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The Checklist: Do These 6 Things to Prepare Yourself for Dental Surgery

    If you are scheduled to have oral surgery, there are a few things you should do to prepare yourself before the procedure. Following these six steps will make it much easier to get ready for the big day.

    If you need to have work done on your teeth, take heart, dental surgery shouldn’t be traumatic. Fortunately, with these tips, you will be rewarded with a great smile.

    1. Follow all of the pre-op instructions.

    Your dentist will probably provide you with a list of instructions to follow before the surgery. This will give information on things like anesthesia and how to prepare for it. He might also give you a prescription to begin taking before the surgery and after the procedure is complete. These instructions are provided to put you in the best possible position to deal with the dental procedure and get you on the road to healing as soon as possible afterward. Follow all of these instructions to the letter.

    1. Prepare completely

    Besides the instructions the dentist gives you, there might be other things that could be done to make things a little easier. These might include asking someone to drive you to and from the dentist if you are still struggling with the anesthetic. Something else to help prepare would be to take a trip to the grocery store so there is plenty of food. This is especially true if the dentist recommends a special diet post-op. There’s also nothing wrong with getting yourself something special as a reward for being a good patient.

    1. Dress comfortably

    It’s always a good idea to dress as comfortable as possible for your procedure. Try to wear something with no or loose sleeves so your arms are readily available for a nurse or doctor to take a pulse, monitor your blood pressure, or insert an IV.

    1. Don’t smoke

    Do not smoke or use any other tobacco products for at least 12 hours before surgery, and at least 24 hours after your procedure. If that’s a problem, discuss the issue with your oral surgeon.

    1. Arrive early

    Try to arrive at least 20 minutes early for your appointment. This will give you time to fill out any last-minute forms or ask any questions that might still be on your mind before the procedure. Arriving early will also prevent you from feeling rushed to the appointment. Try to relax as much as possible.

    1. Get a good night’s sleep

    There are probably a few things that can be more difficult to deal with than having to have dental surgery and still be tired from a day’s work or other activity. As much as is possible before surgery, get a good night’s rest, and relax. Do something different to take a break before your surgery. Take in a movie or some other activity, so you are refreshed and relaxed before your appointment.

    By following these simple instructions, the chances that your dental surgery will go more smoothly are increased. Many people will heed to the temptation to disregard many if not all of these instructions, and as arbitrary are some of them might seem, they are not. All of these instructions are given for a good reason, primarily to getting you back to your old self again as quickly as possible and with a wonderful smile.