After the consultation, the first step towards your dream smile with dental implants is your placement surgery. If you’ve never had oral surgery before and are anxious about what to expect, or you’re just striving for the best results possible and a speedy recovery, preparing for your procedure is a great idea. A beautiful, functional, and complete smile is just around the corner! Read on for three pre-operative tips for your dental implant surgery.
Get Any Questions You May Have Answered
A major source of anxiety for many patients receiving any type of surgical procedure is the unknown. If you don’t feel like you’re well-informed on what to expect during the process, asking your dentist more questions about their qualifications, the details of the surgery, and other concerns that are on your mind will help provide you with some relief. The best time to do this is during your initial consultation before you schedule your placement, or if you think of some questions to ask later on, you can always call your dental office or reach out via email.
Stock Your Refrigerator with Appropriate Foods
Just like if you were to have a tooth extracted, you’ll need to eat soft foods that are gentle on the gums following dental implant surgery. Be sure to take a trip to the grocery store a few days before your procedure and pick up the following post-surgery-safe foods to stock your refrigerator and pantry with:
- Scrambled eggs with cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Smoothies
- Yogurt
- Protein shakes
- Oatmeal
- Sauteed leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Cooked fish
- Cottage cheese
These foods all have immense nutritious value to help you recover and will not irritate or inflame your gums.
Pick Up Your Medications & Create a Comfortable Environment
Look ahead to your post-operative instructions from your dentist and see what you can do to prepare, like pick up medications and create a comfortable environment at home. This can also include purchasing pillows to prop your head up to prevent swelling. If you know you’ll be receiving dental sedation, plan ahead to have a trusted friend or family member drop you off and pick you up from your dentist’s office and be sure to take time off work.
About the Author
With over a decade of experience in the dental field and hundreds of hours of specialized training under his belt, Dr. Rafiq Hirji is able to offer the entire dental implant procedure in-office. This drastically minimizes any stress and miscommunication that could occur due to being referred out for the placement part of this treatment and streamlines his patients’ experiences. For questions or to schedule a consultation, visit Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental & Orthodontics’ website or call 972-947-9625.