Tips To Prepare For Oral Surgery

1. Get Someone Else to Drive You to the Dentist

When you go in for oral surgery, you need to be aware that you'll probably be put under general anesthesia. After all, you're getting surgery done. 

Now, while there's nothing to be worried about with getting anesthesia for your oral and facial surgery, you do need to make sure you're prepared. 

Part of being prepared is having someone that can drive you home after. 

That's because, regardless of whether you're using general anesthesia or nitrous oxide, you can feel a bit woozy afterward. As such, you shouldn't be driving home.

As soon as you book your appointment, make sure to ask a friend or family member if they'll be able to drive you to your oral and facial surgery appointment. That way, you know you'll be able to get home safely.

2. You May Have to Fast Before Your Appointment

You should note that some types of oral surgery require you to fast before your appointment. This could be for eight hours or it could be for an entire twelve hours.

Your oral surgeon will let you know how long you'll need to fast.

Fasts include skipping out on both food and water. This is important because it prevents your lungs from filling with your stomach contents (also known as aspiration).

Although rare, it can happen and can be life-threatening if it does. 

Note: you likely won't have to fast if you're diabetic. Fasting could cause your blood sugar to drop to dangerous lows, which is why oral surgeons avoid this.

3. Plan on Arriving Early

Another thing to know about oral surgery is that it can take a bit of time. Not only does the surgery take time, but once you get to the office, you'll also have to fill out paperwork. 

To make sure that you aren't spending hours on end in the dentist's office, it's a good idea to get there about 20 to 30 minutes early. That will give you the time you need to prepare for your appointment without feeling rushed.

Plus, it'll help make sure you leave on time. That's important for whoever's picking you up afterward!

4. Stock Your Fridge With Soft Foods

We probably don't have to tell you that after oral surgery, your mouth might be tender. And, when your mouth is tender, the last thing you want to be doing is chomping and chewing on tough foods. 

A good idea is to pick up soft and mushy foods such as yogurt, soup, and ice cream before your surgery. You'll want to make these the majority of your diet right after your surgery. 

It's easier to come home to these foods rather than to have to order them when you're not feeling your best. That's why it's such a good idea to stock them before your surgery. 

Remember, you'll need to be eating these softer foods for about six to eight weeks before you switch back to your normal diet.

5. Set Up a Space to Relax

When you get home from the oral surgeon's office you're going to want to rest. And, the last thing you'll want to do is to have to set up a space to rest and relax!

A good rule of thumb when preparing for oral surgery is to set up a space to relax ahead of time. This can be your bed, the couch, or another spot where you feel comfortable.

Regardless of where you choose to relax, make sure that you're prepared to hang out there for a couple of days. Avoid exercise and treat yourself to a Netflix binge so that your mouth can heal.

6. Skip the Straws

This might sound strange, but after you finish your oral surgery, you want to steer clear of anything that involves sucking. That means straws and even cigarettes.

The sucking motion is important to avoid because it can dislodge blood clots in your surgery site. This can lead to painful infections, such as dry sockets. 

After about a week you'll be able to start smoking or using straws again, so this isn't a permanent change. 

7. Apply Ice and Rinse With Saltwater

After your surgery, you might find that your mouth is sore and swollen. To help reduce the swelling and the pain, there are a couple of tricks you can try:

1. Ice
2. Saltwater

Ice packs are a great way to reduce swelling. They can also numb your mouth, helping to keep the pain at bay. 

You should make sure to only apply an ice pack for 15 minutes at a time. That way you don't hurt yourself or get freezer burn. 

On top of that, you can rinse your mouth up to four times a day with saltwater. All you have to do for this is to add a teaspoon of salt to a cup of water. Swish it around your mouth to clean out the surgery site.

Just note that you shouldn't do saltwater rinses for at least 24 hours after your appointment. 

Prepare for Oral Surgery With a Dentist

Preparing for oral surgery with your dentist in Riverdale, IL can be easy with these steps. Just keep these tips in mind before you book your appointment for oral surgery.

Now that you have these tips on oral surgery, you're ready to schedule your own. Get in touch with our team and we'll get you hooked up with an appointment.