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Gingival Gum Graft
"Home Care Instructions"

Today you have completed a gingival graft (plastic surgical) procedure for the correction of damage and/or a deficiency of the protective gum tissue around your jawbone and teeth.  In order to minimize possible discomfort, bleeding and swelling, please follow these instructions.

Medication for Pain: Please take your medication for pain as prescribed.  The local anesthetic can wear away rapidly, so if you have not taken your medication for pain before treatment, take some immediately upon returning home.
 
Stent: If you receive a stent (a retainer-like appliance covering the roof of your mouth), please use as directed by our nurses.  In most instances you will be requested to leave this stent in place for the first 24 hours after which it can be removed and the ointment provided can be recoated over the stent.  Please note that a modest amount of the ointment is all that is necessary to assist in minimizing the soreness in the roof of your mouth.  The ointment should be discontinued after three day.  The appliance should be cleansed daily using warm water and a toothbrush to remove all food debris.
 
Bleeding: In order to avoid prolonged bleeding do not spit, rinse, or use a straw for 24 hours after surgery.  It is also important to get as much rest as possible and avoid strenuous physical activity for that same 24 hour period.  If you have a plastic stent and bleeding persists in the palate, then remove the stent and apply damp sponges or cotton pads to the bleeding site with some pressure.  Application for periods of 10 to 15 minutes usually proves adequate to control such bleeding.   However, periodic recurrence may require repeating this procedure.  Should this prove inadequate, the following steps should be taken: Instead of using the sponges or cotton pad, wet an ordinary tea bag with water and squeeze tea from the bag onto a gauze pad or cotton ball.  Then, apply the gauze or cotton ball to the bleeding site with firm pressure.  Tannic acid, present in the tea, can serve to readily accelerate the formation of a blood clot.  Should this fail, please contact the office for further instructions.

Rest: For the 24 hour after surgery, limit your physical activity in order to speed healing and avoid prolonged bleeding.  Make an effort to keep your head elevated above your chest and avoid lying flat.  This will also be helpful while sleeping the first night following the treatment as a means of minimizing any swelling.

Brushing, Flossing: After treatment, do not brush or floss the area of the graft or the area the graft was taken from until advised to do so by our staff.   You may brush and floss your other teeth.  Starting the day after surgery, use a Q-tip and the antibacterial rinse we gave you to gently swab the teeth in the area of the graft, and the area the graft was taken from.

Swelling: This treatment does not routinely require the use of icepacks over the surgical site.  Should you become aware of any swelling, the application of an icepack over the outside of your lip for 20 minutes followed by removal for 10 minutes, over a 3 to 4 hour period will assist in controlling the swelling.

Diet: It is requested that you modify your diet to eliminate such things as chips, crackers, cookies, sandwiches or any crisp or crusty item that may move or displace the graft.  You may chew or eat other foods in any noninvolved area of your mouth. It is not necessary that you go hungry, just use reasonable caution to minimize problems.
 
Reminder: We ask that you do not consume alcoholic beverages for at least 48 hours after treatment.  You should also know that smoking can greatly reduce the rate and quality of healing.