Patient Instructions

• Please wear short sleeves or loose clothing to facilitate the rolling up of the sleeve. Please remove nail polish and make-up.
• DO NOT eat anything for at least 8 hours before surgery.
• You may drink clear liquids (water, fruit juices WITHOUT PULP, carbonated beverages, clear tea, and black coffee) up to 4 hours before the appointment.
• Parents or guardians should observe children prior to surgery to make certain there is no consumption of foods or fluids.
• If you have been given an antibiotic prescription at the time of your consultation, PLEASE TAKE THE ANTIBIOTIC 1 HOUR BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH A SIP OF WATER.
• If you normally take pills for high blood pressure, thyroid or asthma, please take them with a LITTLE sip of water an hour before the appointment.
• Please come 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment if this is your first visit to our office.
• Patients must be accompanied by an adult who will remain in the waiting area during surgery and until the recovery period is over. Any patient under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present at time of the procedure. (You will NOT be allowed to take a cab home alone.)
• We encourage payments prior to your surgery to expedite your discharge after you awaken following surgery.
• Please notify our office if you develop a cold, sore throat, cough, fever, or any other illness within the 2 weeks prior to the surgery.
• Lastly, be rest assured that you will receive compassionate and professional service!
• HELP EVER * HURT NEVER

Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so not all of the instructions may apply to you. Common sense will often dictate what you should do. However, when in doubt follow these guidelines or call our office for clarification. Our number is: 301–294–8700.

DAY OF SURGERY

FIRST HOUR: Bite down firmly on the gauze packs that have been placed over the surgical areas, making sure they remain in place. The packs may be gently removed after you reach home. Look at the gauze before you throw it away, if it is soaked in blood, you do need to replace with fresh gauze. Prior to replacing the gauze, drink a milkshake/ice cream or yogurt with a spoon and take your pain medications – 1 prescription strength ibuprofen (Motrin) and 1 extra strength Tylenol. Now take two pieces of gauze from the goody bag, roll it like a cigar and fold it and place it snugly in the area of extraction and bite down for 20 minutes. Redness in the center of the gauze is normal; the gauze needs to be replaced only if it is soaked in blood. Intermittent bleeding or oozing overnight is normal.

FIRST 24 HOURS: Do not disturb the surgical area. Do NOT spit, rinse, brush your teeth at night, consume hot food or use a straw on the day of the surgery. Please do not smoke since this is very detrimental to healing and may cause a dry socket. Use ice on the outside of the face; repeat 20 minutes on and 5 minutes off until bedtime. Do not smoke for the first 24 hours.

PERSISTENT BLEEDING: Bleeding should never be severe. If so, it usually means that the gauze packs are being clenched between teeth only and are not exerting pressure on the surgical areas. Try repositioning the packs. If bleeding persists or becomes heavy you may substitute a tea bag (soaked in very hot water, squeezed damp-dry and wrapped in moist gauze) for 20 or 30 minutes. If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office to reach Dr. Sreeni. Do not physically exert yourself for 5 days following surgery as this will cause unexpected bleeding.

PAIN: Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. You will usually have a prescription for pain medication. If you start taking the pills when you first get home and before the local anesthetic has worn off, you should be able to manage any discomfort better. Repeat the pain medications (Motrin + Tylenol) every four hours on the first two days of surgery while awake. If you feel that the pain is not adequately controlled with the mild pain medication combination, please take the prescribed strong pain medication. We encourage our patients to be “couch potatoes” on the day of surgery as activities will increase ooziness and nausea. If you find that you are taking large amounts of pain medication at frequent intervals, please call our office.

BRUISING: Bruising sometimes occurs after tooth removal. The bruising is often visible a few days’ post-surgery and may be located either above or below the area that the surgery took place.

NAUSEA: Nausea is not uncommon after surgery. Sometimes the intravenous anesthesia or pain medications are the cause. Try drinking small amounts of clear liquids at frequent intervals. Nausea can be further reduced by preceding each pain pill with a small amount of Jell-o. Minimize taking strong pain medication as it will worsen the nausea/vomiting. Classic Coca-Cola/soda may help with the nausea as well.

