Before venturing to see ways in which a person can prepare for oral surgery, we first need to make ourselves clear on what we mean by the term ‘oral surgery.’ The term, as it turns out, refers to surgery that is performed on the mouth, or through the mouth. We are looking at, for instance, operations that are carried out on teeth: teeth extractions being very common examples. A tooth extraction, if we may zero in on it for a moment, is quite a major surgical operation, contrary to what many of us have come to believe. In essence, it is a minor amputation. You could think of it as a non-issue, until you come to learn of people who have lost their lives, on account of teeth extractions gone wrong. The aim in telling you this is not to scare you (in fact, you should head for a tooth extraction as soon as one is indicated, because any further delay only makes things worse). But the aim in telling you that is to show what the implications of oral surgery are.
Other examples of oral surgery would include those aimed at teeth realignment. Strictly speaking, the operations involved in teeth refilling, dental veneering and dental bonding would also qualify to be termed as instances of oral surgery.
So we are starting at a point where you have just been informed that you have to submit to one such operation. How do you prepare for it?
Well, preparation for oral surgery has both a physical dimension and a psychological dimension.
On the physical side, one of the most obvious things you need to do is brush your teeth thoroughly on the day of the surgery. This you would be doing so as to make an easy and less tortuous work for the dentist. You may even consider making use of a mouthwash, just to be sure that there is no residual odor. The fact that our teeth are given to bad odor is no secret. But when someone has to work on them, we need to be considerate enough, and keep it to a minimum. If you are traveling to a far place for the procedure (so that it may be hours before the operations can take place, by which time the odor-causing bacteria would have rose in number again), you may consider taking your toothbrushes with you. If it is a major surgical procedure you are going to submit to, one that requires for you to be put under general anesthesia, there are specific preparatory instructions that your doctor may give you, and these need to be followed to the letter. A good night’s sleep on the day preceding the operation will do you a lot of good. Making arrangements to be on time for the procedure is also a good idea. In all this, it is hoped that you will have shopped for an experienced and knowledgeable dental surgeon whom you are comfortable with, to increase the chances for a positive outcome.
On the psychological side, you need to combat any fears you may have regarding the procedure. Many of us harbor dental phobias of various degrees, and these have to be confronted. Focusing on the benefits you stand to get out of the surgery (better looks, less pain, reduced odor and so on) will make your fears go down or look inconsequential. If you are religiously inclined, you may consider praying for the procedure to go well. This seems to be the sort of thing where your expectations often turn out to be self-fulfilling prophecies; so hope for the very best – and take proactive steps to increase chances of it (the very best) turning out to be the outcome.
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