If you’re scheduled for oral surgery at our Missoula or Hamilton office in the near future, you probably have a lot of very important questions:
- Will it help? Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon has the skill and experience to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the face, mouth, and jaw with a number of different surgical procedures. Oral surgeons are the experts in these surgical specialties, so you are in good hands!
- Will it hurt? Your oral surgeon has been trained in all types of anesthesiology, so you can choose the sedation experience which will make you most comfortable.
- What should I do after surgery? Don’t worry! Dr. Holtzen will give you clear instructions on caring for the surgical site, selecting soothing diet options, cleaning your mouth, and all of the other practices that will enable a speedy and smooth recovery.
- What should I wear? Wait—fashion questions?
Yes! Part of being prepared for your surgery is being as comfortable as you can be during and after the procedure. Happily, there is no strict oral surgery dress code. It’s more a basic list of recommendations for what not to wear.
- Don’t wear something you’re not comfortable in. Generally, loose fitting clothing is best.
- Don’t wear clothing that might be difficult to clean. While you and your clothing will be well protected, blood, irrigation, and other staining hazards are all occasionally part of the surgical process.
- Don’t wear something that will be difficult to remove after surgery. No one wants to struggle out of a tight turtleneck even at the best of times!
- Don’t wear jewelry. And, by the way, this includes tongue and facial piercings.
- Don’t be afraid to layer. While the office staff will try to make sure you are as warm or as cool as you would like to be, it’s a good idea to bring a jacket or sweater for extra warmth.
- Don’t wear tight sleeves. Short sleeves or sleeves that can be rolled up easily allow access to your arm if you are having IV sedation or blood pressure monitoring.
- Don’t wear contact lenses, especially if you are planning on IV sedation or a general anesthetic, because your eyes might be closed throughout the procedure.
If you have any questions in advance of your oral surgery, give our Missoula or Hamilton office a call. Planning ahead is always in fashion!