Surgical Instructions

The following information provides general guidance for patients undergoing periodontal, implant, laser, or other surgical treatment in our office.

Your procedure-specific instructions may differ from the general information below. Always follow the written and verbal instructions provided by Dr. Ulicny, Dr. Lyons, and our clinical team.

If you have questions before or after treatment, please call our office at 215-538-9505.

Before Your Procedure

Medications and Medical History

Please tell us about all prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins or supplements, allergies, and medical conditions.

Do not stop aspirin, anticoagulants (“blood thinners”), antiplatelet medications, or any other prescription medication unless specifically instructed to do so by our office in coordination with your prescribing physician.

For most dental procedures, anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy does not need to be stopped routinely. Any modification should be individualized and coordinated with the appropriate medical provider.

Please contact us before your procedure if:

Your health or medications have changed.
You have recently been hospitalized or undergone another procedure.
You develop a fever, respiratory infection, or other significant illness.
You are uncertain whether to take one of your usual medications.
You have recently started or changed a medication that may affect sedation or gastric emptying, including a GLP-1 medication.

Eating and Drinking Before Treatment

Instructions regarding food and drink depend on your procedure and whether sedation will be used.

Follow the specific eating or fasting instructions given to you by our office.

Patients receiving moderate or deeper sedation may require fasting. Current ADA sedation guidance incorporates fasting intervals based on the type of food or liquid consumed and notes that medications such as GLP-1 agonists may delay gastric emptying.

Sedation or Anti-Anxiety Medication

If you have been prescribed a sedating or anti-anxiety medication, take it only as directed.

Depending on the type of sedation, you may need to:

Follow specific fasting instructions.
Have a responsible adult drive you to and from the office.
Have an adult remain available after treatment.
Avoid driving, alcohol, operating machinery, or making important decisions for the period specified by our team.

Always follow the specific sedation instructions provided to you.

After Your Procedure

Medications and Pain Control

Some discomfort after periodontal or implant treatment is expected.

Take all medications exactly as directed. Current ADA guidance recommends non-opioid medications—typically an NSAID alone or together with acetaminophen—as first-line treatment for most acute postoperative dental pain when they are medically appropriate.

Your recommended medication regimen will depend on your procedure, age, medical history, medications, allergies, and other factors.

Do not take medication more often or in greater amounts than directed.
Be aware that some prescription pain medications may already contain acetaminophen.
Do not add aspirin for postoperative discomfort unless specifically instructed.
If you already take aspirin or another blood thinner for a medical reason, do not stop it without medical direction.

If your prescribed pain-control regimen is not adequately controlling your discomfort, please call us rather than increasing the dose or frequency yourself.

Antibiotics

Not every procedure requires an antibiotic.

If an antibiotic has been prescribed, take it exactly as directed and contact us before changing or discontinuing it.

Call us if you develop a rash, significant gastrointestinal symptoms, or another suspected medication reaction.

For difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or another severe allergic reaction, call 911.

Ice and Swelling

Mild to moderate swelling is common after many surgical procedures. Swelling often increases during the first 48–72 hours before gradually improving.

Use an ice pack or cold compress as directed for your particular procedure. Generally, cold therapy is most useful during the early postoperative period.

Some bruising may also occur.

Rinsing

Do not vigorously rinse or spit on the day of surgery unless specifically instructed otherwise.

Beginning the following day, use only the rinse recommended by our office. Depending on your procedure, this may include warm salt water, a prescribed rinse, or another oral-care product.

Patients who have undergone laser periodontal therapy or soft-tissue grafting should follow their specific postoperative instructions.

Bleeding

A small amount of oozing or blood-tinged saliva can be normal after surgery.

For many surgical sites, bleeding can be controlled with clean, moistened gauze and firm continuous pressure.

If you have undergone soft-tissue grafting, do not place pressure directly on the graft recipient site unless instructed by our clinical team. Instructions for a palatal donor site may also differ.

If you have persistent or heavy bleeding that does not improve with the instructions you were given, please call the office.

Eating and Drinking

Good nutrition and hydration help support healing.

Unless your procedure-specific instructions say otherwise:

Wait until numbness has significantly improved before chewing.
Begin with soft, nutritious foods.
Avoid chewing directly on the treated area.
Avoid excessively hot or spicy foods during the early healing period.
Drink adequate fluids.
Follow your specific instructions regarding straws.

Patients who have undergone soft-tissue grafting, LANAP/laser therapy, bone or implant surgery, or full-arch implant treatment may have additional dietary restrictions.

Activity

Rest on the day of surgery.

Avoid strenuous physical activity for the period recommended for your procedure. More extensive procedures may require several days of activity restriction.

Keep your head elevated when resting during the early postoperative period if instructed.

Oral Hygiene

A clean mouth is important for healing, but the surgical site must also be protected.

Continue normal oral hygiene in untreated areas.
Do not brush, floss, use a water irrigator, or otherwise disturb the surgical site until instructed.
Follow your procedure-specific instructions about when and how to resume cleaning the treated area.

Sutures and Surgical Dressings

Your procedure may involve dissolvable or non-dissolvable sutures.

Do not pull, manipulate, or repeatedly check sutures with your tongue or fingers.

If you have a periodontal dressing or protective appliance, follow the instructions provided regarding when to wear, remove, or clean it.

If a dressing or suture becomes loose or comes out and you are concerned, please call us.

Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco

Smoking, vaping and tobacco use can interfere with periodontal wound healing and may make treatment results less predictable.

Avoid smoking, vaping and tobacco throughout the healing period and until your doctor tells you it is safe to resume.

If stopping is difficult, please let us know so we can help you plan for the postoperative period.

Follow-Up Care

Postoperative visits are an important part of your treatment.

We will evaluate healing, remove sutures or dressings when appropriate, and let you know when normal brushing, flossing, diet and activity can be resumed.

Please keep your scheduled postoperative visits even if you feel that everything is healing normally.

When Should I Call?

Please call our office at 215-538-9505 if you experience:

Bleeding that does not improve after following your postoperative instructions.
Severe pain or pain that is not controlled by the recommended medication regimen.
Pain or swelling that begins worsening after initially improving.
Excessive or rapidly increasing swelling.
Fever, pus, or other signs of possible infection.
Persistent nausea or vomiting that prevents you from drinking or taking necessary medication.
A suspected medication reaction.
A problem with your graft, donor site, sutures, dressing, implant site, or provisional restoration.
Any postoperative symptom that concerns you.

For severe difficulty breathing or swallowing, a serious allergic reaction, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or another medical emergency, call 911.