Instruction for Home Care following your Bone Graft

Medications

If you have been given an antibiotic to prevent infection, please begin taking this as directed, until all the medication is finished. The pain medication that you have been given should be taken as directed and with a full stomach; otherwise you may experience nausea and vomiting. If your doctor has given you Peridex (Chlorhexidine), begin rinsing two days following your surgery twice daily and do not eat or drink anything one hour after rinsing.

Swelling

It is normal to experience mild to moderate swelling, peaking at 48 hours. You can help to decrease swelling by applying an ice bag to the affected area 20 minutes on, 10 minutes off, for the remainder of the day of surgery, and for as much of the next day as possible. Sleeping with the head elevated also helps reduce swelling.

Diet

A cool liquid diet is recommended. To help the healing process, for the following week after your surgery be sure to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids and be sure to eat foods high in vitamins and protein. Limit your diet to soft foods such as yogurt, soups, puddings, pasta and soft cooked eggs. Chew all foods on the opposite side of your mouth from where the bone graft was placed. If you wear a denture or a partial that will cover the site, leave it out during eating to prevent pressure on the bone graft; your doctor will give you special instructions for your needs.

Care of Your Bone Graft Site

There may be some bleeding or oozing at the sight which is normal for 24 hours following the surgery. If you leave the office with a gauze pack, keep firm steady pressure on the gauze for approximately one hour following the surgery, then remove. Following the day of your surgery, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with a warm salt water solution (dissolve one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water) three to four times a day for the week following your surgery. Studies have shown a decrease in both short and long–term success rates of bone grafts in patients who smoke. If you have thought about quitting smoking, now is a good time to do so. Ask the doctors how they can help.