DIET: Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Avoid hot food on day of surgery. Do not use a straw for the first day after surgery. It is advisable to confine the first days intake to liquids or puréed foods (soups at room temperature, puddings, yogurt, milk shakes, etc.). It is best to avoid foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn, etc. for three weeks as they may get lodged in the socket areas. It is important not to skip meals! If you take nourishment regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort, and heal faster. If you are diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits or follow instructions given by your doctor.

SHARP EDGES: If you feel something hard or sharp edges in the surgical areas, it is likely you were feeling bony walls which once supported the extracted teeth. Occasionally small slivers of bone may work themselves out during the following week or so. If they cause concern or discomfort, please call the office.

MOUTH RINSES: Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is essential. Rinse only after the first 24 hours. Use 1/4 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water and gently rinse with portions of solution, taking five minutes to use the entire glassful. Repeat as often as you like, but certainly after eating anything.

BRUSHING: Begin your normal oral hygiene routine 24 hours after surgery. Soreness and swelling may not permit vigorous brushing, but please make every effort to clean your teeth within the bounds of comfort. If you had a lower tooth removed and were provided a plastic syringe, starting 1 week after surgery, use it to clean inside the surgical hole after eating anything until the hole completely heals. This will significantly reduce the risk of infection.

HEALING:

Normal healing after tooth extraction should be as follows:

The first two days after surgery are generally the most uncomfortable and there is usually some swelling. On the third day you should be more comfortable and, although still swollen, can usually begin a more substantial diet. The remainder of the post-operative course should be gradual, steady improvement.

In the following week, any stitches placed will start to come out on their own. This is normal as the stitches are dissolvable by the body. Do not try to forcibly take them out.

Starting 1 week after surgery, if you were provided a plastic syringe, use it after eating anything to keep the lower surgical sockets clean. Using the syringe consistently until the hole closes will greatly decrease the risk of infection. DO NOT use the syringe before 1 week post-surgery as this may cause complications.

Following these instructions will assist you, but if you have questions about your progress, please call our office. You can contact the doctor Dr. Sreeni after hours. Calling during office hours will afford a faster response to your question or concern.

HELP EVER * HURT NEVER

WHAT TO DO AFTER SURGERY: The incision wounds after surgery usually heal quickly and without complications if simple precautions are taken. Cooperating with your oral surgeon is important.

Here are some guidelines and instructions for you to follow to aid in your healing and recovery:

Rest at home, minimize talking, and generally take it easy for 24-48 hours following surgery. It may not be necessary to be in bed rest; but it is important that you rest. Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so not all of the instructions may apply, Common sense will often dictate what you should do. However, when in doubt follow these guidelines or call our office for clarification. Our number is: 301-294-8700.

DAY OF SURGERY

FIRST HOUR: Bite down firmly on the gauze packs making sure they remain in place. The packs may be gently removed after you reach home. Look at the gauze before you throw it away, if it is soaked in blood, you need to replace with fresh gauze. Prior to replacing the gauze, drink a milkshake, ice cream or yogurt with a spoon (DO NOT USE A STRAW FOR AT LEAST SIX DAYS) and then take your pain medication 1 prescription strength ibuprofen (Motrin) and 1 Extra Strength Tylenol. Now take two pieces of gauze from the goody bag, roll it like a cigar and fold it and place it snugly in the area of the surgery and bite down for 20 minutes (MOISTURIZE THE GAUZE WITH LITLLE BIT OF WATER BEFORE PUTTING IT IN). Redness in the center of the gauze is normal; the gauze needs to be replaced only if it soaked in blood. Intermittent bleeding or oozing overnight is normal.

FIRST 24 HOURS: Do not disturb the surgical area. Do not spit, rinse, brush your teeth at night, consume hot food or use a straw on the day of the surgery. PLEASE DO NOT SMOKE since this is very detrimental to healing.

SWELLING: The surgical area will swell and may become quite large. After the procedure, apply an ice pack to the side of the face; repeat 20 minutes on and 5 minutes off until bedtime. Moist heat, like a warm, wet wash cloth, will aid in reducing swelling after the first 24 hours. Swelling usually reaches its maximum within the first 40 hours post-surgery and then slowly decreases.

