Post-Operative Instructions: Medication

After Your Surgery

Post-Operative Instructions

If you were prescribed Peridex^™ rinse, gently swish and spit 15 cc (size of the filled bottle cap) 3 times per day. Begin using the rinse before bed the night of surgery. The rinse should be used until the bottle is completed or until otherwise advised by the surgeon. If you don't have access to the antibiotic mouth rinse, salt water can be used as an alternative.

If you were prescribed amoxicillin (500 mg), take 1 pill 3 times a day until the bottle is completed. On the day of surgery, the first dose of the antibiotic will often have been given by the surgeon during surgery, so the patient will only be responsible for the remaining 2 doses the day of surgery.

If you were prescribed clindamycin (300 mg), take 1 pill 4 times a day until the bottle is completed. On the day of surgery, the first dose of the antibiotic will often have been given by the surgeon during surgery, so the patient will only be responsible for the remaining 3 doses the day of surgery.

If you were prescribed ibuprofen (600 mg), take 1 pill every 6 hours for the first 3 days. It can be tapered or taken as needed thereafter. NOTE: These pills should be taken consistently for the first 3–4 days and any additional pain medication should be taken in addition to, not in place of, the ibuprofen.

If you were prescribed Norco^® (5/325 mg) or Percocet^® (5/325 mg), take 1/2 to 1 whole pill every 4–6 hours as needed for pain.

Note: Your doctor will provide you with the date of your first dose during your appointment.

Sutures/Stitches

The surgeon often uses stitches during surgery. There are 2 different types of stitches: some that dissolve on their own, and others that require removal. Your surgeon will tell you if your stitches will dissolve away on their own in the first 5–7 days or if they will be removed at the follow-up visit scheduled in 2 weeks.