After Your Visit
Post-Operative Instructions
If you have recently had surgery or sedation dentistry at Village Dental, there are things you should know to keep yourself safe and to improve healing. Please review the advice below and download the PDF on post-operative pain management.
Something doesn’t feel right? Call us.
If you have heavy bleeding that will not stop, swelling that keeps getting worse after the third day, a fever, or pain your medication is not touching, call the office that treated you. Our team is available to answer questions by phone — do not wait it out.
Olde Raleigh
(919) 914-9607North Raleigh
(919) 561-5721Brier Creek
(919) 944-4659Wake Forest
(919) 373-3520Surgery Post-Op Care
What to do after surgery
- Stay up-to-date with medications like antibiotics or pain medications
- Ice continually throughout 24 hours — 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off
- Allow your body to rest and avoid strenuous activities
- Rinse with warm salt water several times a day to help with inflammation
- Sleep with your head elevated to reduce swelling
- Be sure to continue eating and stay hydrated
What not to do
- Forcibly spitting
- Sucking through a straw or smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Eating spicy and sticky food
Post-Op Sedation Care
What to know after sedation
- The medication can stay in your system for up to 24 hours
- The side effects can make you groggy and affect your motor skills
- You should not drive a car or do anything that could put you or others in danger
- Do not make any important decisions, as you may not remember making them
- Have a trusted friend or family member with you after sedation
- You will feel dehydrated, so drink plenty of water
- Avoid spicy and heavy foods — eat light, frequent meals
- Go back to your regular medication protocol after 12 hours
- Avoid nursing for the first 24 hours after sedation
Post-Operative Pain Management
The full handout your care team goes over with you, including medication timing and what to expect day by day.
Looking for something else? See patient forms and consents, how sedation dentistry works, or all four offices and phone numbers.
Need to be seen again?
Book a follow-up online, or call the office that treated you and we’ll fit you in.