10 Oct 7 Important Questions to Ask Before Oral Surgery
Before having any kind of oral surgery, you want to make sure you understand the procedure and have all of your questions answered thoroughly. It’s your health, and you want to make sure you know what your oral surgeon will be doing.
We’ve compiled seven essential questions to ask your dental professional before any oral surgery, so you understand what to expect and can be confident in the results.
1. What are the possible complications and risks?
Your oral surgeon will usually fill you in on the procedure and any possible complications or risks, but you should ensure you understand them thoroughly before proceeding.
Knowing how oral surgery can affect your life after the procedure is important. Talk to your oral surgeon about anything you don’t understand and any risks associated with your procedure.
2. What kind of aftercare will be required?
Aside from understanding the procedure, you’ll want to ask about the aftercare associated with the recovery process. It may involve several more dental visits, certain restrictions post-op, as well as other required care.
It’s important to fully understand exactly what you will need to do to ensure your oral surgery is a success. The last thing you want if you’re having oral surgery is for it not to be a success.
3. What kind of medications will I need to take?
It’s also helpful to understand any medications you will need to take following your oral surgery. These can often result in additional expenses, and it’s important to know everything you will need.
Because many oral surgeries require you to take medications before or after the procedure, you’ll also need to let your dentist know of any sensitivities or allergies.
4. Should I arrange for a ride home?
Depending on the method of anesthesia used for your oral surgery, you might need someone else to drive you home. You want to make sure you arrange for that ahead of time.
5. How long will it take to recover from the procedure?
Patients often don’t consider the recovery period following oral surgery. You might want to arrange for extra time off work or for someone to help with certain tasks at home while you recover.
6. Can I eat before the procedure?
The recommendation here depends on the type of anesthesia your oral surgeon will be using for the procedure. Certain anesthetics, particularly if you’re having general anesthesia, will require that you refrain from eating at least 12 hours prior to the procedure.
These pre-surgery requirements are for your own safety, so be sure to ask about them and adhere to whatever guidelines your oral surgeon suggests.
7. Will I need to change my diet?
With many different oral surgery procedures, you may need to make some changes to your diet, at least temporarily. Ask your dentist about food recommendations to ensure you have those on-hand at home after the procedure.
We’ll Answer All Your Questions!
At Aesthetic Dental Partners, our staff is passionate about making sure you have a thorough understanding of your oral surgery. We’ll thoroughly answer all pre and post-op questions. Give our office a call today with yours and schedule your visit.