Article
Becky’s Alveolar Bone Graft Operation.
Hopefully reading this is going to help you understand what your bone graft
is about.
Before Your Operation
Ask lots of questions so you know exactly what’s going to happen - Talking to your cleft surgeon about what they’re going to do and why you need the operation can be helpful.
Arrange a visit to the hospital to see where your bed will be and meet the nurses that will be looking after you. It’s reassuring if there’s a familiar face and it will be less overwhelming.
If possible meet up with someone who’s recently had a bone graft because they can tell you about their experiences.
The Day Of The Operation
If your bone graft is in the morning, you aren’t allowed to eat anything after midnight on the day of the operation. E.g. you can eat your evening meal the night before, but not breakfast the morning of the operation and you can’t drink after 6am.
If your bone graft is in the afternoon, you can eat up until 7.30am and you must not eat any food after this time. You can only drink water up until 10.30am.
If you don’t like needles, now is the time to ask for ‘magic cream’ so you won’t feel any pain when you go to sleep.
Helpful Hint - say which side of the hip you want the bone to be taken from - Remember you will have a scar here for the rest of your life.
During The Operation
During your operation your surgeon will take a little bit of bone – usually from your hip, and put it in your upper gum to allow your adult teeth to have a solid surface to drop in to. Your operation should last between 2 to 3 hours.
After The Operation
You should feel well because of the painkillers, however over the following days you will feel more pain as the painkillers wear off. You will be in hospital for at least 3 days.
The Days after the Operation
Drinking will be difficult at first.
You can eat ‘sloppy food’ 2 days after the operation. Again, this will be difficult at first. Ask a nurse if you can have porridge made especially for your breakfast.
It’s important you keep your mouth clean so have a drink of water each time after a meal. Continue this for 2 weeks after the operation.
You will start to feel pain so don’t be afraid to ask for painkillers. It will be hard to talk and you might dribble so have a box of tissue’s nearby. You won’t be able to walk to the toilet straight away so you will need to use a commode – this is a wheelchair with a potty in it. I wanted to see how I looked, so asked the nurses for a mirror. Your face and area around your lip is likely to be swollen. This should get smaller within 2-3 days. I was a bit upset with my appearance however you soon get back to normal.
Helpful Hint - Before the operation invite lots of friends and relatives round because they all bring you presents!!!