Gingivectomy Post Operative Instructions

During the next 24 hours

Do: Start taking pain medications before your anesthetic wears off. If we gave you a prescription, this will be sent to the pharmacy before you leave our office. Be aware that you will have a lot of soreness and light bleeding.

Do: Eat softer foods and be gentle with the area. It is normal for the area to be tender. Try to keep food debris away from the area

Don’t: Brush the area for the rest of the day.

Don’t: Smoke or use tobacco products. The products negatively affect healing and greatly increase the chance of painful infections.

After 24 hours and for the following week

Do: Take pain medications as needed and expect to have soreness and light bleeding over the next week. 

Do: Use the rinse we gave you to help healing and and limit swelling.

Do: Expect to have bruised/darkened gums over the next week as the area heals. 

Do: Lightly brush the area. 

We will usually see you back for a follow up in the next 1-2 weeks to check healing. Expect the area to take 3-4 weeks to completely heal.