PERSISTENT BLEEDING: Bleeding should never be severe. If so, it usually means that the gauze packs are being clenched between the teeth only and are not exerting pressure on the surgical areas. Try repositioning the packs. If bleeding persists or becomes heavy you may substitute a tea bag (soaked in very hot water, squeezed damp-dry and wrapped in moist gauze) for 30 minutes. If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office. Do not physically exert yourself for the 5 days following surgery as this will cause unexpected bleeding.

PAIN: Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. You will usually have a prescription for pain medication. If you start taking the pills when you get home and before the local anesthetic has worn off, you should be able to manage any discomfort better. Do repeat the pain medication (Motrin + Tylenol) every four hours on the first two days of surgery while awake. If you feel that the pain is not adequately controlled with the mild pain medication combination, please take the prescribed strong pain medication. We encourage our patients to be couch potatoes on the day of surgery as activities will increase ooziness and nausea. The effects of pain medication vary widely among individuals, but if you find you are taking large amounts of pain medicine at frequent intervals, please call our office.

NAUSEA: Nausea is not uncommon after surgery. Sometimes intravenous anesthesia or pain medications are the cause. Try drinking small amounts of clear liquids at frequent intervals. Nausea can be further reduced by preceding each pain pill with a small amount of Jell-o. Minimize taking strong pain medication as it will worsen nausea/vomiting. Classic Coca-Cola/soda may help with nausea as well.

DIET: Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Avoid hot foods on the day of surgery. Do not use a straw for the first day after surgery. It is advisable to confine the first day’s intake to liquids or pureed goods (soups at room temperature, puddings, yogurt, milkshakes, etc.). It is best to avoid foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn etc., for three weeks, as they may get lodged in the socket areas. It is important not to skip meals! If you take nourishment regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort, and heal faster. If you are diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits or follow instructions given by your doctor. Since you will be taking medication, it is very important that you eat before each medication course to prevent nausea.

FIRST 24 HOURS:  Cold, liquid diet only.

SECOND DAY AFTER SURGERY:  May start warm, soft food and continue it for 3 weeks.

Here are some foods we recommend:

Milk
Yogurt
Oatmeal or cream of wheat
Ice cream
Soft boiled or scrambled eggs
Milkshakes and protein shakes
Soups
Applesauce
Boiled fish
Puréed ground chicken
Pudding
Potatoes- baked or mashed
Jell-O

BRUSHING: Begin your normal oral hygiene routine 24 hours after surgery. Soreness and swelling may not permit vigorous brushing, but please make every effort to clean your teeth within the bounds of comfort. If you had a lower tooth removed and were provided a plastic syringe, starting 1 week after surgery, use it to clean inside the surgical hole after eating anything until the hole completely heals. This will significantly reduce the risk of infection.

MOUTH RINSES: Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is essential. Rinse only after the first 24 hours. Use ¼ teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8 ounces glass of warm water and gently rinse with portions of the solution, taking five minutes to use the entire glassful. Repeat as often as you like, but certainly after eating anything.

BRUISING: Bruising sometimes occurs after tooth exposures and removals. The bruising is often visible a few days post-surgery and may be located either above or below the area where the surgery took place.

HEALING: Normal healing after tooth exposure should be as follows:

The first two days after surgery are generally the most uncomfortable, and there is usually some swelling. On the third day, you should be more comfortable and, although still swollen, can usually begin a more substantial diet. The remainder of the post-operative course should be a gradual, steady improvement.

In the following week, any stitches placed will start to come out on their own. This is normal as the stitches are dissolvable by the body. It is okay if you accidentally swallow them. Do not try to forcibly take them out.

Starting 1 week after surgery, if you were provided a plastic syringe, use it after eating anything to keep the lower surgical sockets clean. Using the syringe consistently until the hole closes will greatly decrease the risk of infection. DO NOT use the syringe 1 week post-surgery as this may cause complications.

HELP EVER * HURT NEVER

WHAT TO DO AFTER SURGERY: The incision wounds after surgery usually heal quickly and without complications if simple precautions are taken. Cooperating with your oral surgeon is important.

