Grafting of Gum Tissue Consent Form

Gum Graft Aftercare

Discomfort

• Discomfort is normal and to be expected. The level and duration varies between patients.
• Take the prescribed or recommended pain medications as directed.

Rest

• Rest quietly with your head elevated for the remainder of the day.
• Always get up slowly from a reclining position to prevent dizziness.
• Limit physical activity
• To encourage rapid healing, please rest!

Ice

• Rest quietly with your head elevated for the remainder of the day.
• Always get up slowly from a reclining position to prevent dizziness.
• Limit physical activity
• To encourage rapid healing, please rest!

Medication

• Ideally, pain medication should be taken BEFORE numbness wears off.
• If an antibiotic was prescribed take it as directed until it is ALL GONE.
• Some pain medications may cause light-headedness. Lying down will help this.
• Some medications may cause an upset stomach. Taking these with food will lessen the side-effect.

Bleeding

• Slight bleeding from the surgery area is normal, however, extensive bleeding should not occur. If such bleeding should occur, apply firm pressure with moist gauze or a moistened tea bag to the area for 20 minutes. If bleeding does not subside, please call!

Mouth Care

• Do not brush, floss, rinse or spit the day of your surgery.
• Avoid rinsing, spitting, or sucking through a straw for 24 hours after surgery. Blood clotting will occur and this will disturb the healing process.
• You may begin to brush the NON-SURGICAL area the day following surgery.
• Start to gently brush (with ultra-soft brush) the surgical area after your post-operative appointment.
• Chlorhexidine mouth wash can be used daily but be aware staining may occur.
• Do not touch the surgical sites for the first week; you could dislodge the healing tissue and compromise the success of the graft.
• Do not pull your lip away to view the graft site.

Eating

• Eat softer foods such as pasta, eggs, yogurt, baked potato or hot cereal.
• Chew in the non-surgical areas as much as possible.
• Avoid extremes: very hot, very cold, acidic food, also hard or crunchy foods.
• Avoid the use of alcohol for 2 days after the surgery or until you are no longer taking medication.

Fluids

• Fluids should be consumed as soon as possible. It is recommended that you drink 6 ? 8 glasses of water over the remainder of the day following surgery.
• Avoid using a straw as it may cause suction, which may loosen the blood clot and cause bleeding and loss of graft.

Swelling and Bruising

• Some swelling often occurs and this is normal in the healing process.
• Bruising may occur in surgical areas.
• If swelling seems excessive and is accompanies by fever or pain, please call immediately.

Smoking

• We strongly advise NOT SMOKING after surgery. Smoking delays the healing process, increases discomfort, and may encourage bleeding and infection in the surgical site.

Dressing

• A periodontal dressing or sutures may have been placed to protect the healing wound. It should remain in place as long as possible.
• If part of all of the dressing or sutures comes off, do not be alarmed. This is normal (expected) and will not affect the results.