“Post-Surgical Care?”

Posted by drgracesun on July 18, 2009 under General Dental Knowledge, Information, Smart Smile | Be the First to Comment

Summer break is a busy time for oral surgeons, who are often busy extracting the wisdom teeth of college bound or high school students. This wisdom teeth removal surgery could be the biggest medical and dental procedure for a young person.  As long as as you are under the care of a capable and well-experienced oral surgeon, the procedure should run smoothly, but proper home care after having the wisdom teeth removed is very important to assure a healthy and speedy recovery.

Anesthetics or sedatives used during oral surgical procedures will often take a couple hours to wear away – the first 72 hours are crucial for normative recovery. Pain medication like anti-inflammatory Ibuprofen or narcotic Tylenol #3 with codeine often is prescribed depending on the severity of the procedure in addition to a 3-times-daily antibiotic, such as amoxycillin.

Regarding eating and drinking after oral surgery, avoid soft drinks for a week and avoid alcohol for 3 to 5 days .No smoking forever is the best, however if you really are dying for a draft,wait as long as possible, at least for 24 hours for being kind to your body. The first day at home should consist of using a cold compression (ice bag on 15 minute off 15 minutes for few hours), which can eliminate swelling. Stay away from straws and any mouth-opening activities to prevent loosing blood clots which lay a foundation for regenerate tissues as part of the natural healing process. Using a straw can cause the painful condition known as “dry socket.” Both preventing infection and timely healing are pivotal for post-surgery patients; follow the instructions from your surgeon on medication, diets, hygiene and habit. You’ll fully recover in no time.

Other than chipmunk cheeks for a couple days, the other common complication related with wisdom teeth extraction is the discomfort associated with dry socket. What causes dry socket and the prevention of dry socket are still being researched, but as a general rule the surgeon’s technique should be gentle and precise, so as to not traumatize the bone during the procedure. If the tooth is impacted or laying side ways, instead of forcing it out with forceps (which can create excessive compression on the bone), the surgeon should use a rotary tool with a saline cooling system to create access to the impacted molar . The molar will be dissected into smaller pieces and removed, without traumatizing the bone. On the patient’s part, there should be no rinsing, spitting, smoking or sucking of any kind for the first 24 hours after oral surgery. This will prevent disruption of the blood clot from a physical force in the mouth. Better oxygen saturation and circulation of the blood from not smoking is also important for healing. A good diet rich in antioxidants and vitamin c, lean proteins are good for tissue regeneration, for overcoming the negative influence on our body from consuming antibiotics. Eat yogurt or take acidophalus to restore the friendly flora in our body to prevent a yeast infection.

If your are healthy, forget all the above mentioned, you will be just fine after surviving the oral surgery!

“What About Dry Mouth?”

Posted by drgracesun on July 8, 2009 under General Dental Knowledge, Healthy Smile, Information | Be the First to Comment

Do you have a hard time swallowing? Do you ever get cotton mouth (when your throat is dry and uncomfortable)? Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is a serious issue that many people suffer from, though most are unaware a problem exists (or do not know how to care for it).

Xerostomia is a condition in which the salivary glands of the mouth do not function as they should, and provide a less-than-adequate supply of saliva into the mouth. This is not only uncomfortable, but it also weakens natural defense system for your teeth. Saliva rinses food particles away from your teeth, neutralizing acids which can harm your teeth, providing enzymes to help digest food (which also keep oral tissues healthy).

In order to actually understand how to prevent dry mouth, it is important to understand what causes it. Often times, dry mouth can be brought on with emotional and physical stress. Aging, radiative therapy, chemotherapy, medication and physical illness (such as AIDS, diabetes, strokes or Alzheimer’s disease) can cause dry mouth. Various pharmaceutical studies have proven that over 400 prescription and OTC medications can cause xerostomia, such as: anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, tranquilizers, analgesics, diuretics and antihistamines.  Speak with your physician if you are experiencing dry mouth while taking any of these medications.

The consequences of dry mouth can effect one’s quality of life tremendously. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing or speaking, frequent ulcers or sores of the mouth, a frequently altered sense of taste, extensive tooth decay or gum diseases and bad breath. Speak with your physician or dental care professional about what you can do to prevent dry mouth. General rules to ease the discomfort of dry mouth include brushing and flossing twice daily and after meals! Drink plenty of water, work on a healthier diet, chew sugarless gum. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, avoid salty or dry foods (like chips, toast and crackers) and use over-the-counter oral moisture replacement products to lessen the displeasing effects of dry mouth. Visit your dental professional regularly for preventative care and to have additional preventive treaments (like sealant or home fluoride treatment) as needed to preserve your oral health.