Patient compliance to instructions after oral surgical procedures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient compliance to postoperative instructions from the oral surgeon. A total of 180 patients who underwent minor oral surgical procedures anonymously answered a questionnaire 1 week postsurgery. This questionnaire was used to evaluate how patients remembered the mode of transmission of instructions (written, verbal), their compliance to the postoperative instructions and to the antibiotic treatment and their comments. Of the patients, 40% did not remember receiving both written and verbal instructions, 36% remembered only the written instructions. Twelve percent did not comply with the postoperative instructions regarding mouthwashes and 67% did not comply with the antibiotic prescriptions; 43% took more antibiotics and 31% less, and 4% who did not receive an antibiotic prescription took them on their own initiative. The academic level of the patients did not influence patient compliance. Verbal and written recommendations worded simply with details are important for patient compliance and reduced postoperative stress and complaints. Better instructions on antibiotics use are necessary to ameliorate patient compliance to the antibiotic treatment.