Your Surgery

A day or two before your surgery:

Stock up on liquid foods you can eat without chewing. These include total-nutrition drinks, soup, and milk. Foods that are easy to liquefy, such as bananas, are good too.

If you don't already have a blender, buy or borrow one. Arrange for an adult family member or friend to give you a ride home and stay with you after surgery.

Don't eat or drink for at least 8 hours before surgery. Ask the surgeon whether to take your regular medications during this period. If so, take them with small sips of water.

Be sure to ask our oral surgeons or their staff any questions that you have.

Surgery takes place in your oral surgeons office. In some cases in may need to take place in a hospital or surgery center. The procedure will last approximately an hour. Our staff will keep you as comfortable as possible and help you recover until you're ready to go home.

When you arrive, staff will prepare you for surgery. An IV line will be started to provide you with fluids and medications. Before surgery, you'll meet with your anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist. This is to discuss the medication (general anesthesia) used to keep you asleep and free of pain during surgery.

Once you're under anesthesia, the surgery will be performed. To help stabilize the bite, a plastic splint may be placed between the chewing surfaces of your teeth.

Risks and possible complications of surgery include:

• Temporary pain and swelling
• Bleeding
• Numbness (in most cases temporary)
• Infection
• Loss of teeth or bone
• Risks of anesthesia

After surgery, your IV will be in place. Ice packs will be applied to your face to control swelling and your face will most likely be numb. We normally do this in the office and once you wake up the IV will be removed and recovery will begin.

Your jaws usually will not be wired together and you will be able to open and close your mouth immediately following surgery, although your muscles are sore and not strong enough.