Your child has just had his braces removed and is wearing retainers. The retainers won't do any good if the wisdom teeth erupt and move his teeth out of their new placement. Thus, the orthodontist will order that your child's wisdom teeth be removed sooner, rather than later. He may have all four taken out at once; he may have two taken out on one visit and the remaining two on a subsequent visit. Oral surgery leaves dental patients in pain and very uncomfortable. The risk of infection is high, so antibiotics are prescribed. The post-surgical pain can be considerable, so your child has to take a prescription pain killer.
Instructions
1. Withhold food and water for at least 6 hours prior to surgery if you and your child opt for general anesthesia--going to sleep. Some oral surgeons recommend that patients undergo general anesthesia because the procedure is so uncomfortable.
2. Go home right away after oral surgery, so you can get him to bed. Have a good supply of sterile gauze to pack on each extraction site for the bleeding. Have someone available to monitor your child while you go get his prescriptions. He'll need to eat within one hour after surgery so he can take a pain killer. Have foods such as yogurt, pudding, gelatin and canned soup available. Progress to scrambled eggs the day after surgery. Keep cool water, milk and other non-carbonated beverages handy.
3. Administer prescribed medications as ordered. The antibiotic is necessary because of the risk of infection. Make sure she takes the medication until it is gone. Pain killers will be absolutely necessary. Ensure she has food in her stomach and give her a pill. She will fall asleep after taking a pill because she will have been prescribed Hydrocodone or Naproxen, both of which have sedative effects. Once the level of pain goes down, break the pain pills in half so she can "take the edge" off her pain without falling asleep.
4. Administer prescribed anti-inflammatory medication, as ordered. This is usually a corticosteroid, meant to reduce inflammation and swelling. As with the pain killer, have the patient take it after he has eaten something. His face will swell noticeably and he will take on the appearance of a greedy chipmunk. His jaw will be stiff and he won't be able to open or close his mouth fully.
5. Place ice packs on the patient's cheeks within 1 hour of surgery. Apply the ice packs at 20 minute intervals all day long. Begin to use hot packs on the third day after surgery. A hot, wet towel will soothe jaw stiffness. You may notice bruising, which is internal bleeding, on the chin or cheeks. The bruising will fade, but it make take 7 to 10 days to fade. Swelling will begin to go down approximately 5 days after surgery. It will be the most obvious on the second and third days following surgery.
6. Give plenty of fluids to drink. She should be taking in plenty of liquids so she can keep her body temperature normal and prevent constipation. Provide milk, sweetened beverages, non citrus juices and water. As far as solid foods go, keep a supply of soft foods which don't require chewing, such as applesauce, yogurt, pudding and ice cream available. As she recovers, give her the opportunity to eat additional foods, such as soups with vegetables and noodles, like minestrone. Pasta is a good choice once her appetite returns. Ensure that the patient continues to eat; taking in nourishment aids in the healing process. Follow her cues, but not to the point where she wants to order a pizza 3 days post-surgery.
Tags: after surgery, pain killer, Administer prescribed, foods such, risk infection, wisdom teeth