How to Prepare for Oral Surgery: A Comprehensive Guide
If you are having oral surgery, you can take steps to get the best outcome possible. Oral surgery, such as tooth extraction, is very safe, but you can make it even safer by taking a few precautions. Our oral surgeon in Melbourne is glad to provide a few suggestions on how to prepare for oral surgery.
Steps to Prepare for Oral Surgery
Take your medications as directed.
Prescription drugs are essential to your health. In many cases, taking these prescription medications simultaneously every day is necessary.
Before your oral surgery, take all medications as directed – unless your oral surgeon tells you otherwise. Some medications, such as blood thinners or herbal drugs, may cause issues during or after your oral surgery. Be sure to tell your oral surgeon about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you take before your procedure.
Be sure to take medications with small sips of water, rather than large gulps. Too much water in your stomach can lead to aspiration, a condition in which the liquid comes into your lungs during surgery. Aspiration can cause pneumonia.
Don’t eat or drink for 8 hours before IV sedation.
Some oral surgery procedures can be particularly long or complex, so our oral surgeon may suggest intravenous (IV) sedation to help you relax. Undergoing IV sedation can increase the risk of aspiration, so you will want your stomach as empty as possible.
Our oral surgeon will advise you on how long you should fast. An 8-hour fast is appropriate in most cases, although our oral surgeon may suggest a longer or shorter fast. If you are having oral surgery first thing in the morning, we recommend you have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before. You can enjoy clear liquids for up to 4 hours before oral surgery.
Do not eat or drink anything for 3 hours before nitrous oxide sedation.
Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” is a milder form of sedative than IV sedation. Still, you will want to avoid eating or drinking anything for at least three hours before receiving nitrous oxide to prevent aspiration. Fasting before receiving nitrous oxide is not always necessary, so speak to our oral surgeon about the type of sedation you’ll receive and fasting before your appointment.
Do not smoke for at least 12 hours before your oral surgery.
If you smoke, avoid lighting up for 12 hours or more before your procedure. When you smoke, your heart and lungs don’t work as well as they should; this can lead to breathing problems during or after your surgery, and this increases your risk of pneumonia. What’s more, smoking reduces blood flow in ways that slow healing, and this increases the risk of infection at your surgical site.
For best results, we suggest cutting down or quitting smoking at least a day before your oral surgery.
Choose the proper clothing.
While style is always important, wearing the right clothes for oral surgery is essential. Wear loose-fitting clothes that allow you to roll your sleeves up past your elbow, for example, as it makes it easier for our team to start the IV for sedation and monitor your vital signs during the procedure. Wearing flat shoes can help you avoid slips or falls after anesthesia, which may leave you feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
Leave contact lenses and jewelry at home, as you’ll need to remove them before your oral surgery. Avoid wearing nail polish, lipstick, or excessive makeup. Nail polish can interfere with the pulse oximeter that monitors your oxygen levels, and lipstick can indicate poor oxygen levels. Sedation can impair your blink reflex, which means your eyes cannot protect themselves if mascara or eyeliner gets into them during your procedure.
Make a plan for after your surgery.
You will likely need someone to drive you home after your oral surgery, especially if you have IV sedation. They must arrive with you, remain in the office during your procedure, and drive you home.
Arrange to take the rest of the day off from work or school. Depending on the procedure, you may need more time off to recover.
Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs.
Alcohol and some types of recreational drugs can negatively affect how your body responds to anesthesia.
For more information on how to prepare for oral surgery, contact Sedaros Oral Facial Surgery & Dental Implants. We are the first choice for oral surgery in Melbourne and are glad to help you get the most out of your subsequent oral surgery.