Ignoring a problem and hoping it will just go away on its own may sound like a good plan, but you know that’s not how it works. Not only does that strategy not solve anything, it can actually make the problem worse or even inspire an entirely new set of problems.

This is especially true when it comes to your health. If you have a dental problem that requires oral surgery, choosing to ignore it will only put you at risk for more serious health issues in the long run. That’s why we want to encourage you to trust your oral health to our team at Beck Dental Care in Columbia, TN. Our warm, friendly staff and our highly trained dental professionals will go out of our way to make you feel comfortable while you receive treatment for your dental problem so you can get back to enjoying your life pain-free.

Today, we’re sharing some tips about how you can plan ahead for your

oral surgery

to ensure a smoother recovery and a more positive experience overall.

How Does Oral Surgery Help Your Smile?

Restorative dentistry has come a long way in recent years, so many dental complications can be resolved with simple treatments. But sometimes, there are problems that still require some kind of oral surgery, such as:

-Placing dental implants or implant-supported dentures

-Tooth extractions (wisdom teeth, resolve overcrowding before orthodontic treatment)

-Strengthening your jawbone

-Adding healthy gum tissue

-Saving an infected or damaged tooth

Our dentists are highly skilled professionals who have the training and experience to help solve your dental problems. If you need oral surgery, give our Columbia dental office a call today to set up an appointment.

Planning Ahead For A Smooth Oral Surgery

While Dr. Beck and our experienced team prepares for your procedure, there are several things you can do to prepare as well. This will help make the entire process go more smoothly and could also help speed up your recovery time.

Carefully read all of your pre-op instructions ahead of time.

Make sure to do this a few days in advance. Any instructions provided to you by our team are done so with your best interests in mind, so it’s important to read and understand them. If you wait until the last minute to read over them, you might run into something you don’t understand or something you no longer have time to do.

Be aware of any dietary restrictions in the 24 hours preceding your surgery.

As with any surgery, your doctor may tell you to avoid eating or drinking anything before your surgery. This will vary according to your particular procedure, but usually it’s within those last several hours beforehand. If your surgery is scheduled for early in the morning, you might have to start fasting the night before, for example.

Head to your local grocery store to stock up on soft, bland foods.

Again, depending on your procedure, you may not be ready in the days after your procedure to handle foods that are particularly difficult to chew, so soft foods like applesauce, pudding, or yogurt would be a good idea. Also, spicy foods and certain post-op medications may not sit well on your stomach, so bland foods are a better choice as you heal.

Plan for ways to entertain yourself as you recover.

You might have to take it easy for a couple of days after your procedure, and any pain medications prescribed by your dentist might make it difficult to be up and about. Make sure you stock plenty of easily accessible forms of entertainment while you rest up such as books, movies, or games.

Have some cold packs on hand.

As we mentioned before, you might be prescribed certain medications to relieve any pain or swelling that may occur as a result of your procedure. But one of the things you can do to help you stay comfortable during recovery is to have some cold packs on hand in your freezer to reduce swelling and the pain that can sometimes come with it. While you’re at the store stocking up on soft, bland foods, be sure to grab a cold pack or a bag of frozen vegetables and put it in the freezer the night before your surgery.

Trust our caring, experienced team at Beck Dental Care when you need oral surgery. Give us a call today at (931) 388-8452 or fill out our

online form

to schedule your appointment.