What to Expect When Healing after Oral Surgery

For patients undergoing oral surgery, it is important to know what to expect afterwards. Since the mouth is a very sensitive part of the body, and oral surgery, no matter the procedure, will leave it quite tender and vulnerable to infection, it is vital that patients proceed with care when recovering from such operations. Take every precaution possible to ensure that your mouth stays healthy.

From my experience as an oral surgeon in Bala Cynwyd, here is some general advice that may be helpful and reassuring:

 

For patients undergoing oral surgery, it is important to know what to expect afterwards. Since the mouth is a very sensitive part of the body, and oral surgery, no matter the procedure, will leave it quite tender and vulnerable to infection, it is vital that patients proceed with care when recovering from such operations. Take every precaution possible to ensure that your mouth stays healthy.

From my experience as an oral surgeon in Bala Cynwyd, here is some general advice that may be helpful and reassuring:

1. Following oral surgery, side effects that patients may experience include various forms of oral discomfort like soreness, bruising, swelling, and tenderness around your jaw. These side effects will be felt most acutely in the first couple of weeks after the procedure, then gradually subside.

Generally, these side effects can be managed adequately with pain medications and cold compresses. However, if a patient is in excessive pain and/or the side effects do not subside, the patient should contact his/her dental professional.

2. Make every effort to avoid activities that are strenuous for the mouth and the body. For the mouth, avoid extremes like very hot or very cold food and drink, spicy fare, or any other consumables that may cause oral stress. Do not use straws or rinse the mouth out too forcefully, as both activities cause extra pressure.

For the body, avoid any strenuous physical activity, which may lead to strain and cause unfortunate reactions from the mouth, like teeth clenching. Always avoid alcohol and tobacco products.

3. Keep all mouth activity to a minimum, and that includes eating. Patients should not immediately return to their regular diets, but start by consuming liquid foods, followed by soft foods. Only gradually and cautiously should they return to their regular eating habits. Always avoid sticky, hard or chewy substances.

4. Depending on the surgical procedure, sutures may be used to close gaps in the mouth. Many patients are sent home with gauze in their mouths, not only to absorb any bleeding, but also to help them apply pressure in their mouths. The gauze may be occasionally changed as it dampens. But after that first day, assuming bleeding has stopped, patients should remove the gauze and resist the temptation to insert any more of it into their mouths to reduce pressure or pain, as that may cause additional harm.

5. While many people worry about dry socket, very few patients actually suffer from it. If you feel any growing pain in your tooth socket area, immediately contact me or another Philadelphia-area oral surgeon.

Take the Next Step

Want to learn if a Oral Surgery is right for you? Schedule a consultation at Dr. Farole’s Facial Cosmetic Surgery Center in Bala Cynwyd, PA by giving us a call at (610) 668-3300 today.

Sources
Wisdom Tooth Extraction and Healing: Suggestions from the Sacramento Dentistry Group, Sacramento Dentistry Group
Recovery from Surgery to Place Dental Implants, Suburban Oral Surgery and Implant Center

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By |2019-12-09T04:20:14-05:00May 6th, 2016|Info Articles|

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