Preparing For A Successful Oral Surgery Procedure

Oral surgery is surgery intended to treat many different types of injuries, defects, and diseases in the head, neck, face, and jaw regions. Oral surgical procedures are performed to treat impacted teeth, difficult tooth extractions, TMJ disorders, implants, dentures, or other dental prostheses, root canals, corrective jaw surgery, etc. If you or a loved one is planning on undergoing any of type of oral surgery, you may want to prepare yourself and your house prior to the procedure. Some of the tips below can also significantly decrease the recovery period.

Step 1. Talk To Your Dentist Before The Surgery

Patients need to consult with a dentist and oral surgeon before the surgery so they can walk the patient through the procedure in detail. This consultation will inform the patient about the process so the patient can make an informed decision. The dentist or oral surgeon should outline what to expect before, during, and after the procedure and answer any questions the patient may have. Patients should take this opportunity to discuss sedation options and distraction methods that may help with the oral surgery.

Step 2. Transportation and Care

In case a patient requires any medications after the procedure, make arrangements prior to the surgery to have these prescriptions available immediately after the surgery.

The patient needs to refrain from operating a motor vehicle after any surgery, oral or otherwise, and regardless of the type of anesthetic used. Patients should make arrangements for a friend or family member to accompany them to and from the dentist's office on the day of the oral surgery. We also recommend that patients have someone assist during the recovery time at home, especially for patients with small children.

Step 3. Eating, Drinking, And Smoking Before Oral Surgery

Follow all pre-operative instructions closely, especially if the surgeon is using intravenous anesthetic sedation or a general anesthetic. We recommend that patients should not eat or drink any food or liquids for at least eight hours before the oral surgery. If one smokes cigarettes, then he or she should be aware that smoking is usually not allowed at least 12 hours before oral surgery, and typically not permitted for a minimum of 24 hours after oral surgery. It is a good idea to brush and floss the teeth prior to the appointment.

Step 4. What Should I Wear For My Oral Surgery And Items To Avoid

When choosing what to wear on the day of your surgery, loose-fitting, short-sleeved, comfortable clothing is key. Although the oral surgeon and team do their best to prevent a patient's garments from staining, patients should not wear a favorite outfit. Remove all jewelry and avoid wearing contact lenses to the appointment as the patient's eyes may remain closed during the procedure. The only makeup that may be needed is some lip balm as the lips may become chapped during the surgery.

Step 5. Plan Your Post Surgical Diet In Advance

Your oral surgeon or dentist will recommend certain foods and beverages that you need to avoid after the surgery. However, your diet will typically consist of soft foods that require little to no chewing. Patients need to avoid foods that are spicy, hard to chew, or acidic since they may irritate the already sensitive gum tissue. It is necessary to stay healthy during your recovery period. Beverages that contain a higher nutritional value such as protein shakes are easy to prepare and provide high levels of vitamins and minerals. Consider cooking some soft foods ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator.