Department of Restorative Dentistry Before & After Surgery

Advice Before Surgery

• Try and be well rested before the procedure
• Dress in comfortable clothing and wear minimal make up
• If surgery is to be done under local anaesthetic, have a good breakfast or lunch before your appointment. You will be given separate instructions if sedation or general anaesthesia is planned
• Expect the appointment to last up to approximately 2 hours
• If possible, arrange for someone either to come to the appointment with you or pick you up at the end
• Plan to take the rest of the day off work and be aware that more time off may be required depending on the complexity of the surgery and the demands of your job

Post-Operative Instructions after Surgery

Oral Hygiene & Diet advice:

• Gently rinse your mouth twice a day with Chlorhexidine mouthwash starting from the day after your surgery. You will be given this before you leave the hospital and it is widely available in most chemists
• Use your toothbrush to clean the untreated areas of the mouth, avoid brushing around the surgical area until the stitches are removed
• Leave a period of at least 30 minutes between brushing your teeth and rinsing with Chlorhexidine mouth wash
• Avoid any hard foods until the stitches are removed

Follow-up

• A review appointment will be booked for you between 7-14 days to remove the stitches that are present
• If a dressing has been applied and becomes dislodged before your next appointment, contact the Restorative Department for further advice
• If an implant has been placed and the healing cap becomes loose before your next appointment, contact the Restorative Department for further advice

To contact us in an emergency