All of us at Billings Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center understand that a surgery can easily disrupt your day-to-day schedule. Most of us don’t like the idea of slowing down our regular routines and want to know how long it will take to get back to normal after a surgical procedure. It is very common to be curious about what to expect post-surgery, which is why we came up with some tips to help ensure you have a great post-surgery experience. With the help of these pre-surgery tips, you’ll be ready for treatment and back to your routine with a restored smile!
The 3 tips:
- Stock Up Your Kitchen. Rather than asking someone to bring you food or settling for hard foods that could potentially slow the healing process, visit the grocery store the night before your procedure. If you are slightly swollen or sore after surgery, having soft foods available to eat will help you avoid complications with the surgical sites. If your procedure requires sedation, you will be unable to drive after your surgery, so you need to plan ahead. Stock up on your favorite soft foods (e.g., applesauce, soups, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, nutritional drinks, etc.). Planning ahead will keep you stress-free, and you won’t have to resort to hard foods or go hungry. Those should not even be options!
- Be Mindful of Scheduling. We understand that people have responsibilities, but you also need to give yourself enough time to recover properly so that you don’t extend your recovery time. If you try to resume your normal, everyday activities too soon, you are putting yourself at risk for complications. The majority of our procedures are outpatient and do not require long-term recovery periods, but you still shouldn’t rush your recovery. Consider picking a surgery date around a holiday or a long weekend — figure out the best time for you to relax and recover without stress. We are happy to accommodate your needs, so consider your schedule and find a time that works best.
- Have Something to Do While You Recover. After acquiring your favorite soft foods to eat after your procedure, you’ll want to plan some enjoyable, restful activities to do while you recover. Have some interesting books on hand, movies you want to see, puzzles you never finished, and games to play to keep you occupied and entertained! Do your best to keep yourself busy and avoid putting stress on your body. Planning restful activities will help your recovery time seem shorter and deter any temptation to do activities that may slow down your healing process.
We want to make your recovery as smooth as possible, and with these tips, we feel you will have a comfortable and successful recovery. Keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to discuss your recovery time and specific pre- and post-operative instructions with your oral surgeon. If you have questions about your post-surgery process, or would like to schedule an appointment at Billings Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center, please feel free to call us.
