Everything you need before, during, and after your procedure — organized, explained, waiting for you.
Before the
Procedure
The quality of your surgical outcome begins weeks before you arrive. These protocols are not optional — they are the procedure.
Imaging Requirements0/4
CBCT Scan (Cone Beam CT)
RequiredImagingRequired within 6 months of surgery date. Must include full craniofacial field of view. Bring original DICOM files on USB drive or upload via secure portal.
Panoramic Radiograph
ImagingCurrent OPG (orthopantomogram) taken within 3 months. Your referring orthodontist typically provides this. Confirm with their office.
Clinical Photographs
ImagingFrontal, lateral, and oblique facial photographs in natural head position. Three-quarter smile and occlusal views required. Your orthodontist should provide standardized series.
Dental Study Models / Digital Scans
RequiredModelsPlaster models or intraoral digital scan (STL file) of current dentition. Required for surgical splint fabrication and 3D skull model printing.
Medication Holds0/4
Anticoagulants & Blood Thinners
RequiredMedicationsWarfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and all NSAIDs must be discussed with your prescribing physician. Most require a 7–10 day hold. Do not stop without medical clearance.
Herbal Supplements
MedicationsFish oil, vitamin E, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, and St. John's Wort all affect bleeding. Discontinue 14 days before surgery.
Diabetes Medications
MedicationsMetformin held 48 hours before surgery involving general anaesthesia. Insulin dosing adjusted per anaesthesia team protocol — bring your glucose monitor.
Corticosteroids
MedicationsPatients on long-term steroid therapy require stress-dose coverage. Notify the surgical team at your pre-operative appointment.
Fasting Protocol0/3
Solid Food — Nothing After Midnight
RequiredFastingNo food of any kind after midnight the night before surgery. This includes gum, hard candy, and mints. Anaesthetic safety depends on a completely empty stomach.
Clear Liquids — Until 2 Hours Before
FastingWater, apple juice, black coffee (no milk), and clear broth are permitted until 2 hours before your scheduled arrival time. No pulp, no cream, no alcohol.
Morning Medications
FastingEssential medications (blood pressure, anti-seizure, cardiac) may be taken with a small sip of water on the morning of surgery. Confirm the list with our pre-operative nurse.
The Day of
Surgery
Precision begins before the first incision. Your preparation in these hours determines the smoothness of everything that follows.
Stop all oral intake including water. Take only pre-approved morning medications with the smallest possible sip.
Set an alarm. This is the single most common reason surgeries are delayed or cancelled.
Report to the Day Surgery Unit at your confirmed arrival time. Bring your photo ID, Medicare/insurance card, and a responsible adult who will stay for discharge.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing with a front-opening top. Remove all jewellery, contact lenses, and nail polish before arrival.
Nursing staff will check vital signs, confirm medication holds, place an IV line, and review your consent documentation. The anaesthetist will visit to confirm your airway plan.
For orthognathic cases, your custom surgical splints and 3D skull model will be verified by the surgical team at this point.
The surgeon will confirm the operative plan, review the CBCT and 3D printed model with you, and mark any reference points. Final questions are answered here.
For Le Fort osteotomies and mandibular sagittal splits, the planned movement vectors are confirmed against your dental occlusion at this stage.
Duration varies by procedure: orthognathic bimaxillary surgery 3–5 hours; trauma reconstruction 2–8 hours; TMJ arthroplasty 1.5–3 hours; implant placement 1–2 hours.
Titanium plates and screws are used for fixation where required. All hardware is medical-grade, low-profile, and in most cases left permanently in place.
You will wake in the recovery bay with nursing supervision. Nausea management and pain control commence immediately. Most patients are discharged same-day or after one overnight observation.
Your responsible adult must be reachable and present for discharge. You will not be permitted to drive, take public transport alone, or make legal decisions for 24 hours post-anaesthesia.