Here are some guidelines and instructions for you to follow to aid in your healing and recovery:

Rest at home, minimize our talking, and generally take it easy for 24-48 hours following surgery. It may not be necessary to be in bed rest; but it is important that you rest. Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so not all of the instructions may apply; common sense will often dictate what you should do. However, when in doubt, follow these guidelines or call our office for clarification. Our number is 301-294-8700.

DAY OF SURGERY

FIRST HOUR: Bite down firmly on the gauze packs making sure they remain in place. The packs may be gently removed after you reach home. Look at the gauze before you throw it away; if it is soaked in blood, you do need to replace it with fresh gauze. Prior to replacing the gauze, drink a milkshake, ice cream, or yogurt with a spoon (DO NOT USE STRAW FOR AT LEAST SIX DAYS) and then take your pain medication, one prescription strength Motrin (ibuprofen) and on extra strength Tylenol. Now take two pieces of gauze from the goody bag, roll it like a cigar and fold it and place it snugly in the area of the implant and bite down for 20 minutes (MOISTURIZE THE GAUZE WITH LITLLE BIT OF WATER BEFORE PUTTING IT IN). Redness and pinkness in the center of the gauze are normal; the gauze needs to be replaced only if it has soaked through in blood. Intermittent bleeding or oozing overnight is normal.

FIRST 24 HOURS: Do not disturb the surgical area. Do not spit, rinse, brush your teeth at night, consume hot food, or use a straw on the day of the surgery. PLEASE DO NOT SMOKE since this is very detrimental to healing.

SWELLING: The surgical area will swell and may become quite large. After the procedure, apply an ice pack to the side of the face, 20 minutes on, 5 minutes off, and repeat all the way until bedtime. After the first 24 hours, moist heat, like a warm, wet washcloth, will aid in reducing swelling. Swelling usually reaches its maximum within the first 40 hours post- surgery and then slowly decreases.

PERSISTENT BLEEDING: Bleeding should never be severe. If so, it usually means that the packs are being clenched between the teeth only and are not exerting pressure on the surgical areas. Try repositioning the packs. If bleeding persists or becomes heavy, you may substitute a tea bag (soaked in hot water, squeezed damp-dry, and wrapped in moist gauze) for 30 minutes. If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office to reach the doctor on call. Do not physically exert yourself for the 5 days following surgery as this will cause unexpected bleeding.

PAIN: Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. You will usually have a prescription for pain medication. If you take the pills before the anesthetic has worn off, you should be able to manage any discomfort better. Do repeat the pain medication (Motrin + Tylenol) every four hours on the first two days of surgery while awake. If you feel the pain is not adequately controlled with the mild pain medication combination, please take the prescribed strong pain medication. We encourage our patients to be couch potatoes on the day of surgery as activities will increase ooziness and nausea. The effects of pain medication vary widely among individuals if you find you are taking large amounts of pain medicine at frequent intervals. Please call our office.

DIET: Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Avoid hot foods on the day of surgery. Do not use a straw for the first day after surgery. It is advisable to confine the first day’s intake to liquids or pureed goods (soups at room temperature, puddings, yogurt, milkshakes, etc.).  It is best to avoid foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn etc., for three weeks, as they may get lodged in the socket areas. It is important not to skip meals! If you take nourishment regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort, and heal faster.  If you are diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits or follow instructions given by your doctor. Since you will be taking medication, it is very important that you eat before each medication course to prevent nausea.

FIRST 24 HOURS:  Cold, liquid diet only.

SECOND DAY AFTER SURGERY:  May start warm, soft food and continue it for 3 weeks.

Here are some foods we recommend:

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Oatmeal or cream of wheat
• Ice cream
• Soft-boiled or scrambled eggs
• Milkshakes
• Soups
• Applesauce
• Boiled fish
• Pudding
• Potatoes- baked or mashed
• Jell-O

BRUSHING: Begin your normal oral hygiene routine 24 hours after surgery. Soreness and swelling may not permit vigorous brushing, but please make every effort to clean your teeth within the bounds of comfort.

MOUTH RINSES: Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is essential. Rinse only after the first 24 hours. Use ¼ teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8 ounces glass of warm water and gently rinse with portions of the solution, taking five minutes to use the entire glassful. Repeat as often as you like, but certainly after eating anything.

