As much as possible, limit how you talk, eat and drink for the first day after your oral surgery. Instead of eating 3 times a day, break down your mealtime into 6, making sure to eat small portions each time.
Your jaws will be wired together approximately six to eight weeks. This is the time it takes for the bones to heal in a good, strong union. During the time your jaws are wired together, you will find eating, talking and other daily activities somewhat difficult.
You must avoid hot, prolonged showers which may cause bleeding in the upper jaw if surgery is performed there. Avoid exercises, any heavy lifting or activity that raises your blood pressure or pulse for at least one month after the surgery.
You will likely have elastics on between your upper and lower teeth. Talking may be frustrating for you, especially with elastics on, but you will not hurt anything by talking.
We recommend that you do not try and chew hard or tough food, for example hard toast, crusty bread, tough meats, raw vegetables, hard fruit, toffees or chewy sweets, for 6-8 weeks after your operation. This is to make sure the jaw bones heal together well.
Swelling and Bruising.
Tissue injury, whether accidental or intentional (e.g. surgery), is followed by localized swelling. After surgery, swelling increases progressively, reaching its peak by the third day. It is generally worse when you first arise in the morning and decreases throughout the day.
For the first 3-4 days following surgery please limit your activity. It is important that you not confine yourself to bed.
Limit talking, eating and drinking for the first few hours after surgery. You should also avoid spitting, so you don't disturb your wound.
Depending on your type of injury or surgery the jaws can be wired shut for a period of 2-6 weeks.
Don't try to fight them and open or move your jaw. If you need to cough, sneeze, or yawn, use your hand to support below your chin to avoid the tendency to try to open your mouth!
The most common complaint after corrective jaw surgery is facial swelling. Patients can expect that their swelling will increase over the first 2-3 days after surgery. Once the swelling reaches a peak, it will take approximately 1-1.5 weeks for half of your swelling to resolve.
Following your surgery and throughout the post-operative recovery period, especially if your jaw is wired shut, you could lose as much as 10 percent of your body weight.
Pressure on the walls of the larynx, or voice box, caused by the endotracheal tube cause the recurrent laryngeal nerve to not work. This causes vocal fold paralysis, in which one of the vocal folds does not move causing a weak and breathy voice.
Numbness of the upper lip, nose and lower eyelids is expected after upper jaw surgery. Sensation is expected to return 2-6 months after surgery.
If an upper jaw surgery is performed, you will need to be on sinus precautions. This entails not blowing your nose for 2 weeks. Try not to sneeze for 2 weeks. If you do sneeze, do it with your mouth open to equalize the pressure between your mouth and the sinus.
Swelling: You can expect swelling to be the worst in the first week after oral surgery. It's usually most noticeable from three to five days after surgery, then it gradually lessens. Bruising: Bruising often accompanies swelling, and it dissipates as the swelling subsides.
Increased stress hormones: Surgery is emotionally and physically stressful. This can lead to an increase in stress hormones in the body, which in turn makes sleep more challenging.
For the first 24 hours following surgery avoid spitting, rinsing, kissing, drinking carbonated beverages or sucking/drinking from a straw.
Take It Easy and Rest
Driving, bending, or lifting may dislodge the blood clots causing bleeding. Thus we recommend that you gradually progress the intensity of your movement. As much as possible, limit how you talk, eat and drink for the first day after your oral surgery.
It's usually recommended that you take a day or two off work after having a wisdom tooth removed. You won't need a sick note from your doctor or dentist for this.
You may return to work or school as soon as you feel able after your surgery. You will feel somewhat tired after your jaw surgery initially, but with good nutrition, your energy level will soon return to normal.
It is not unusual for you to experience aching and discomfort in the muscles and jaw joints for 4 to 6 weeks following surgery. Dr. Stefanuto or Dr. Fisher should be informed if the discomfort appears to increase, not decrease, over time.
Jaw surgery is a major surgery that can disrupt your life for several weeks and months.