Swelling: It will be extensive and will continue to get worse for the first 3 to 4 days after surgery. Although it may be different for each individual patient, typically by day 5 the swelling will start to dissipate, and should not be getting worse. If you experience an increase in swelling after day 5 please contact us.
Bruising: It will be extensive. Depending on the area of surgery, you may experience a black eye. The bruise could travel from the eyebrow all the way to collar bone/chest. The bruising will change in colour during the healing. Although it may be different for each individual patient, typically it will take 2-3 weeks for the bruising to resolve.
Stiffness and muscles: You will most likely experience limited mouth opening and sore muscles of the face and jaw. You may experience an increase in clenching and grinding habits. If you already have a night guard appliance, please start to wear it as soon as it is possible to do so.
Pain: Although the prescribed medication should help alleviate your discomfort you may require additional over the counter medication to alternate with your prescribed medication.
Bleeding: There will be a considerable amount of oozing for the first couple days, this is to be expected. As a result there will be blood clots on the teeth which may even cover the entire tooth/teeth. Do not remove, let them dislodge on their own. A nice rinse should help this, if not they are okay to remain until ready to come off themselves.
Infection: All surgery comes with the risk of infection. Taking your medications on time, caring for the surgical site with appropriate intra-oral rinse provided and all other post operative instructions are absolutely imperative to reduce this risk.
Sutures: Depending on the site, there may be a combination of self dissolving and non-dissolving sutures used. Although it may be different for each individual patient, typically self-dissolving sutures will disintegrate between 5-8 days after surgery. But each individual is different. shortly after. The non-dissolving sutures will be removed at your follow up appointment.These sutures also will be wrapped around the teeth to secure the graft in position during the healing, you feel them poke on the tongue or palate side of your teeth.
Coe-pak: The “bandaid” on the roof of the mouth. It is there to initially stop bleeding and then after that works as a bandaid to protect the harvest site. It may break apart and/or fall off as soon as the first day or remain until your follow up appointment where it will then be removed. It is secured by being pressed against the teeth and hardens to retain stability. You may sweep the outside of the teeth to keep them clean (as long as soft tissue was transplanted on the lower tooth/teeth, as you cannot brush the surgery site) until the coe-pak falls out, and then you may brush and floss as normal.
Tissue glue: In some cases, a tissue glue may be placed on the harvest and surgery site. It is medical-grade glue. This will feel rough. Do not worry if pieces break off. It will fall off eventually.
Avoid looking: Do not pull your lip away to look at the surgery site, both your tissue and the stitches are fragile and could tear causing postoperative complications and undesired healing. The surgery site will look unpleasant during the initial phase of healing which will only cause yourself unnecessary worry.