Oral Surgery

We highly encourage patients to address all questions and concerns they have about their surgery during the consultation. It is important to understand all of the implications that go into any surgery and be prepared well ahead of time. No matter the type of surgery, we will inform the patient of their procedure type, discuss instructions prior to and during the procedure, and relay any crucial information they need to know before the surgery.

In general, surgical procedures involve a form of sedation, which will require the patient to fast from midnight the night before their surgery. Fasting prevents aspiration, a rare complication in which the contents of the stomach fill the lungs. Patients receiving sedation will also need a ride to and from our office, as the anesthetic can impair their consciousness. We also recommend that patients wear a short-sleeved shirt to allow for easy access to the veins and to help us monitor their blood pressure during surgery. Any additional instructions will be given on a case-by-case basis.

On the day of surgery, we advise patients to arrive early to complete any necessary paperwork. It also allows them to stay calm and relaxed before their surgery, keeping their heart rate and blood pressure steady. The duration of surgery depends largely on the condition, severity, and current oral health status. We will discuss the length of time before the surgery.

Once the patient has checked in and is ready for treatment, we will inject the anesthetic, which will be local or general anesthesia, or nitrous oxide. An IV may be required for some patients to keep their vitals up during surgery. Once the patient is numb, we will begin the procedure. Each procedure varies, but the patient will have a good understanding of what their procedure will entail before coming in on the big day.

Patients should plan to spend the day resting after oral surgery. The drowsiness of the sedative will likely last all day, making it important for patients to avoid doing anything that requires concentration. Patients should also refrain from straining to avoid dislodging any blood clots and causing bleeding. They should also keep their heads elevated whenever they are lying down.

Above all, it is crucial to follow your doctor’s instructions for your individualized treatment plan. If you contract a fever, develop pus, or notice your swelling and bruising getting worse after three days, call our office right away.

Oral surgery is included in many dental insurance plans. It is important to talk to your provider prior to booking the surgery in order to understand your benefits and what you may owe. Open enrollment for oral surgery differs from state to state, and the deadlines are posted on state government websites.

Dry sockets are blood clots that often appear after extraction surgeries and usually go away on their own. In most cases, dry sockets result from inadequate hygiene practices, smoking, and overexertion during recovery. Symptoms include bad breath, foul odor and taste, and increased pain. Patients who experience dry socket for longer than three days should contact us as soon as possible to schedule a follow-up.

In most cases, patients may resume eating as normal as soon as a week after surgery. Since each type of surgery is different, we may recommend that patients eat certain foods and beverages for a shorter or longer period. Medications may also alter eating habits. This will all be discussed during the consultation appointment and reiterated after the surgery.

The single most common oral surgery is wisdom tooth extraction, with an estimated 10 million wisdom teeth extracted from approximately five million people in the United States each year. Other common oral surgeries include dental implants, bone grafting, corrective jaw surgery, and facial trauma surgery.

Any type of oral surgery involves the use of anesthesia to keep patients comfortable and pain-free during the procedure. In most cases, the numbing agent lasts for at least an hour after the surgery and may last the remainder of the day, depending on the type of surgery and anesthetic used. However, after the numbing agent wears off, patients will likely feel pain in or around the surgical site and will be given pain relief medication and antibiotics to help with swelling and inflammation.

Wisdom teeth only need to be extracted when they are impacted, causing pain or pressure, or are pushing inwards to the neighboring teeth. In most cases, these signs are evident when the wisdom teeth first erupt, but they may become apparent later in adulthood as well. We will discuss whether a patient should remove their wisdom teeth when it becomes necessary.

Wisdom teeth generally erupt between the ages of 17 and 21, but can also come out later in life. We like to examine all patients from the age of 17 onwards to monitor their tooth development and detect wisdom teeth eruption as soon as it occurs.

Recovery time after an extraction is between three to five days, wherein the socket should begin to close in. It could take about a month or two for the entire site to close. However, if the gums look and feel normal (no swelling or redness), the site should be healing correctly. We like to schedule follow-ups after an extraction to make sure the site is healing properly.

In most cases, patients will experience pain from a dry socket. They may also experience a foul smell or notice exposed bone. A dry socket occurs when a blood clot is dislodged earlier than necessary or does not form at all, exposing the bone underneath. Therefore, if a blood clot is not present, a dry socket is very likely.

Patients undergoing a simple extraction with local anesthesia can drive back home as they will only feel numb in the mouth. However, surgical extractions with general or IV anesthesia will need to be driven back after the procedure, as they will not be fully alert. We will discuss this during the consultation appointment prior to the procedure.

Patients who need all of their wisdom teeth removed can have them all removed in one visit. We may also recommend extracting two on the same side during each visit, as the entire area will be numbed anyway. This will reduce the cost, recovery time, and discomfort associated with each extraction.