3 FAQs About Oral Surgery

Oral surgery can restore your smile. It can also bring back your normal dental function and general health. Understanding the process is important before your appointment. Here are three FAQs about oral surgery that can help you do so.

1. Does a patient need to prepare before oral surgery?

The surgeon will tell the patient to prepare for the procedure. This will help ensure the possible success of the surgery. These preparations are easy to follow. Here are some of them:

• Discuss the most suitable anesthetic option and talk about the treatment plan
• Do not eat anything at least six hours before the procedure
• Prepare to receive preoperative antibiotics
• Inform the surgeon about any chronic disease

2. What aftercare should the patient perform after the oral surgery?

Post-operative care is important after any procedure. Different types of surgery have common aftercare instructions. Following them is necessary for a full recovery. Here are some of them:

• Do not perform strenuous activities. Do not play contact sports or lift heavy objects.
• Complete bed rest is necessary. Extra pillows can prevent bleeding while sleeping.
• Use ice packs to reduce bruises and swelling after the procedure. Place them on the treated cheek.
• Refrain from brushing the treated teeth. There will still be sensitivity after the procedure. Hard brushing will trigger pain. The patient must use mouthwash only after the dentist gives permission to do so. Using mouthwash may dislodge the blood clot that helps the area heal.
• Spot the complications and know when to seek treatment. Pus, severe pain, or fever are signs of infection. Be sure to see the surgeon right away.
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol. These habits slow down healing by impairing proper blood oxygenation and circulation. Quitting these habits is a good way to maintain the patient’s oral health.
• Take pain relievers according to the dentist’s instructions.
• Stay away from sticky and hard foods because they may add stress to the area and dislodge blood clots. Also, avoid spicy foods that tend to worsen pain.
• Always keep the follow-up appointments. This will prevent any possible complications.

3. What should the patient do and remember during recovery?

It will take some time for the patient to recover after oral surgery. Resting for about three to four days is necessary. The patient must not engage in normal activity for this long. Recovery time depends on the body’s ability to heal.

Numbness will be common after oral surgery because of nerve irritation. This often goes away within days or even weeks. In some cases, numbness may take longer to go away. But this is just a sensation. It does not result in muscle weakness.

Surgeons often use resorbable sutures during oral surgery. These sutures dissolve within two to three days. It is natural for these sutures to come out. But if there is continuous bleeding, the patient will need to see the surgeon right away.

The resulting hole after an extraction will close in six weeks. It will fill with bone after many more months. Make sure to clean the socket with a water syringe. Doing so can remove food particles.