Oral Surgery

Extractions, Wisdom Teeth, Implants (place and restore)

Oral surgery can sometimes be a beneficial intervention for preserving a patient’s oral health. For example, impacted wisdom teeth will need to be removed surgically. Dental implants are also placed in a surgical procedure that helps to restore the appearance and function of a patient’s smile.

For a successful oral surgery experience, it’s important for patients to consult with their dentist about how to prepare for the procedure and how to take care of the treated site afterward. This can help to reduce complications that can interfere with your healing process.

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Oral Surgery Procedures

We offer the following types of oral surgery in our practice:

Extractions (including wisdom tooth extractions)
Dental implant placement and restorations

We understand that the prospect of oral surgery can be intimidating to patients, especially those who have never undergone oral surgery before. Therefore, we emphasize education about the treatment process and prioritize patient comfort. We offer different sedation options so that you can have the most relaxed experience possible.

Spa stones with pink flower | Oklahoma City OK | CJ Dental Studio

Preparing For Oral Surgery

The staff at CJ Dental will work with you as a team to ensure that the entire treatment process goes as smoothly as possible. This begins with educating you about how to prepare for your procedure. We will thoroughly explain the details of the procedure so that you know what to expect.

We will also discuss the various options for sedation with you and let you know if there are any preparations needed, such as modifying your diet pre-operatively, adjusting medications, and taking any pre-medications such as antibiotics or anti-anxiety drugs.

CJ Dental staff will give you detailed instructions to follow prior to your procedure. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions that you may have about that aspect of your care.

Keep in mind that you may not be able to drive yourself home safely after the procedure, so we will let you know if you need to make arrangements for a responsible adult to escort you home.

Self-Care After Oral Surgery

Your actions after the oral surgery is completed will go a long way in determining the course of your recovery. We will give you post-operative instructions that will help to reduce your risk of complications if you follow them closely.

After the procedure, you will need to:

Bit on gauze pads up to 12 hours postoperatively.
Keep the surgical site clean. Do not brush the area in the first 24 hours and saline rinsing should be started 24 hours after the procedure.
Avoid smoking, sucking through a straw, vigorous spitting and heavy exercise.
Reduce swelling by applying an ice pack to the surgical site.
Manage discomfort by using over-the-counter pain medications or prescription-strength drugs.
Adjust your diet for a few days and focus primarily on softer foods.
Complete any antibiotic regimen prescribed for you.

Your dentist may give you additional instructions specific to your case, such as avoiding drinking straws after extraction to reduce the risk of dry sockets. It’s important to adhere to all of the dentist’s instructions and ask for clarification if anything is confusing to you.

FAQs

How long do intraoral sutures take to dissolve?

Intraoral sutures usually dissolve within 7-10 of the procedure. If you notice that your stitches have not dissolved by then, contact our office to see if a dentist needs to remove them for you.

How can I heal faster after oral surgery?

While there is nothing that a patient can do to accelerate the healing process, you can take steps to prevent complications that could lengthen your recovery period. Follow all of your dentist’s instructions for post-operative self-care and attend all scheduled follow-up appointments.

When can I return to work or to my normal routine?

Down time is related to the degree of difficulty of the extraction. Simple extractions without sutures usually can return to work the next day. Surgical extractions or multiple extractions such as full mouth, or impacted teeth, may require a longer recovery.

How long do the sockets stay after extractions?

Depending on the complexity of the extraction, it can take up to several months for the sockets to recover fully from extraction and for the bone and soft tissue to regenerate. However, the soft tissue heals more quickly, and many patients find that it takes only 7-10 days for tissue to close over the socket and to start feeling normal again.

How do implants prevent bone loss?

Dental implants are titanium cylinders that become fixtures in the jaw after the surrounding bone tissue fuses with them. As such, they are able to replace the absent roots of missing teeth. One of the functions of the teeth’s roots is to anchor the jawbone, which erodes after tooth loss. By replacing a tooth’s root, a dental implant helps to prevent bone loss.