HEALING: The first two days after surgery are generally the most uncomfortable, and there is usually some swelling. On the third day, you should be more comfortable and, although still swollen, can usually begin a more substantial diet. The remainder of the post-operative course should be a gradual, steady improvement.

BRUISING: Bruising sometimes occurs after sinus lift surgery–you should not be alarmed if it occurs. The bruising is often visible a few days’ post-surgery and may be located either above or below the area where the surgery took place.

NAUSEA: Nausea is not uncommon after surgery. Sometimes intravenous anesthesia or pain medications are the cause. Try drinking small amounts of clear liquids at frequent intervals. Nausea can be further reduced by preceding each pain pill with a small amount of Jell-o. Minimize taking strong pain medication as it will worsen nausea/vomiting. Classic Coca-Cola/soda may help with nausea as well.

CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS WILL ASSIST HEALING, AND WE ASK THAT YOU FAITHFULLY FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

• Take prescriptions as directed.
• Take a 10mg Zyrtec pill at bedtime for 10 days.
• Purchase AFRIN Nasal Spray (available over the counter). Spray 2 puffs into each nostril AM and PM for 3 days after surgery.
• Purchase Saline Nasal Spray (available over the counter). Use several times a day for 10 days to keep nose moist.
• Eat only soft foods for several days, always trying to chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
• Do not forcefully spit for 1 week
• Do not smoke for 10 days.
• Do not use a straw for 1 week.
• Do not forcefully blow your nose for at least two weeks, even though your sinus may feel “stuffy” or there may be some nasal drainage.
• Use Q-tips to clean your nose.
• Try not to sneeze; it will cause undesired sinus pressure. If you must sneeze, keep your mouth open.
• Do not rinse vigorously for several days. Gentle saltwater rinses may be used.

Keep our office advised of any changes in your condition, especially if drainage or pain increases. It is important that you keep all future appointments until this is healed.

HELP EVER * HURT NEVER

WHAT TO DO AFTER SURGERY: The incision wounds after surgery usually heal quickly and without complications if simple precautions are taken. Cooperating with your oral surgeon is important.

Here are some guidelines and instructions for you to follow to aid in your healing and recovery:

Rest at home, minimize our talking, and generally take it easy for 24-48 hours following surgery. It may not be necessary to be in bed rest, but it is important that you rest. Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so not all of the instructions may apply; common sense will often dictate what you should do. However, when in doubt, follow these guidelines or call our office for clarification. Our number is 301-294-8700.

DAY OF SURGERY

FIRST HOUR: Bite down firmly on the gauze packs making sure they remain in place. The packs may be gently removed after you reach home. Look at the gauze before you throw it away; if it is soaked in blood, you do need to replace it with fresh gauze. Prior to replacing the gauze, have a milkshake, ice cream, or yogurt with a spoon (DO NOT USE STRAW FOR AT LEAST AT 1 WEEK) and then take your pain medication, one prescription strength ibuprofen (Motrin) and on extra strength Tylenol. Now take two pieces of gauze from the goody bag, roll it like a cigar and fold it and place it snugly in the area of the surgery and bite down for 20 minutes (MOISTURIZE THE GAUZE WITH LITLLE BIT OF WATER BEFORE PUTTING IT IN). Redness in the center of the gauze is normal; the gauze needs to be replaced only if it is soaked in blood. Intermittent bleeding or oozing overnight is normal.

FIRST 24 HOURS: Do not disturb the surgical area. Do not spit, rinse, brush your teeth at night, consume hot food or use a straw on the day of the surgery. PLEASE DO NOT SMOKE since this is very detrimental to healing.

SWELLING: The surgical area may swell and become quite large. After the procedure, apply an ice pack to the side of the face; repeat 20 minutes on and 5 minutes off until bedtime. Moist heat, like a warm, wet washcloth, will aid in reducing swelling after the first 24 hours. Swelling usually reaches its maximum within the first 40 hours post- surgery and then slowly decreases.

PERSISTENT BLEEDING: Bleeding should never be severe. If so, it usually means that the gauze packs are being clenched between the teeth only and are not exerting pressure on the surgical areas. Try repositioning the packs. If bleeding persists or becomes heavy, you may substitute a tea bag (soaked in hot water, squeezed damp-dry, and wrapped in moist gauze) for 20 minutes. If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office. Do not physically exert yourself for the 5 days following surgery, as this will cause unexpected bleeding.

