Dental surgery refers to medical procedures that involve modifying the teeth and jaw bones via surgery. This procedure is usually done to replace a damaged or missing teeth, extract malpositioned or nonfunctional teeth, or in preparation for orthodontic treatment (braces).
Dental surgery refers to medical procedures that involve modifying the teeth and jaw bones via surgery. This procedure is usually done to replace a damaged or missing teeth, extract malpositioned or nonfunctional teeth, or in preparation for orthodontic treatment (braces).
Although dental surgery has its benefits, the process one has to undertake is extremely gruesome. That is, you will be given a sufficient amount of sedatives to relieve the pain while your mouth is being worked on. After the surgery, several protective measures must be taken to ensure a fast and complete healing of the operated area.
Ask your dentist for specific instructions in taking care of the operated area. Know what you need to do, what you need to eat, and how you can handle pain or discomfort brought about by the surgery. Follow what your dentist has instructed you to do to ensure your complete recovery.Rest for a few days. It is best to rest for 2-3 days after the surgery. Physical activities should be minimized. You can also consider participating in yoga sessions or getting a massage to relax your body leading to a fast recovery.Eat soft foods and drink lots of liquid. Eating hard food can bring about pain and discomfort, as the operated area is still sensitive to even slight contact with hard food. It is advised that you take only soft and liquid foods and to drink as much water or milk as you can.Take in supplements, pain reliever and antibiotic drugs. Your intake of supplements like Vitamin C will facilitate the recovery of the operated area as Vitamin C helps in bone regeneration and wound healing. The recommended amount of Vitamin C you can take is 500mg per day. As for pain relievers and antibiotics, you should follow your dentist’s prescribed medicinal regimen. Usually it is every 6 hours for a period of 2 weeks although it may vary depending on your condition.
Apply ice packs. When there is swelling in your cheeks, near the operated area, apply cold compress on the swelling for a period of 15 minutes.Elevate your head. To reduce swelling, you can sit on a chair with your head elevated or you can stack extra pillows when you are sleeping.Apply pressure on the operated area. To reduce bleeding, you can also insert cotton or folded gauze on the operated area. Apply pressure on it for about 10-20 minutes.Do not sip through a straw, drink, smoke or chew tobacco. These habits will cause a painful sensation called dry socket, which is caused by the dislodgement of the blood clots. This will also delay the recovery of the operated area and might cause infection.Follow up with your dentist. The pain and discomfort will have already subsided after 2-3 days. However, complete recovery of the affected area might take a few weeks longer. Visit your dentist and have him assess your recovery.
