Oral Surgery

Oral surgery is a specialized branch of dentistry that involves surgical procedures to treat various oral and maxillofacial conditions. It may be necessary for issues like tooth extraction, removal of impacted or broken down teeth, dental implant placement, treatment of cystic lesions of the oral cavity and treatment of oral diseases.

You may need oral surgery if you have impacted wisdom teeth, severe dental infections, dental trauma, or require dental implants. Your dentist or oral surgeon will evaluate your condition and recommend surgery when necessary.

During the surgery, you will be under anaesthesia, so you should not feel pain, only the sensation of pressure. However, there may be some discomfort during the recovery period. Your oral surgeon will provide pain management guidance and medications to help you manage any pain.

Recovery varies depending on the procedure. Typically, you can expect soreness / ache and discomfort for a few days. Follow your clinician’s instructions carefully to facilitate a smooth recovery.

Like any surgical procedure, there are risks, although they are relatively low. Risks include pain, bruising, damage to adjacent structures, swelling, infection, bleeding, nerve damage, opening between the sinus and mouth. The risks will vary depending on the tooth and case, your clinician will discuss these risks with you before the procedure.

Your diet may be limited to soft foods for a period following oral surgery. Nothing hot or warm should be ingested the day of procedure, cold or room temperature foods and drinks are recommended. Such as; Ice cream, yogurt, porridge, smoothies, and soup. Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy food that could irritate the surgical sites and affect initial healing. It’s important to obtain from eating until the anaesthetic has worn of, to avoid biting your tongue, lip, and cheek without noticing.

The healing time varies depending on the procedure. Some minor surgeries may heal within a day, while more complex procedures may take several days. Your clinician will provide a expected timeframe.

It depends on the surgery and your individual recovery. Most people can return to work or school the day after, but strenuous activities should be avoided for a couple days after the surgery.

Oral surgery may be partially or fully covered by dental or medical insurance, depending on the procedure and your insurance plan. Contact your insurance provider to understand your coverage.

Follow your clinician’s pre-operative instructions after the consultation visit. Make sure you have a proper meal prior to the appointment, if it’s done under local anaesthetic. Also, have soft foods (cold or room temperature) and pain medications ready at home.

Always consult with your clinician for personalized information and guidance related to your specific oral surgery procedure and needs.