Your treatment today involved carefully placing a small amount of new tissue in an area where little or no gum tissue previously existed. The tissue used in this procedure might come from a variety of sources but usually is taken from the palate. Sutures would have been placed. The total recovery time after gum grafting might be around 3 months, but no more than 2 or 3 days of rest should be needed.

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Anesthetic

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• Your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment.  Avoid any chewing and hot foods or liquids until the numbness has completely worn off.  It is easy to bite or burn your tongue or lip while numb. 

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• It is recommended that you take some Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) before the anesthetic completely wears off.  This will help with any swelling or pain at the injection sites where your anesthetic was administered. 

 

Bleeding

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• Bleeding may continue for several hours after surgery. Rest quietly with your head elevated. Bleeding should always be evaluated by looking directly at the surgical site. Pink or blood-tinged saliva may be seen for 2-3 days following the surgery.

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• After the procedure, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing. 

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• Do not rinse vigorously or brush teeth next to the surgical site for 24 hours. Do not suck on straws for at least 3 days. Do not blow your nose for 3 days after the procedure. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and slow the healing process. 

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• If bleeding occurs, apply constant pressure with a gauze pad over the surgical site. If significant bleeding still continues, call the office for advice.

 

Pain & Discomfort

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• After the procedure you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. To reduce swelling, apply an ice pack to the area for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off while you are awake. After 36 hours, ice has no beneficial effect and can make swelling and pain worse. DO NOT apply the ice pack directly to your skin; rather, use a paper towel to prevent irritation to the skin.​​

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• Take pain medications as prescribed. Do not take medications that you are allergic to.  If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone.

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• If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, please call our office immediately.  

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• There may be a slight elevation in temperature for 24 to 48 hours after surgery. This is a normal body response to the surgery. If the temperature persists or is greatly elevated, please notify the office. 

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• Stiffness of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth. This will usually resolve within a few days.

 

Diet

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• Drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the procedure. Avoid foods and drinks that are hot in temperature for 48 hours. 

 

• Avoid spicy foods, raw hard vegetables, crunchy foods, foods that produce lots of crumbs, foods with small seeds and carbonated beverages until the surgery site is completely healed.

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• Whenever possible during the healing process, try to chew on the opposite side from the tooth we have just treated until the surgery site is healed.

 

Oral Hygiene

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• It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include gentle brushing with an ultra soft brush and flossing your teeth at least twice a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean. 

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• Please wait a full 24 hours after your procedure before rinsing your mouth. After 24 hours you may rinse after each meal or snack and before retiring at night. For rinsing, use one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Lightly swish the solution around in your mouth for 30 seconds by shaking your head instead of agitating the rinse. 

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• No commercial mouthwash is to be used during this time (as it is very irritating) but an antibacterial rinse may be prescribed by your dentist if necessary. 

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• Some surgeries require stitches that dissolve on their own within a week.  If you do have stitches, avoid vigorous rinsing and flossing in that area until the stitches have dissolved.  Some stitches may feel long and hard, but will start to soften and dissolve within 24 hours.

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• Do not rinse vigorously or brush teeth at the surgery site for 7 days. After 24 hours, begin cleaning the teeth of the surgery area with a Q-tip moistened with the salt water rinse or mouth rinse prescribed and avoid all contact with the gums. After 7 days, use a manual toothbrush with ultra soft bristles. Brush in a gentle up or down motion, do not use circular motions.

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• Do not use an electric toothbrush or a waterpik for 6 weeks following surgery. 

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Activities

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• Sleep with your head in an elevated position for the first few nights if you do not have any physical limitations.

 

• No strenuous exercise for the next 3-5 days as this will increase blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the surgery site.  After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. 

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• Smoking and chewing tobacco can slow the healing process and increase the chances of gum disease. Avoid smoking and chewing tobacco until site is completely healed.

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• Alcohol is a blood thinner, which will prevent the blood from clotting and will slow the healing process. Avoid alcohol until site is completely healed. Do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking the prescribed medication.

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Follow Up Treatment

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The success of your treatment depends on keeping all of your scheduled appointments and maintaining your home care as explained by your dentist.  Failure to follow these instructions will result in serious complications that will require further treatment and incur additional fees.

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Following most dental procedures there may or may not be pain, depending on your threshold of pain.  You will be provided with a prescription for appropriate medication for discomfort.  In most cases, a non-narcotic pain regimen will be given consisting of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil).  If a narcotic has been prescribed, follow the directions carefully.  If you have any questions about these medications interacting with other medications you are presently taking, please call our office, your physician and/or your pharmacist.

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IF FOR ANY REASON YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CONDITION, NOTIFY DR MORRIS OR A MEMBER OF OUR OFFICE STAFF IMMEDIATELY BY CALLING THE NUMBERS BELOW IN THE ORDER LISTED.

 

Office (780) 962-3414

The cell number provided by your primary dentist at our office

WestView Health Centre (780) 968-3600 or your nearest hospital