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Please download and fill out all of these forms before your first visit.

• Dr. Mueller will discuss and review your medical / dental history
• A thorough periodontal examination / evaluation will be performed
• Any x-rays deemed necessary and not provided by your general dentist, will be taken.
• If necessary, you will be scheduled for a treatment conference, once a detailed study of your case has been completed. The treatment conference will provide you with recommendations, options, time involved and fees.

At Mueller Implants and Periodontics your comfort and proper healing are of premier importance. While we perform each procedure to the utmost perfection, much of the success we see depends on your diligent care during the healing period. Each procedure may come with a unique set of instructions to properly care for the areas. Should you have individual or specific questions please do not hesitate to contact our doctors or our competent support staff.

Things You Should Know Before Your Periodontal Surgery


• WORK - If you work, inform your employer of the date you are scheduled for surgery and that you will likely not return to work that day, or make arrangements to be absent that entire day from work. Anticipate going directly home and resting for the remainder of the day. A return to work is generally anticipated the day after the procedure and in a "light" capacity for one to two additional days.
• PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS - Take all necessary prescription medications as directed by your physician or by Mueller Implants and Periodontics (e.g., blood pressure medication, oral sedatives, antibiotics, steroid medications, pain medication, etc).
• BLEEDING RISKS and ASPIRIN/ANTICOAGULATION THERAPY - Do not take aspirin for one week prior to your surgery. If you are under medical instructions for aspirin therapy or other anticoagulation therapy (e.g., Coumadin or Warfarin), a medical consultation and testing (e.g., INR) will be required prior to anticipated procedures to ensure your blood levels are safe for treatment in our office. Over the counter supplements (e.g., Vitamin-E, Fish-Oil, Garlic, etc), may also cause increased bleeding risks and should be discontinued approximately one week prior to anticipated procedures.
• PERSONAL HYGIENE - To limit the risks of unnecessary bacterial transfer to the oral cavity, MEN should ideally be cleanly shaven and WOMEN should not wear makeup products. Additionally, our office staff may take further measures by wiping your face with an antiseptic product prior to procedures.
• DIET - Eat a light breakfast such as milk and cereal with fruit or an egg with toast; do not over eat. Please do not drink more than one cup of coffee, tea, fruit drink, or large amounts of water. Additional instructions will apply for patients anticipating IV conscious sedation.
• SMOKING - Smoking should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to and 6 weeks after anticipated procedures.
• OTHER - You may consider bringing an IPod or music player with headphones with your own music selection. Our office has players available should you prefer our music selection.
• CONSCIOUS SEDATION – Should additional sedation or anti-anxiety measures (e.g., oral sedation or intra-venous conscious sedation) be utilized to help relieve anxiety and/or apprehension, it is important to adhere to additional instructions for those medications. For conscious sedation procedures, it is important to give a detailed medical and drug history, as well as to arrange for an appropriate adult escort to drive you to and from treatment visits. When utilizing oral conscious sedation (e.g., Lorazepam/Ativan, Triazolam/Halcion) a prescription will be provided for you prior to the appointment date, with the intent of taking the medication the night prior to the appointment as well as prior to the treatment. Depending upon the patient, the intent is typically to take one tablet the night before the appointment, as well as one-two tablets one hour prior to the appointment. If you have any questions regarding medication usage, please do not hesitate to ask prior to taking the medication. As a patient electing oral sedation, you should understand that sedatives may cause drowsiness, time constriction, motor incoordination, and fatigue. It is important to know that patients will likely be under the influence of sedation effects for approximately 8-10 hours, and must agree to stay home under the supervision of an adult. Additionally, it is expected that patients will not attempt to drive, supervise or care for children, or perform activities requiring significant coordination or personal judgment. Patients must understand that they can NOT have any alcohol, tranquilizers, or other sedatives the day of treatment.

Post-Operative Instructions - The following are general guidelines aimed to maximize success of procedures. Should you have ANY questions during your healing and recovery please do not hesitate to contact our office. No question is too small to warrant further explanation.

