Young couple with a young girl playingOral surgeons Dr. Perry Brooks and Dr. Seth Brooks of Oklahoma Dental Implants and Oral Surgery know that for many of their Moore patients, oral surgery is their first experience with surgery of any kind. Therefore, patients are understandably curious, and sometimes nervous, of what the process will be like.

But don’t let the unknown get to you. Here are 5 questions we think you should ask your oral surgeon to be prepared for your procedure.

  1. What Are My Sedation Options?

Don’t worry – we never perform oral surgery on patients who aren’t completely numbed with local anesthesia. For some patients, numbing is all they need. Others desire a little more medical intervention to help them relax, or even fall asleep, during their procedures.

Dr. Perry Brooks and Dr. Seth Brooks offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to patients who want some help taking the nervous edge off, but don’t want to be put asleep. But they also offer IV sedation and general anesthesia for patients who want no memory of their surgery at all. However, if you want to go this route, you’ll need to tell your oral surgeon in advance, and you’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you to your procedure, wait for you during your surgery, and drive you home. Because the drugs used during IV sedation and general anesthesia are so strong, you won’t be allowed to drive home after having them administered. 

  1. How Long Will My Oral Surgery Last?

Another thing that helps to calm Moore oral surgery patients’ nerves is knowing about how long they can expect the procedure to last. Knowing this information just gives you more knowledge of what to expect on surgery day.

  1. Will I Have Any Restrictions When The Surgery Is Done?

Some oral surgeries, like wisdom teeth removal, will come with strict post-op instructions from your oral surgeon such as no smoking or vaping, and no using a straw during your recovery. This is because the blood clot that forms over your jawbone when your wisdom tooth is removed can be dislodged out of place if you were to smoke, vape, or suck through a straw while you’re healing. While you’ll always receive post-op instructions, knowing in advance that smoking and vaping won’t be allowed for the first few days will better help you prepare for your recovery.

  1. Will There Be An After Care Routine I Need to Follow?

Sometimes after oral surgery, you might need to rinse with warm water or salt water. Other times, not. The importance of knowing what your aftercare routine will be like before you head home on surgery day is it allows you to shop for any items your doctor may instruct you to use, instead of rushing to a Moore drug store on your way home after your oral surgery. 

  1. When Can I Go Back to Eating and Drinking Anything I Want?

Many oral surgeries require you to go on a soft food diet for the first few days after your procedure. But we know that smoothies, yogurt, and scrambled eggs can get old really quickly!

Ask your oral surgeon how long you’ll have to be on this diet, and how to re-introduce your favorite foods back into your meal routine as you heal. For example, as much as you love it, peanut brittle is likely going to be a no-go for a while until you’ve fully healed.

If You Need Oral Surgery, We’re Here for You

Whether your Moore dentist has referred you to our practice for a specific procedure, or you suspect you need a local provider and are looking for someone to provide that care, we’re happy to help. Simply call us today to get the process started at (405) 329-3500.