Post-surgical Instructions-Pain and Discomfort

The effects of the local anesthetics may be felt for many hours on the day of surgery. Post-surgical pain is usually worse when the local anesthetic first wears off. Pain is usually well controlled with either prescription or over the counter pain medications. It is important to note that it is easier to control pain before it starts, so patients must not to wait until the local anesthetic wears off or the pain starts to start taking their pain medication. Dr. Maranon advises each of his patients on how to best use these medications. Ice packs can also be very helpful for relieving pain during the first 36 hours.

Your jaw may be very stiff and difficult to open for a few days after your surgery. Other teeth on the same side of the surgery may ache temporarily. You may have a sore throat or earache for a few days. Patients with these conditions should take Motrin, Advil or Ibuprofen 200 mg, 2 pills every 4-6 hours or Aleve (Naproxen Sodium) 225mg, 2 pills every 8-12 hours. Patients with asthma, on blood thinners, stomach ulcers and allergies to these medications or aspirin should discuss these concerns with Dr. Maranon. Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day. On the second or third day you may be very sore, but your pain should less. Patients can be expected to be pretty sore for a number of days (generally 4-5 days after surgery) and the jaw may be stiff and difficult to open. After the third day, pain or symptoms of jaw stiffness should not worsen or not respond to pain medication. This may be a sign of a problem with a patient’s recovery.

It is important that Dr. Maranon be contacted if adequate pain control cannot be achieved or if pain worsens so that arrangements made for those patients to be evaluated.