5 Ways To Best Prepare For Oral Surgery
Oral surgery is a common practice and is nothing to be afraid of. After all, many people get their wisdom teeth out, or have other teeth extracted. However, to have the best oral surgery possible, there is some preparation required. While some may think that you just show up and get a tooth extracted, there is actually a lot you need to do beforehand. Here is your to-do list of everything you can do to best prepare for an oral surgery:
- Consult With Your Surgeon or Dentist
Before you get your oral surgery, you will want to consult with the dentist or surgeon who will be performing the surgery. During this consultation, you should ask if you will require any medications after the procedure. If you will, make arrangements for someone to pick up these prescriptions and have them ready for you immediately after your procedure. You may not feel that you are in a condition to go and pick up the medication yourself. In this consultation, you should also discuss any fears or concerns you have about the procedure. Figure out how long the procedure will take, and discuss sedation methods.
2. Make Arrangements for Care and Transportation
Before the date of your oral surgery, choose someone to accompany you to and from your appointment. Make sure that person remains in the office of your appointment during the procedure. Depending on the kind of anesthetic used, you may be incapable of operating a vehicle after your oral surgery. If you are a parent of small children, make sure you have someone to help you with them during your recovery time.
3. Follow Policies on Eating, Drinking and Smoking
There are a number of preoperative instructions you will need to follow with regards to eating and drinking. Of course, you should ask your doctor about specifics, but typically if your surgeon is using general anesthetic or intravenous anaesthetic sedation, you should not eat or drink anything for eight hours before your oral surgery. If your oral surgery requires local anesthetic, you can have a light meal 1 to 2 hours before your oral surgery. Make sure you don’t smoke at least 12 hours before your oral surgery.
4. What To Wear During Surgery
For your oral surgery appointment, you should wear loose-fitting, short-sleeved, comfortable clothing. The doctor will try hard to avoid staining your garment, but it is best to wear something that you won’t mind getting stains on. Some procedures will require you to remove jewelry, so it’s best not to wear any. Depending on the type of anesthetic used, your eyes may stay closed during the procedure, in which case you should avoid contact lenses. It is best not to wear any makeup, but you should bring some lip balm, since your lips may become chapped during your surgery.
5. Plan Out Your Post Surgical Diet
After oral surgery, your diet will need to consist of soft foods that require little to no chewing. It is also best to avoid acidic or spicy foods, since they might irritate the gum tissues. A good way to stay nourished during your surgery is to drink beverages that contain high nutritional value such as Ensure, Boost, Slim Fast, or protein powder shake mix. Do not use a straw, especially after a tooth extraction. If you suck on a straw, you can get a very painful condition called a dry socket, and will need to go back to the dentist for additional treatment.
Oral surgery requires a lot of preparation. Make sure that you take the necessary action to make your surgery and recovery go as smoothly as possible. To learn more about oral surgery prep, contact Sudbrink Oral Surgery!
