To ensure a speedy recovery from your oral surgery, you should plan ahead.
Even if you have undergone oral surgery before, preparing for your surgery and the healing process can be intimidating. By planning ahead for your oral surgery, you can ensure a speedy recovery and optimal oral health afterwards. If you have any remaining concerns, be sure to ask your dentist during the appointment(s) preceding your surgery so that they can personally answer address your questions.
Recovery
The last thing you will want to do after having oral surgery is set up your home to be comfortable, so take care of fluffing the pillows and finding the TV remote beforehand. Most patients recovering from anesthesia prefer to have a comfortable place to rest, so set up some pillows on your bed so that you can relax. Make sure that your preferred method of entertainment (TV, Netflix on your tablet, books, etc.) is nearby. Also, consider having some ice packs ready to go in your freezer. Depending on the surgery you have performed, and especially in cases of wisdom tooth extraction, you may have some swelling or discomfort. Use an ice pack in 15-minute intervals to help soothe the surgery site.
Think Before You Bite
Your dentist will give you specific instructions on what to eat and what to avoid following your oral surgery, but it is generally recommended that you stick to softer foods like soup, yogurt, or smoothies. Avoid all crunchy and hard foods, whether it’s your burnt toast at breakfast or your large popcorn at the movie theatre, for up to 8 weeks depending on your dentist’s recommendation.
Immediately following your oral surgery, stay away from all hot foods and drinks. You won’t be able to feel pain while you are still under the influence of local anesthetics, so you could burn yourself without realizing it. Also, stay away from any food that involves much chewing during the immediate aftermath. You may accidentally bite your cheek or do damage to the surgery site without noticing.
How Long Until You’re Healed?
The biggest question on your mind before surgery may be the hardest to answer—how long will it take until you’re healed? Your dentist will be able to answer this question more specifically, but in general it takes about 48 hours for the initial wave of discomfort and swelling to go away. After the first 48 hours, your long-term oral health depends on following the aftercare instructions your dentist gave for the weeks after your oral surgery.
You Can Trust Olney Dental for All of Your Oral Surgery Needs
Whether you are seeking a major dental surgery procedure or looking for a skilled dentist to decide whether or not you need oral surgery, Olney Dental is ready to supply you with expert service in a professional environment. Schedule an appointment online today! For more information on how we can give your family the best dentist experience available, give us a call at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online. For more dental tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Pinterest.