Oral Surgery

When is oral surgery needed?

The Whittier Dental Center team works to keep your oral health strong throughout your lifetime. In some cases, you might need oral surgery. If you experience problems with pain in your mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, or face, schedule an appointment at the practice as soon as possible.

Problems that might require oral surgery include:

• Wisdom teeth extraction
• Impacted teeth extraction
• Bone grafting
• Dental implants
• Biopsies
• Removal of cysts, tumors, and cancer
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Cleft palate repair
• Facial pain
• Facial reconstruction
• Sleep apnea

The Whittier Dental Center team is highly trained and uses the most advanced technologies to determine the root cause of your dental problem.

What can I do to prepare for oral surgery?

The dental team will first consult with you first to explain how to prepare for your oral surgery, what happens during it, and what to expect afterward. Depending on what kind of oral surgery is needed, your dentist talks to you about your anesthesia choices. These include:

• General anesthesia
• Nitrous oxide sedation
• Intravenous (IV) sedation
• Local anesthesia

His or her recommendations are based on keeping you as comfortable as possible, the kind of surgery you’ll be undergoing, and how long you’ll need to remain sedated.

What can I expect after oral surgery?

The Whittier Dental Center team gives you specific instructions to follow for your aftercare. For wisdom teeth extractions, you can experience some bleeding from the incision sites. You might also feel some discomfort and swelling, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

No matter what kind of oral surgery you have, here are some simple ways to ease your pain and prevent infection:

Rest

Plan to take it easy for the rest of the day. Don’t drive, lift heavy objects, or exercise.

Apply ice

Use ice packs on the areas of your face or jaws that have swollen or might swell. Apply the ice for 30 minutes, wait 15 minutes, and then apply again.

Guard the blood clot

As your blood clots to heal your wound, avoid using a straw, smoking, or drinking alcoholic or carbonated beverages. You don’t want the clot to loosen and cause more bleeding.

Eat soft foods

Avoid eating foods that are spicy, too hot, too cold, or chewy. Instead, eat things like applesauce and yogurt.

Also, go to your scheduled follow-up appointments so that the team can monitor your healing and make sure your oral surgery is a success.

Call Whittier Dental Center today or book your appointment online to schedule a consultation about your oral health needs.