PAIN: Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. You will usually have a prescription for pain medication. If you start taking the pills when you get home and before the local anesthetic has worn off, you should be able to manage any discomfort better. Do repeat the pain medication (Motrin + Tylenol) every four hours on the first two days of surgery while awake. If you feel the pain is not adequately controlled with the mild pain medication combination, please take the prescribed strong pain medication. We encourage our patients to be couch potatoes on the day of surgery as activities will increase ooziness and nausea. The effects of pain medication vary widely among individuals; if you find you are taking large amounts of pain medicine at frequent intervals, please call our office.

DIET: Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Try to chew on the opposite side of the mouth from where the procedure took place. Avoid hot foods on the day of surgery. Do not use a straw for 1 week after surgery. It is advisable to confine the first day’s intake to liquids or puréed goods (soups at room temperature, puddings, yogurt, milkshakes, etc.). It is best to avoid foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn etc. for three weeks, as they may get lodged in the socket areas. It is important not to skip meals! If you take nourishment regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort, and heal faster; if you are diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits or follow instructions given by your doctor. Since you will be taking medication, it is very important that you eat before each medication course to prevent nausea.

FIRST 24 HOURS: Cold, liquid diet only.

SECOND DAY AFTER SURGERY: May start warm, soft food and continue it for 3 weeks.

Here are some foods we recommend:

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Oatmeal or cream of wheat
• Ice cream
• Soft boiled or scrambled eggs
• Milkshakes or protein shakes
• Soups
• Applesauce
• Boiled fish
• Puréed meat
• Pudding
• Potatoes- baked or mashed
• Jell-O

BRUSHING: Begin your normal oral hygiene routine 24 hours after surgery. Soreness and swelling may not permit vigorous brushing, but please make every effort to clean your teeth within the bounds of comfort.

MOUTH RINSES: Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is essential. Rinse only after the first 24 hours. Use ¼ teaspoon of salt dissolved in an 8 ounces’ glass of warm water and gently rinse with portions of solution, taking five minutes to use the entire glassful. Repeat as often as you like, but certainly after eating anything.

HEALING: The first two days after surgery are generally the most uncomfortable, and there is usually some swelling. On the third day, you should be more comfortable and, although still swollen, can usually begin a more substantial diet. The remainder of the post-operative course should be a gradual, steady improvement.

BRUISING: Bruising sometimes occurs after sinus lift surgery–you should not be alarmed if it occurs. The bruising is often visible a few days post-surgery and may be located either above or below the area where the surgery took place.

NAUSEA: Nausea is not uncommon after surgery. Sometimes intravenous anesthesia or pain medications are the cause. Try drinking small amounts of clear liquids at frequent intervals. Nausea can be further reduced by preceding each pain pill with a small amount of Jell-o. Minimize taking strong pain medication as it will worsen nausea/vomiting. Classic Coca-Cola/soda may help with nausea as well.

CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS WILL ASSIST HEALING AND WE ASK THAT YOU FAITHFULLY FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

• Take prescriptions as directed.
• Take a 10mg Zyrtec pill at bedtime for 10 days.
• Purchase AFRIN Nasal Spray (available over the counter). Spray 2 puffs into each nostril AM and PM for 3 days after surgery.
• Purchase Saline Nasal Spray (available over the counter). Use several times a day for 10 days to keep the nose moist.
• Eat only soft foods for several days, always trying to chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
• Do not forcefully spit for 1 week
• Do not smoke for 10 days.
• Do not use a straw for 1 week.
• Do not forcefully blow your nose for at least two weeks, even though your sinus may feel “stuffy” or there may be some nasal drainage.
• Use Q-tips to clean your nose.
• Try not to sneeze; it will cause undesired sinus pressure. If you must sneeze, keep your mouth open.
• Do not rinse vigorously for several days. Gentle saltwater rinses may be used.

Keep our office advised of any changes in your condition, especially if drainage or pain increases. It is important that you keep all future appointments until this is healed.

HELP EVER * HURT NEVER