There are a few things in life that you need to prioritise. Studying and then working is often a top priority. You need an income to get by in this modern life. Your friendships, romantic relationship, and family relationships are another priority. As our kids, when they finally come along. Other responsibilities are always present, too – life admin, chores and cooking.
Yet one priority you shouldn’t neglect is your health, particularly your dental health. For some people, this may mean needing dental surgery, such as wisdom tooth removal.
In this helpful article, we’ll share how to prepare for and recover from dental surgery. You’ll learn everything you need to know to be ready for the procedure and what steps to take afterwards. Read on to find out more.
Find A Dentist Or Oral Surgeon
The first step is to find a dentist Norwich (if you are in this area) capable of performing oral surgery or a specialist oral surgeon. This will depend on the type of dental surgery you require. For instance, a regular dentist can perform a simple extraction or root canal. In contrast, if you require wisdom teeth removal, you may need a specialist oral surgeon.
Get Informed And Share Medical History
Ask the surgeon to explain the procedure in plain language, so you know exactly what will occur. This can help to alleviate some stress about the process, as it can be understandably anxiety-provoking.
As well as learning about the surgery, you should also share your detailed medical history with the surgeon. You should include family history, a history of any other surgical procedures you’ve had, your current medications and any other considerations they need to know.
Follow Advice On Diet Before The Surgery
Your surgeon will provide information on what you can eat and drink on the morning of your surgery. You may need to fast, or if you’re allowed to eat, you may be allowed just a light snack and a few sips of water.
Wear Light, Comfortable Clothes, And Short Sleeves
There’s no point in getting dressed up for dental surgery. Ensure you’re dressed lightly and comfortably. For instance, track paints, flat shoes and a light sweater if it is winter. You will also want to wear a short-sleeved shirt, as you’ll need to receive intravenous anaesthetic, and pulling long sleeves up high enough for the anaesthetic to be administered is challenging.
Tips For Recovery
Let’s explore some tips to assist you in recovering from dental surgery:
- Rest and Relaxation
It’s essential to rest the rest of the day after your surgery. Your body will be worn out from the operation and the anaesthetic drugs, so chill out in bed, pop on a binge-worthy show and relax. Keep your head propped up, and don’t lay flat. This will reduce swelling and the chance of any excess bleeding.
- Ice Pack
Use an ice pack, or a packet of frozen vegetables, to reduce the swelling on your face. Wrap it in a tea towel as well, so you don’t run the risk of a cold burn. Ice for fifteen minutes on and fifteen minutes off.
- Take Your Pain Medication As Advised
Your surgeon or dentist will have prescribed some pain relief medication to assist you in recovering in comfort. Take these pills as prescribed, even if you don’t feel pain. It’s easier to prevent pain before it emerges compared to later on. Set reminders on your phone so you don’t accidentally miss a dose.
- Eat Soft or Liquid Foods
You’ll want to eat a soft or liquid diet for a few days after your surgery. For instance, soups and broths, yoghurt, smoothies and mashed potato or sweet potato are great ideas. If you want to get adventurous, you could mash potato, carrot, pumpkin and sweet potato together for a tasty vegetable mash.
- Keep Your Mouth Clean
You need to keep your mouth clean to assist the healing process. You’ll need to rinse your mouth with warm, salty water, usually a few times a day. You need to do this after meals as well to keep the wounds free of food debris.
It’s also imperative not to smoke or vape any nicotine products while you recover. Use patches or an oral spray if you need a nicotine fix.
Some surgeries require you to flush the wound using a syringe with warm, salty water. Ask for any after-care instructions to be written down because if the surgeon tells you after the surgery, you may forget due to still being under the influence of the anaesthetic.
A Surgery Summary
In this helpful article, we’ve shared our top tips for preparing for, and recovering from, dental surgery. Follow these tips to ensure that you have a safe procedure and that you recover fast and speedily. Make sure that you rest to give yourself ample opportunity to get better soon.