PRE-SURGERY
General Anaesthetic
Some surgery requires specific preparation. We’ll give you written instructions about anything you need to know before surgery. Your nurse will explain and carry out any special preparation required prior to your surgery. If you have any questions or concerns, you can discuss them with your registered nurse. These are some basic pre-surgery requirements:
- Generally you will not be allowed food or drink for at least 6 hours prior to surgery.
- Do not take any prescribed or over the counter (OTC) medication (including natural remedies) without advising Dr West beforehand. Some natural remedies, such as arnica, ginseng, garlic and medications such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs can increase bleeding significantly.
- Before surgery your anaesthetist will consult with you to discuss the anaesthetic procedure and get your written consent for anaesthesia.
- Because you must not drive a car following surgery on the day of having a general anaesthetic, if you’re having day surgery, you’ll have to arrange for someone to drive you home and be at home with you for several hours post-surgery.
Your medical history
Before surgery we will record your symptoms, previous treatment (if any), medical and dental history and social and lifestyle factors. We need to know your complete medical and dental history to help plan the best possible treatment. Provide a list of all the medicines you are taking now or have been taking recently. This includes aspirin, cough medicines, hormone replacement medicines and the contraceptive pill. Let us know if you have ever had an allergy or bad reaction to antibiotics, any medicine or general anaesthetic. Also tell us if you bleed heavily when you are injured or have surgery, or if you have any blood disorders, such as haemophilia. Since surgery is not usually done during pregnancy, let us know if you are, could be, or plan to be pregnant.
Be realistic
When you make the decision to have surgery, keep in mind that we cannot guarantee that the surgery will always be successful or that the surgery bears no risk. The operation and its outcome may not meet your expectations. We encourage you to discuss fully with your surgeon the treatment to be completed and the likely outcome you expect. If you have any questions or concerns, we’re here to help.
POST-SURGERY
Following surgery our nursing staff will brief you about the post-operative phase of your management. You will be provided with appropriate pain-killers, antibiotics (if necessary) and anti-septic mouthwashes (if needed). You will also be provided with a written sheet of instructions which our nursing staff will discuss and explain to you and your care-giver.
ANAESTHESIA
What are the types of anaesthesia?
- Local anaesthesia: For more simple surgeries, we may only need to give you a local anaesthetic. This will numb the surgical site so surgery can be carried out painlessly.
- Some patients may benefit from a sedative drug administered intravenously prior to the administration of local anaesthetic. The drug relieves anxiety in patients and produces a conscious sedation. This sedation creates a ‘twilight sleep’, enabling surgery to be carried out without causing distress.
- General anaesthesia: In some circumstances it may be necessary to use a general anaesthetic. In these cases, patients are administered drugs by a specialist anaesthetist to produce a deep sleep for the duration of the surgery. These procedures are always carried out in a hospital operating room. We can arrange both day cases and overnight stays in the appropriate hospital for the surgery.
There are some circumstances where general anaesthetic is preferred. Dr. Jayendra Purohit will discuss the anaesthetic options with you taking into consideration your medical history.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When can I eat and drink after surgery?
You can start to eat and drink soon after surgery, but you should avoid chewing hard foods. Drinking plenty of fluids (not alcohol) is beneficial to recovery and the recommended mouthwashes will clean the surgery sites. The mouth washes should not be started until the day after surgery.
Will I need any follow-up?
We like to see our patients for review approximately one week after surgery to check healing.
Will I have bleeding after the surgery?
Bleeding is possible after any surgery, but generally after oral surgery major bleeding is very rare (sutures prevent this). It is common to experience some minor bleeding/blood stained saliva for up to 24 hours. If you are concerned, contact us immediately for assistance.
What about antibiotics after the operation to stop infection?
Some surgical procedures do not require the use of antibiotics. Some patients are given a single dose of antibiotics to be taken before their operation to prevent infections. Often antibiotics are continued for several days after surgery.
Can I take homoeopathic remedies to help my healing?
Do not take any homeopathic or naturopathic remedies prior to surgery. Some remedies have the potential to interfere with clotting post-surgery, and can cause excessive bleeding.
Can I be asleep for the surgery?
It is possible to have surgery under general anaesthetic. This requires admission to hospital so surgery can be carried out in a properly equipped operating theatre. A specialist anaesthetist is required to administer the anaesthetic. Most often surgery can be carried out as a day case, but some procedures require an over-night stay. In many cases an alternative to a general anaesthetic is to have surgery carried out under local anaesthetic with conscious intravenous sedation. This produces a pleasant feeling with reduction of anxiety; however it does not produce a deep sleep. Local anaesthetic with sedation can safely be performed in our rooms.
Can I use Ice Packs?
If there is any swelling or bruising, you may find an Ice Pack applied to the skin over the surgery site for short periods after the operation to be comforting. It is a good idea to wrap the ice-pack with a towel to avoid burning of the skin.
Should I smoke?
No. Any form of smoking has been proven to slow healing and result in a greater risk of infections and dry socket (see below). Smoking has also been shown to reduce the success rate of dental implants. We encourage our patients to stop smoking around their surgery.
Will it be uncomfortable after the surgery?
Immediately after the surgery your mouth should be completely comfortable as local anaesthetic will have been placed to numb the area during the procedure. This will wear off after several hours and depending on the extent of the required surgery, it is normal to experience some pain as part of your body’s healing process. This should be managed with the medication you will have been prescribed as part of your care. If you should experience any unexpected pain, please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.
Do stitches need to be removed?
No. Most modern sutures completely dissolve without the need for removal.
Should I stop my normal medications before surgery?
No. As a general rule you should continue all medications prescribed by your doctor throughout the surgery period. This particularly applies to any heart, blood pressure or blood thinning medications. Your medications should be discussed during the consultation appointment so we can plan any changes.
What is a dry socket?
A dry socket is a poor healing response that occurs in approximately 10-15% of particularly lower wisdom tooth extractions. They are more likely to occur in older patients or those with pre-existing infections in their wisdom teeth. The incidence of dry socket is also increased in smokers. Patients experience an unpleasant dull nagging pain that typically occurs on the 3rd to 5th post-operative day and lasts for 3-4 days. It is usually well managed by taking pain medication and if required, a temporary dressing in the socket.
When can I clean my teeth and rinse my mouth after the surgery?
In order to avoid any disturbance to the wound we ask patients to avoid rinsing their mouth until the following morning after surgery when gentle tooth brushing and usual mouth cleaning can resume.
When can I get back to work/study?
This will vary depending on the extent of the surgery and individual recovery, but as a minimum, we would recommend the remainder of the day of the operation to be spent resting and then progressively resume normal activities over a period of a week.
Who do I call after-hours if I am worried about anything?
Following surgery you will be provided with all of Dr. Jayendra Purohit contact numbers, including his cellphone and home numbers.
Please do not hesitate to call our clinic on 0281 – 2483162 during working hours, or Dr Jayendra Purohit’s cellphone 98247 32496 after working hours. we are also treating 24 hours emergency.