Understanding the Importance of Pre-Op Instructions for Oral Surgery

If you’re undergoing oral surgery, you will receive pre-op instructions from our office outlining what you need to do (and NOT do) before your surgery. If you are concerned about how your surgery will go, following your pre-op instructions carefully is crucial. Ignoring any part of your instructions can lead to serious complications or rescheduling of your surgery for your safety.

Why Are Pre-Op Instructions Important?

Any surgery puts added stress on your body and its ability to recover. Following your pre-op instructions ensures your body isn’t overly stressed before surgery and is in good physical shape. The more closely you follow our pre-op instructions, the better your surgical outcome will be. For instance, if we ask you to stop smoking for at least a week before oral surgery, you can be sure your recovery time will be significantly longer and the chance of infection higher if you are still smoking the day before surgery.

What are the Risks of Ignoring Pre-Op Instructions?

The pre-op instructions we give patients all serve a purpose in keeping you safe and ensuring your surgery is successful. If you are tempted to skip any of the instructions provided, consider the following risks tied to specific actions:

• Taking herbal remedies and vitamin supplements that interact with surgery-related medications or anesthesia can be dangerous. If you are told to discontinue them two weeks before surgery, be sure to do so.
• If you do not stop taking blood thinners as directed, you could bleed excessively during surgery.
• Wearing makeup, nail polish, or acrylic nails can interfere with monitors used to track your vital signs.
• Taking over-the-counter aspirin or ibuprofen can lead to excessive bleeding, so be sure to call our office and ask before taking any in the days before surgery.
• While it is tempting to eat “just a little something,” you should never eat or drink for at least 8 hours before surgery involving anesthesia. This is for your safety. You could vomit and choke on the food as a reaction to our anesthesia, resulting in injury or death. You could also aspirate food into your lungs, leading to pneumonia and breathing difficulties.
• If any of your pre-op instructions are neglected, your oral surgeon will reschedule your surgery at a later date. You will have to wait longer for your problem to be resolved, which could lead to infection, additional pain, or other complications.

If you have any questions about your pre-op instructions, please do not hesitate to contact our office at Flushing NY Office Phone Number 347-943-1960. Our staff is knowledgeable about all aspects of pre- and post-op care and can answer your questions or relay them to your surgeon.