When you are preparing for surgery it is essential that you follow the recommendations and instructions from your oral surgeon in Salt Lake City. Anyone who comes to our offices will first undergo a free consultation, and may come in for additional exams or appointments prior to their surgery date. During those consultations and appointments it’s important that you ask plenty of questions and pay careful attention to your surgical instructions.
Before Your Surgery
On the day of your surgery, do not eat or drink anything at least eight hours prior to the procedure, including water. If you have medications that you take daily, discuss these with your oral surgeon in Salt Lake City, and take them with a small sip of water on the morning of surgery.
Please discuss any current or prior medical conditions that might impact your procedure with your surgical team in advance, including diabetes, high blood pressure, artificial heart valves, bleeding problems, and others. If you smoke, quit smoking at least 72 hours in advance of the surgery (and longer in advance if possible).
Patients who are undergoing anesthesia will need to get a ride home from our office, as you will not be permitted to drive for at least 24 hours following the procedure. It’s also a good idea to have someone with you at all times during the first 24 hours of recovery. Our oral surgeons may prescribe medication following the procedure, so it will be helpful to have someone who is able to pick up those prescriptions from the pharmacy.
Please do not wear makeup, but do wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to the surgery. Remove any items that are not attached to your body, including:
- Contact lenses
- Piercings
- Jewelry
- Dentures
- Removable dental appliances
Plan ahead for the days following surgery and stock up on soft foods that don’t require much preparation or exertion, such as yogurt, applesauce, pudding, ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies, Jell-O, and Ensure.
After Your Surgery
The anesthesia will remain in your system for about 24 hours and could impact your ability to stay awake and focus. For that reason you will not be permitted to drive or operate machinery and should not plan to make any important decisions (such as signing binding contracts or documents) for at least a day following surgery, and maybe longer if you are still feeling the effects. You may also experience nausea as the anesthesia wears off.
Do not drink any alcoholic beverages or take any drugs besides prescribed medications that you have discussed with your oral surgeon in Ogden, as these can interact with your pain medication or anesthesia and cause harm.
The surgical site will likely have gauze or other bandages to stop the bleeding, which will need to be changed regularly for the first couple of hours or until the bleeding stops. Try not to do anything that would disturb the surgical area for the first day, such as rinsing your mouth, brushing your teeth, or probing the area with objects or instruments.
Do not smoke or chew tobacco for at least 72 hours after your Utah oral surgery, as it can impact your body’s ability to heal following the procedure.
You will likely experience pain and may be prescribed medication to help alleviate the discomfort. Take your prescription pain medication only as directed, and consider taking your first dose before the effects of the anesthesia wear off, as this will help you manage the pain better. If for some reason the medication prescribed doesn’t work to relieve your pain, contact our office immediately. The most severe pain generally occurs during the first four to eight hours following surgery, after which time your need for strong pain medication should lessen considerably.
You may experience some uncomfortable symptoms after your surgery including:
Bleeding
Swelling
Sharpness
Eat a diet of cool, smooth foods (preferably liquids) for about 72 hours after the surgery. Slowly add in solid, soft foods, such as mashed potatoes, macaroni, yogurt, and others as you feel better. For at least three weeks avoid foods that could damage the surgical site or get stuck in the area, such as seeds, strawberries (and other fruits with small seeds), popcorn, peanuts, and chips.
Have an adult friend or family member stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery, and keep your activity levels limited to ensure proper healing. Avoid rigorous exercise for at least two to three weeks, and longer if you have facial or jaw surgery.
Following all the instructions of your surgeon regarding brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth after surgery.
Call Our Office With Questions
Schedule a follow-up appointment with our office so we can make sure you are healing as expected. As you are healing don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions or experience any problems. We are here to help ensure that both your procedure and your healing process go smoothly.