After Care Procedure Instructions

AVOID pulling at your lips or cheeks to look at the treatment area, and AVOID touching or disturbing the treatment area.

FREEZING

• It may take a few hours for the freezing to wear off – take care to not bite or chew your lips and
  cheeks while numb.

EATING

• You can start eating right after your procedure but DO NOT chew over the treatment area.
• AVOID hot foods while still numb. Instead, eat cold soft foods such as yogurt, pudding, ice cream or jello.
• After the numbing has worn off, stick to SOFT foods such as oatmeal, scrambled eggs, soups, fish, shredded chicken, ground beef, rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, avocados, steamed vegetables, sliced fruit (e.g. mangos, pears, bananas), yogurt, jello, pudding, etc.
• AVOID drinking through a straw for the next week – it disrupts the blood clot and causes discomfort.
• AVOID hard, crunchy or sticky foods such as raw vegetables, nuts, popcorn, chips, crackers, or candy.

BRUSHING AND FLOSSING

• Areas NOT involved in treatment can be brushed and flossed normally.
• DO NOT brush the treatment area. Instead, clean the treatment area TWICE DAILY (e.g. morning and evening) by rinsing for 1 minute with 15mL of the provided rinse. Some staining of
  your teeth may occur from using the rinse. The stain, if present, can be polished off at your next follow-up visit.
• After meals, you may gently rinse your mouth with salt water (1/2 tsp salt per 1 cup of warm water) to clear food debris from around the treatment area.

EXERCISE

• AVOID exercise that will cause you to sweat, increase your heart rate, or involve bending
  movements that will lower your head below your waist.

SWELLING AND BRUISING

• Swelling and bruising after treatment is normal, and usually develops 1-2 days after the procedure. It may take up to 2 weeks for all the swelling and bruising to go away.
• Minimize swelling and bruising by applying COLD (e.g. provided ice pack wrapped in a thin cloth) against the face on the side of treatment, as often as possible (e.g. 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off, every hour), for the first 2 days after treatment. After 2 days, you can start applying WARMTH (e.g. provided ice pack gently heated in the microwave and wrapped in a thin cloth) over the treatment area, if it is comfortable to do so. You can continue applying warmth to the treatment area until the swelling goes away.

PAIN

• Take the prescribed medications as directed to reduce discomfort and swelling.

BLEEDING

• Mild bleeding or red-tinged saliva is normal for the first 24 hours after your procedure. If you notice bleeding, place a moist gauze over the treatment area and hold it in place for 30 minutes. If bleeding still occurs, repeat application with a moist black tea teabag for another 30 minutes. If bleeding persists, please call Dr. Tom Wierzbicki at (587) 891-3344.

SMOKING

• AVOID smoking or using tobacco/vaping products for as long as you can after your procedure, as this delays healing and can increase the risk of complications.
• If you must smoke, use gentle puffs, rather than long or strong drags of the cigarette/cigar/vaporizer.

STITCHES

• You will be informed if stitches, a liquid bandage, and/or dental pack were used during your procedure, and if they are dissolving or not dissolving.
• Non-dissolving stitches, appear white or blue and will be removed at your follow-up visit(s).
• Dissolving stitches can take 2-4 weeks to dissolve.
• The liquid bandage and dental pack typically dissolve or loosen up 24-48 hours after the procedure.

EMERGENCY AND QUESTIONS

• If you experience uncontrollable pain, severe bleeding or swelling, a fever, a reaction to the prescribed medications (e.g. itchy rash), or have any questions about healing and/or these
  instructions, please call our office at 403-727-5307, or after hours Dr. Tom Wierzbicki directly at (587) 891-3344.
• In case of a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911 and/or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Room.