02
Sep
Oral Surgery: How to Speed Up Your Recovery
Few people relish the thought of undergoing oral surgery. Sometimes, however, it can’t be avoided to improve or restore oral health. Dental procedures like impacted wisdom tooth removal, root canals, implants, and bone grafting require surgery. By following your dentist’s post-op instructions, you can recover more quickly with fewer complications. In this post, Dr. Wayne Sutton from Sonoma Smiles in Rohnert Park, California, shares tips on promoting a smoother and speedier recovery from oral surgery.
What Helps Oral Surgery Heal Faster?
Factors such as the type and complexity of the surgery and your personal healing rate all influence your recovery from oral surgery. Initial healing takes as little as 2 or 3 days for many procedures. However, you may experience pain, inflammation, or tenderness around the surgical site as you recover. Full healing can take up to a week when your gum tissue returns to normal.
Healing from oral surgery is a process that happens gradually. The following tips can help you expedite that process:
Rest After Your Surgery: Take time to rest and recover after your procedure, as resting helps your body heal. You may feel well enough to work or engage in other activities, but doing so can prolong your overall healing. Rest, relaxation, and daily naps all aid in your recovery. Above all else, avoid strenuous activity for at least several days to curtail bleeding. Keep in mind there’s always the risk of infection, bleeding, bruising, or other complications after oral surgery. Doing your part can minimize these risks and help you recover more quickly from your procedure.
Take Medication as Needed: Take OTC or prescription pain medication to relieve pain and inflammation after your procedure. Placing ice packs on your cheek over the affected area can also help reduce swelling.
Eat Soft Foods: Dr. Sutton recommends consuming only soft foods during the initial days of your recovery. Soups, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoothies, and yogurt are good choices as they’re rich in nutrients and don’t require a lot of chewing. Be sure to drink plenty of water, as staying hydrated can speed your recovery.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene: Following a tooth extraction, it’s important to keep your mouth as clean as possible to prevent infection. However, you should brush your teeth gently and avoid the extraction site. A blood clot should form at the surgical site to aid with healing. Disturbing or dislodging this clot can lead to a painful condition called dry socket. Rinsing with warm salt water several times a day will also help promote healing.
Don’t Smoke or Drink Alcohol: Smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages can impede the healing process and even lead to complications after your surgery. It’s best to avoid these activities altogether during your recovery.
Safe Oral Surgery Treatment Near Me
For safe and effective oral surgery treatments, contact Dr. Wayne Sutton at Sonoma Smiles in Rohnert Park, CA, by calling (707) 585-2555.
Dr. Wayne Sutton
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A renowned cosmetic dentist in Sonoma County, Dr. Sutton has over 20 years of experience and maintains a standard of excellence at his implant center using the strongest dental implant bridge currently available to provide predictable full mouth dental implant reconstructions.
Dr. Sutton received his postgraduate at The Pacific Aesthetic Continuum in San Francisco and his doctorate and three years of experience as a clinical instructor from UCSF School of Dentistry in 1997, where he was the only one to receive the “Clinical Excellence Award”. He also studied Advanced Occlusion at the Hornbrook Group and earned his Fellowship in the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics.
Today, Dr. Sutton takes over 4 times the annual continuing education requirements to maintain his license. He is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (awarded his Fellowship), the Academy of General Dentistry (Fellowships status), the American Dental Implant Association (Diplomat status), the American Dental Association, the American Academy for Dental Sleep Medicine, and is a select cosmetic dentist recognized as an Official Dentist of the Mrs. Globe – Mrs. USA Pageants.