HOW YOU CAN MAKE YOUR ORAL SURGERY GO MORE SMOOTHLY

Our Birmingham dentist is trained in many treatments to restore and protect your teeth. But there are times when you might need oral surgery. If you need a tooth extracted, a dental implant placed, or something similar, don’t worry. Dr. Perrigo has the expertise needed to help make sure your oral surgery goes well.

Call our Birmingham, AL dental office today at 205-545-8007 and make your next appointment. Beyond Dr. Perrigo’s skill, there are a few things you can do yourself to make your oral surgery go more smoothly.

When You Might Need Oral Surgery

The most common reason for oral surgery is when you have a tooth that has to be removed. There are several reasons why this has to happen, but in the end, they all mean the same thing — leaving that tooth in your smile will only cause you pain and problems, and there’s no other treatment left that will work.

Here are some examples of when oral surgery is usually the last, best treatment left:

• You have a tooth too damaged to leave in your mouth.
• An infection inside a tooth grew too bad.
• A cavity grew too wide and there’s not enough tooth left to save.
• You need to replace a lost tooth with a dental implant
• Your jawbone has deteriorated and you need a bone graft.
• You need a sinus lift before you can get a dental implant.

By calling our Birmingham dentist today, you can get a dental exam to see if there is any alternative treatment. If not, Dr. Perrigo has the right combination of training and practical experience to help with oral surgery. In fact, he is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, giving him experience and training others might not have.

Preparations For A Smoother Oral Surgery

These days, oral surgery is routine. However, there are some preparations you can make beforehand to help make your oral surgery procedure go more smoothly.

– Put out some comfortable clothes — and put away makeup and jewelry

There’s no need to “dress to impress” on the day of your surgery. Since you may be sitting in one of our chairs for a while, you should wear whatever makes you comfortable. Along the same lines, you shouldn’t wear any makeup, as it will just smear on our team’s hands. You should also take out any earrings or facial piercings to make sure they don’t interfere with the oral surgery.

– Get some books, games, and shows to watch while resting after it’s over

When you get home after your oral surgery procedure, you will likely need some time to rest and heal up. That can be boring, as there’s only so many naps you can take in one day. That’s why you need to line up some things to keep you entertained, such as books, games, or TV shows.

– Don’t eat or drink anything starting eight hours before your appointment

Although these procedures are routine for our highly qualified Birmingham dentist, they are still surgery. That means you should avoid eating or drinking anything starting eight hours before your appointment (and not when you think the oral surgery procedure might begin). You can always drink water and any approved prescriptions, of course.

– Go to the store and buy some soft, bland foods to eat

You will need to eat after your appointment, especially because you’ll be fasting before it. However, chewing can be tough when you just had surgery on your gums. That’s why you should go out beforehand and guy some foods that are soft and bland. Mashed potatoes, yogurt, and simple soups are all good ideas.

– Read any instructions a few days before our oral surgery appointment

Chances are, Dr. Perrigo will give you a list of instructions for before surgery, after it, or both. Be sure to read these instructions carefully, and do that a few days before your appointment. That way, if you read anything that’s unclear or confusing to you, you have time to call us and get that clarified.

Call us TODAY at 205-545-8007 or use our online form to make your next appointment with our Birmingham dentist. Oral surgery is usually the last resort, but when that’s the only way to make you healthy again, Dr. Perrigo has the training and experience to help.