Oral surgery involves operating on the soft tissue, jaw or temporomandibular joints. Before you have oral surgery, you will be given some pre-surgical guidelines to follow for your specific operation. After your procedure, it is important to follow the instructions from the dentist in order to have a speedy and a full recovery.
Conditions Requiring Oral Surgery
There are many reasons why people need oral surgery, such as the removal of an impacted tooth. This is a common issue with wisdom teeth. You may also need oral surgery to receive a dental implant or to treat jaw problems, such as those that result from jaws that are misaligned, unequal in size or broken. Oral surgery can also be performed to remove a lesion or growth from the mouth area.
Pain Relief for Oral Surgery
Your dentist will determine which type of anesthesia is best for your type of oral surgery. For a simple tooth extraction, a local anesthetic may be sufficient. If your treatment will take longer or will be more complex, you may need sedation or general anesthesia.
Recovery After Oral Surgery
You may feel sleepy from anesthesia after oral surgery, so have someone drive you home. Choose soft foods to ease any discomfort. Mashed potatoes, yogurt, soup and flavored gelatin are good choices. You may find comfort from cold compresses applied to the cheek near the surgical location. You may need to avoid certain behaviors such as using a straw, smoking or vigorously rinsing your mouth. These activities can interfere with your body’s natural healing process. Brush and floss your other teeth as usual, but avoid the surgery site. Your dentist might also prescribe a pain reliever or suggest over-the-counter remedies, such as ibuprofen.
When you are in need of oral surgery services, call Cherry Blossom Dental Care today.