INTEGRATED PERIOPERATIVE CARE PATHWAY FOR DENTAL AND ORAL SURGERY: EFFECTS ON ANXIETY, PAIN CONTROL, INFECTION PREVENTION, AND RECOVERY OUTCOMES

Abstract Background: Dental surgery ranges from outpatient implant procedures under local anesthesia to complex oncologic resections requiring inpatient perioperative pathways. In this spectrum, perioperative nursing practices (psychological support, education, infection prevention, and structured oral-care pathways) required to reduce complications and improve recovery related outcomes. We aimed to synthesize open-access evidence on perioperative nursing practices in dental surgery and their effects on patient safety and recovery. Methods: A PRISMA aligned systematic review approach was drafted. Open access databases were targeted, focusing on perioperative nursing interventions in dental, oral surgical care. Eligible studies included randomized or non-randomized original research evaluating nursing delivered perioperative practices with patient safety or recovery outcomes. Data were synthesized due to heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes. Results: Included studies clustered into: perioperative psychological, comfort interventions around implant surgery, extended care education, coaching after implants, infection prevention quality improvement in dental clinical areas, and comprehensive perioperative nursing bundles in oral cancer surgery. Interventions were associated with improved anxiety, pain measures, better self-efficacy and peri implant indices, and signals toward reduced complications or improved perioperative stability. Conclusion: Open-access evidence supports practical perioperative nursing strategies, especially structured psychological support and post procedure coaching, education as contributors to safer dental surgery and improved recovery indicators.