What Is the Fastest Way to Recover From Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery?

Posted on 1/15/2024 by San Tan Oral Surgery

Image of a smiling woman eating yogurt after her oral surgery.

Whether you went through oral and maxillofacial surgery to have an impacted wisdom tooth extracted, an implant placed, or the symptoms of TMJ minimized, speedy recovery calls for intentional care post-surgery. Failure to adhere to a set of guidelines by your dental surgeon could cause complications and delay healing. Read on for the fastest way to recover from oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Adhere to Your Prescription

After surgery, you will likely get an antibiotic prescription to prevent infection in the surgical area and anti-inflammatory drugs to facilitate recovery. Follow the medication guidelines for faster recovery and comfort throughout this period.

Follow Your Dietary Guidelines

Your nutritional needs will increase post-surgery as your body needs nutrients to facilitate faster wound healing. Avoid scorching hot drinks and foods. Also, stick to soft foods, rich in nutrients, for the first few days to promote recovery. Refrain from hard foods as those can damage your surgical site.

Apply Cold Therapy

Immediately after surgery, you may experience some bleeding, which is manageable with gauze. This gauze improves blood clotting and promotes healing. When the bleeding stops, apply cold therapy through an ice pack in a towel on the affected area for about 30 minutes to control pain and inflammation.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

While you should avoid the surgical area for several hours after surgery, start proper hygiene using a post-surgical or soft bristle toothbrush the following day. Be gentle in brushing, as excessive brushing will cause bleeding or pull out the stitches.

Get Enough Rest

Like any other surgery, your body must recover after jaw surgery to facilitate faster healing. Get as much rest as possible and avoid heavy activities up to 48 hours after the procedure.

Jaw surgery requires lifestyle modifications for quick recovery, and with the above guidelines, you can rest assured of a smooth recovery period. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

About
Dr. Cynthia Colson

Dr. Colson grew up in the Metro area, attending Camelback High School and ASU. She graduated from the University of Kentucky Dental School and completed her residency at Long Island Jewish Hospital in Long Island, New York. She also attended an anesthesia fellowship program at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has traveled with Healing The Children, a non-profit organization, to Bucarumanga Columbia treating patients with cleft lip and palate deformities.
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What our patients are saying about us

"Dr. Colson is amazing! She explained everything thoroughly without sounding condescending and gently but directly guides you through the whole procedure. She is excellent and super experienced. I got my wisdom teeth pulled (3 partially impacted and one simply extracted) and aside from asking too many questions under laughing gas before the general anesthesia knocked me out, I got no complications and have had essentially no pain at all." – Ana D.

Mid-age woman smiling and crossing her arms.

Office hours

Mon - Thur: 8am to 5:00pm
Friday: 8am to 2:00pm

Location

3303 S. Lindsay Rd.
Suite 112
Gilbert, AZ 85297

Contact

Office: (480) 604-2592

Connect

Santanxray@gmail.com

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If you have recently been told you need oral surgery, you have come to the right place. Call San Tan Oral Surgery to schedule your initial consultation today!
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