The prospect of oral surgery can be scary for many patients, but at Mark W. Wilhelm, DMD, we can assure you that there’s no reason to stress.
That’s because we offer sedation dentistry in our Woodbury, MN dental office to make you feel completely relaxed, and we also take our time to make sure you understand and feel comfortable every step of the way.
The most important thing to remember is that oral surgery is a solution, not something to fear. Our highly-trained team and our advanced technology make dental treatment easier and more comfortable than ever before, so you can have peace of mind knowing we’ll do all we can to give you a positive experience.
And of course, the treatment you’re receiving will help preserve your oral health and your beautiful smile!
Plan Ahead For Smoother Oral Surgery & Recovery
A little preparation before your oral surgery will help to ensure a smooth procedure and an easier recovery. Here are some helpful tips!
*Wear Comfortable Clothes & Leave Jewelry At Home*
It’s important that you come to your appointment feeling comfortable, so dress accordingly. Make sure your clothes aren’t too baggy, though, because loose clothing can get caught or snagged during your procedure.
Also, keep your face clear of makeup and keep the jewelry at home.
*Make Sure You Read & Understand Pre/Post-Op Instructions*
You’ll receive some type of instructions from Dr. Wilhelm before your procedure. You definitely don’t want to wait until the last minute to read those because you’ll want to give yourself time to ask any questions if you need Dr. Wilhelm to clarify anything.
*Don’t Eat Or Drink Anything Before Your Procedure*
Dr. Wilhelm can let you know for sure about the eating and drinking specifications during your pre-op visit. But usually, you can expect to avoid foods and drinks, other than a small amount of water, about 8 hours or more before your surgery.
*Stock Your Kitchen Properly*
There are a couple of ways you can prepare your kitchen before your surgery that will make for easier recovery.
First, make sure you know what kinds of foods you’ll be able to eat comfortably after your procedure.
For most patients, soft, bland foods are best until the treated areas in your mouth have properly healed. You could stock the fridge with pudding, yogurt, or applesauce. Cook mashed potatoes and other soft foods and freeze them ahead of time.
Another good idea is to make sure you have a few cold packs in the freezer to help with any pain or swelling during recovery.
*Create An Entertainment Station*
Even if you feel able to get up and walk around during the hours or days of your recovery, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. But we know that it’s easy to get a bit antsy.
That’s why we recommend creating an entertainment station near the couch or bed so you have books, movies, games, cell phone and iPad chargers within reach.
Schedule Your Oral Surgery
Dr. Wilhelm and our highly-trained staff perform oral surgeries everyday. It’s merely routine for us.
But we understand that’s it’s not routine for you. So we do all we can to make sure you understand every step of the process, and that you feel completely comfortable before, during, and after your oral surgery.
Talk to us about your concerns as you begin the planning process with us. Call (651) 319-9064 to schedule an appointment at our Woodbury, MN dental office. You can also request an appointment online.
