healing is progressing. Following this appointment, further examinations and cleanings will be scheduled or recommended as is necessary to maintain your periodontal health. We will refer you back to your dentist as soon as it is practical after your treatment is completed.

What if I have any further questions?

If any problems arise, please do not hesitate to call us at any time of the day or night. Our office number is on a 24 hour service. You may leave a message, or in case of an emergency, or if you have any questions, please contact Dr. Calvert at his emergency voice mail number (408) 925-7607.