• GENERAL DISCOMFORT and MEDICATIONS - Periodontal surgery, much like other surgical procedures, may be associated with varying degrees of discomfort. This is highly dependent upon the procedure performed as well as individual patient pain tolerance. If pain medications have been prescribed, it is ideal to take the first dose while the areas are still anesthetized ("numb"). All medications must be taken strictly as prescribed - some medications are intended to begin the day prior to or the day of anticipated procedures. The time interval between taking the medications and the total length of time are to remain on your medication has been carefully determined to give you the maximum benefit with the minimum use of drugs. Variation from the prescribed regimen may have a serious detrimental effect on the success of your surgery.
• BLEEDING - You may notice slight bleeding from surgical sites. This type of minor bleeding or "oozing" for one to two days is generally normal and is not typically of major concern. If you observe the formation of a large blood clot or an obvious flow of blood which is more than a slight "ooze," notify our office or your medical doctor immediately.
• SUTURES - Sutures ("stitches") are placed to hold the gums in the proper position for ideal healing. Sutures may be dissolvable but are most likely non-dissolvable and will need to be removed in approximately 1-2 weeks depending upon the type of suture. DO NOT disturb areas around sutures with your tongue, toothbrush, or any other form of disruption, as this will likely impair healing and may result in failure of the procedure. Sutures may come loose or break which may or may not be of concern; if a suture comes loose, please inform our office and we will evaluate the area.
• DRESSING/BANDAGE - A periodontal dressing/bandage is often used to cover the surgical area for 1-2 weeks after surgery. The dressing is placed around your teeth to protect the surgical area and should not be disturbed. If the periodontal dressing becomes loose or is causing discomfort, the pack can generally be removed without concern.
• DIET - For your comfort and to protect the surgeries that are performed, a soft diet is recommended, and a liquid-ish diet is ideal. Such foods should be soft but also high in nutrition and protein concentration. Examples include blended soups, eggs, Jell-O, pureed fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, Ensure Drinks or protein shakes. Avoid chewing in the areas treated. Avoid hard, fibrous, or sharp foods (e.g., chips or toast), and nuts.
• ORAL HYGIENE - The surgical area should not be disturbed for the first 1-2 weeks post-surgically; this includes NO oral hygiene in the area including brushing, flossing, or irrigation devices. An oral mouth rinse will be prescribed (e.g., Chlorhexidine, Peridex) that is intended for use in the areas treated; this antimicrobial liquid is intended to be used as a gentle rinse or gently swabbed with a soaked Q-Tip, depending on the procedure. Minimal oral hygiene with a Q-Tip swab and occasionally extra-soft bristled tooth brushes are given to patients following a healing period of approximately 2-4 weeks. Warm salt water rinses (1/8 teaspoon salt to 8 ounces water) may be of benefit to help sooth tissues. Normal oral hygiene in the form of brushing and flossing can be performed in areas not treated and areas without sutures typically beginning the day after surgery.
• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY - Strenuous activity should be avoided during your immediate recovery period, usually 2-3 days. Please be aware that if a short course of steroid (e.g., methylprednisone, Medrol or Decadron Dose Pack) has been prescribed you may have a false sense of additional energy for the first few days using the medication and should not over-exert yourself during that period.
• SWELLING - Swelling of surgical sites is not unusual and may occur after surgery. Often steroid dose packs (e.g., methylprednisone) are prescribed to help control in inflammation and swelling. Ice packs applied to the outer cheek may be beneficial to minimize swelling in the first 1-2 days following treatment. While sleeping it may be beneficial to keep your head elevated on two pillows. Depending on the patient and the procedure, bruising may result in the first 1-2 weeks following treatment, a result of considerable inflammation and healing in the area.
• SMOKING - Healing following any surgical procedure can significantly diminish success, and may lead to failure of procedures as well as an increased risk for infection. Smoking should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to and 6-8 weeks following surgical procedures to ensure proper healing.
• ALCOHOL - Alcohol intake should be lessened or discontinued prior to and after surgical procedures until sutures ("oral stitches") have been removed, and should ideally be minimized for the next several weeks following suture removal to ensure proper healing.
• "DO NOTS" - For the first one day following a procedure, DO NOT rinse, spit, or suck through a straw. Following surgical procedures DO NOT use oral irrigation devices and DO NOT perform normal oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) IN AREAS TREATED OR WHERE SUTURES ARE PRESENT; antimicrobial mouth rinses (e.g., Chlorhexidine, Peridex, etc.) are prescribed to be used in place of oral hygiene measures and are sufficient to allow for proper healing in areas treated.