What to Bring
The Path
Back
Recovery is a protocol, not a waiting period. Each phase has specific dietary, activity, and monitoring requirements that directly affect your outcome.
Full liquids only: water, broth, protein shakes, smoothies (no seeds), apple juice. Minimum 2,000 mL fluid intake per day. Avoid straws — suction disrupts clot formation.
Complete rest. Head elevated 30–45° at all times including sleep. No bending, lifting, or straining. Cold compresses on cheeks 20 min on / 20 min off.
Oral antibiotics (complete full course), corticosteroids (taper as prescribed), liquid analgesics. Set alarms — do not let pain breakthrough before next dose.
Fever above 38.5°C, increasing (not decreasing) swelling after Day 3, bleeding that soaks more than one gauze pad per hour, difficulty breathing through nose and mouth simultaneously.
Compression Garment Protocol
Elastic facial bandage applied in theatre. Do not remove. Secure but not tight — you should be able to open your mouth slightly.
Transition to chin strap or facial compression vest as prescribed. Wear 23 hours/day — remove only for hygiene.
Reduce to overnight wear only. Garment size may need adjustment as swelling resolves — contact our rooms if no longer fitting correctly.
Oral Hygiene After Surgery
No brushing near incision sites. Gentle warm saline rinse (1/2 tsp salt in 250 mL water) after every meal and before bed.
Soft-headed toothbrush, gentle circular motion avoiding suture lines. Chlorhexidine 0.12% mouthwash twice daily — do not swallow.
Normal brushing technique resumes. Electric toothbrush cleared from Week 4. Avoid water flossers near healing sites until 6-week review.
After the
Procedure
Follow-up is not administrative — it is the final phase of the surgical protocol. Each appointment has a specific clinical purpose.
Wound inspection, drain removal if applicable, suture assessment, swelling and haematoma evaluation. Confirm medication tolerability and dietary intake.
Removal of external sutures where present. Intraoral sutures are resorbable and do not require removal. Occlusion check and splint review for orthognathic patients.
Jaw range of motion measurement, scar assessment, physiotherapy review. Orthodontic handover planning for orthognathic patients. Dietary upgrade assessment.
Bone consolidation and hardware position confirmed on imaging. Activity clearance for most patients. Orthodontic treatment resumes for orthognathic cases.
Formal photographic and clinical assessment of surgical result. Nerve recovery mapping. Long-term occlusion assessment. Implant integration check where applicable.
Definitive outcome documentation. Orthodontic debond coordination for orthognathic patients. Implant crown placement timing for implant cases. Discharge planning.
Long-Term Considerations
Orthodontic Coordination
Post-surgical orthodontic treatment typically continues for 6–12 months after orthognathic surgery to finalize tooth position within the corrected skeletal framework. Your orthodontist will resume active treatment at the 6-week clearance.
Titanium Hardware
Titanium plates and screws used in orthognathic and trauma reconstruction are medical-grade, osseointegrated, and in the vast majority of cases left permanently. Hardware removal is considered only for specific indications such as infection or palpable hardware under thin tissue.
Nerve Recovery
Altered sensation of the lower lip, chin, and cheek (inferior alveolar nerve distribution) is expected after mandibular surgery. Recovery occurs over 3–18 months in most cases. Permanent altered sensation occurs in a minority of patients and is discussed in detail during consent.
Imaging Archive
Your CBCT, OPG, and clinical photographs are retained in your secure patient record for a minimum of 7 years. You may request copies at any time. Post-operative imaging is provided to your referring provider with your written consent.
Download Your Personalized
Surgical Preparation Kit
Answer three questions below. We'll generate a PDF checklist tailored to your procedure, surgery timeline, and referring provider — every item from every section of this guide, in the order you'll need it.
Send My Records Securely
Upload your CBCT DICOM files, OPG, referral letter, and dental models directly to our encrypted patient portal.
What's Included in Every Kit
Questions Before Your Appointment?
Our pre-operative nurse coordinator is available Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5:00pm AEST.