Day: September 5, 2019

Dental

Planning For a Dental Implant

Making Consultations

If one is considering getting Denver dental implants, the first thing to do is to consult a seasoned oral health professional in the area. The doctor may recommend a comprehensive dental exam that includes x-rays of the mouth and evaluating models of the dental structure. Following the evaluation process, the doctor will be in a good position to recommend the best dental implants, and what the next course of action would be. The doctor will also mention which medical conditions might complicate the surgery, and talk about the process of recovery. One should consider how many implants they would need. This would determine the type of implant that would be appropriate for them, including the cost of the surgery, and length of the procedure. If the patient wants multiple teeth restored, they might consider having a bridge installed rather than individual dental implants.

Type of Implant

It would be wise for a patient to consider which dental implants would work best for them as there are many types available. The implants would be surgically installed along the jaw, underneath or on top of the gums. The most common type of dental implant is the endosteal implant, which requires surgical placement of blades, metal screws, and cylinders in the jaw. It can be used to hold one or more prosthetic teeth. With an endosteal implant, the gum is sliced open, and the implant is drilled into the jaw, after which the gums are closed. A subperiosteal implant is not as common today as it was before. It is used for patients who lack the necessary bone strength or jaw height required for an endosteal implant. Here, the implant is placed above the jaw, with metal running through the gums.

The Treatment Plan

As one prepares for the surgery, they should exhaustively discuss with the oral surgeon about what to expect and how they should prepare. Depending on the number of teeth being replaced, and the type of anesthesia used, the surgeon may recommend a change in one’s schedule and daily routine. It is important that a patient develop a treatment plan before walking in for surgery. A health specialist can help with this. The treatment plan will include details such as one’s medical history, type of implant they are receiving, their oral health, and the allocated timelines for the various procedures. The patient is likely going to work with several specialists such as a periodontist, personal doctor, dentist, and surgeon, and this plan would go a long way in assisting them in the course of the treatment.

Getting Home

One will need to set some time off work or school for surgery and recovery. Depending on the anesthesia and number of teeth being replaced, the various surgeries could take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Talking to the oral surgeon can help one plan accordingly. If local anesthesia will be used, the doctor will likely recommend that the patient eat or drink nothing on the night and morning preceding the surgery. If one is sedated with food still in the stomach, it could cause problems. Lastly, one should make plans to have someone drive them home after the procedure because the general anesthesia may impair one’s ability to drive. A friend or family member can help with this or one can also arrange for a taxi.

 

Health

Reducing Swelling After Rhinoplasty

The Procedure

Also referred to as a nose job, rhinoplasty is a type of surgery performed on the nose either to improve its function or change its shape. It can be done for both medical reasons and aesthetic values. For instance, rhinoplasty in San Francisco is done on patients to change the shape of their noses purely for cosmetic reasons, or if they have nasal disfigurement from birth defects or trauma, or to correct breathing problems that result from nose defects. Anyone in need of rhinoplasty should know that swelling is an unavoidable consequence of the procedure. Any procedure that involves bone alteration causes swelling that may last for a few weeks. During the procedure, the fracturing of the nasal bones is required to alter their shape and achieve the desired effects. If they want to reduce the swelling in good time, it is important that a patient follow all instructions carefully as given by their doctor.

Pre-surgery Instructions

As early as two weeks before the surgery, the surgeon will give the patient a few instructions to follow. Some will be guides to ensure safe practices in order to avoid unwanted complications during and after the procedure. Other instructions are given to help the patient prepare for surgery and ensure the nasal cavity recovers properly. The post-surgery swelling depends on many variables because every surgeon, patient, and surgery is different. Ensure that any changes that need to be made are done in due time in accordance with the physician’s instructions. For example, there may be certain medications that may cause complications during surgery, which need to be avoided that could cause difficulty in recovery and prolonged swelling. These medications take time to get out of the body. The changes to be made involve a coordinated effort between the patient, their close social ties, the doctor, and any other specialists they see.

Medications

One needs to work willingly with their doctors. They should provide the doctor with a list of all medications, even herbal products, and over-the-counter supplements, upon request. The surgeon needs sufficient time to communicate with other doctors in advance so as to determine which medication needs to be stopped and which ones can continue. Anti-inflammatory drugs should be discontinued as this group of medications causes additional bleeding and swelling. Because other drugs need to be stopped gradually, this should be planned early enough to leave sufficient time for surgery preparation. One should never stop or change a doctor’s prescription without consulting their physician.

Apply Cold Compresses

After the surgery, the extent of the bruising and swelling will differ with every individual. The visible swelling usually lasts for about two weeks because tissues are healing. Bruising usually occurs under the eyes. Once the patient gets home, they should immediately apply cold compresses on the area around the nose, forehead, eyes, and cheeks. Ice treatments should not be placed directly above the nose. Cold compresses should be applied as often as possible within the first few days.

Keep the Head Elevated

Though it may be an uncomfortable sleeping position, it is very important to keep the head elevated. One can use pillows beneath the head, ensuring they are sufficiently propped up, though a sleeping recliner would be best. Additionally, one should not bend over within the first two weeks as the flow of blood can increase pressure in the area that was worked upon. Moreover, there should be no heavy lifting as it might cause straining of the nasal blood vessels, causing them to rupture.