While you may be excited about making your smile complete with one of the most reliable and natural-feeling tooth replacement options in dentistry to date, we understand if you’re feeling nervous about your dental implant surgery as well. This may be because you’ve never had oral surgery completed before, even though dental implants are considered to be minimally invasive. While there aren’t that many steps to take ahead of treatment, the tips below from an expert in dental implants and oral surgery are sure to help!
Follow All Pre-Op Instructions from the Doctor
In most cases, you’ll complete an in-person consultation with the dentist ahead of the actual implant surgery, which means you’ll get a chance to hear what steps you should take before your next appointment. Different dentists may have different instructions, so make sure to follow whatever the dentist asks of you as closely as possible. This becomes more important depending on whether or not you decide to receive sedation ahead of surgery.
Wear Loose-Fitting Clothes
Dental implant placement is not a particularly short treatment, even if you only intend to have a single implant placed. This means you’ll be sitting in the dental chair for an extended period of time with your mouth open. For that reason, it helps to be as comfortable as possible for the duration of your appointment. A great way to accomplish this is by wearing loose-fitting clothing, such as sweatpants, a hoodie, and comfortable shoes.
Arrange for Transportation Ahead of Time
Whether you plan to receive dental sedation or not, it’s better to have someone drive you from the practice as an added convenience. Like any oral surgery, your mouth is going to be very sensitive afterwards and you are likely to feel quite tired, so having a friend or family member prepared to drive you from the office is more ideal. If you plan on getting sedation, you’ll be required to have someone drive you from the office as the sedative can take several hours to wear off (with the exception of nitrous oxide, which goes away only a few minutes after the mask is removed.)
Have Soft Food Ready to Eat at Home
Not only will you need to be as gentle on your teeth as possible following implant surgery, but you’ll also need to take careful steps to prevent your stitches from coming out as you begin the healing process. This means sticking to soft, cold foods for at least the next couple of days so your surgical site has time to heal. These foods could be smoothies (without a straw), applesauce, ice cream, and cold soups.
Make a trip to the grocery store and have them ready to consume following your appointment. The last thing you’ll want to do is make last-minute errands when you should be getting as much bedrest as possible.
Dental implants can be life-changing, but taking a few precautions ahead of surgery can make all the difference as well. To learn more tips on preparing for dental implant surgery, get in touch with a dentist today!
About Texas Dental Surgery
The dentists at Texas Dental Surgery are trained to perform many dental treatments all under one roof, including the placement of dental implants. Whether you need single or multiple implants placed to rebuild your smile, you can expect a highly trained team with decades of combined experience in the field ready to serve your needs and help you get as comfortable as possible. To schedule an appointment, you can contact them through their website.