Medications

• Tablets to be pounded and fed via syringe
• To complete the entire course of the antibiotics
• Please consume painkillers for at least the first 2 to 3 days and as needed after
• If nasal drops are prescribed, instill 2 drops to each nostril with head tilted backwards and allow the liquid to flow through the nose. A bitter taste is expected

Non-Chew Diet

• Supplements: Complan, Ensure, Enercal, Resource, Sustacal
• Beverages: Milk, soya, chocolate, Milo, coffee, tea
• Soups: Cream soups, broths
• Others: Fruit juices, blended food/smoothies, ice cream
• Drink plenty of water, about 2 litres per day is ideal

Oral Hygiene Care

• Proper oral hygiene care using kids’ toothbrush and chlorhexidine mouthwash
• Gently brush the outer surfaces of the teeth, plastic wafer and rubber bands with small amount of toothpaste
• Rinse well with water after
• Gargle with chlorhexidine 0.2% mouthwash by tilting your head from side to side

Airway Obstruction

Keep a sharp pair of scissors close to you in case of airway obstruction (breathing difficulties) due to phlegm, vomit or severe bleeding.

• Cutting the rubber bands using scissors will allow opening of the mouth
• Once this has been done, contact the clinic as soon as possible to manage the situation

Showering

Dressings on the face can be gently removed 3 days after surgery. In the meantime:

• Clean your face with a wet towel
• Prevent excessive water from contacting the dressing when washing your hair

Exercise

• Avoid strenuous exercises and swimming for the first 2 weeks
• Avoid participation in contact sports and activities that may result in trauma to the jaws (e.g. basketball, soccer, ruby, martial arts, rock climbing) for 6 months to prevent accidental fractures of the healing bone

Do not blow your nose

• If you blow your nose repeatedly, air may be forced into the soft tissue, causing additional swelling and potentially infection
• Avoid sneezing with your nostrils pinched
• Sneeze with your mouth open instead

If there is bleeding from the nose

• Do not panic
• Tilt your head forwards
• Pinch just above your nostrils to allow the blood to clot and bleeding to stop

If the bleeding is more profuse:

• Proceed to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Dental Clinic at C61 during office hours
• Or go to the Acute and Emergency Centre after office hours

Lack of bowel movement or presence of loose stools

• Due to the lack of solid food, it is expected to have little stools
• The stools tend to be soft or watery but it should not be associated with pain or greenish colouration
• There should still be gastrointestinal movement and gas emission

Emergency

• During office hours: proceed to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Dental Clinic at C61
• After office hours or during the weekend: proceed to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Acute and Emergency Centre