What You Need to Know About Oral Surgery

Modern technology has improved oral surgery, making it less painful and easier to recover from.  The staff at the Perio and Implant Center are experts and able to help patients to be as comfortable as possible.  We stay on top of the latest technological improvements so that you receive the best care possible.

There are several reasons why you may need a surgical procedure, including:

·         Impacted teeth.  It is common for people to have their wisdom teeth removed surgically, as they often don’t come in enough to pull them. When teeth become impacted it can cause swelling and pain, requiring surgery to have them removed.

·         Dental Implants.  This is a surgical procedure that can replace your existing or lost teeth with a synthetic root system and a new tooth.  The results are amazing but before a new tooth can be implanted, the root system needs to be placed under the gum line surgically.

·         Problems with your jaw.  Some patients that are suffering from severe jaw pain may need to have oral surgery.  This is only recommended after other treatment options have been exhausted.

If you need oral surgery here is what you should know prior to arriving for the procedure.

·         This is an outpatient procedure.  You will be able to return home the same day and will not be admitted into a hospital, as you would if you had surgery on any other part of your body.  Your dentist will use local or general anesthesia, and once the effects are worn off, you can typically head home.

·         You will need a driver.  You cannot drive yourself home after undergoing anesthesia.  Make sure you have a ride scheduled to drop you off and pick you up.  This person should also help to settle you in at home in a comfortable spot with water, pain medication, blankets, books, and anything else you need to stay comfortable.

·         Ice it.  Your mouth will be sore and my start to swell.  You can ease the swelling by using an ice pack for fifteen minutes, resting for fifteen minutes, and repeating.  Buy several soft ice packs prior to your surgery so that while you are using one there is always another cooling in the freezer. 

·         What to eat.  Eating can be painful immediately following surgery.  We recommend that you stick with soft foods.  Cooler, soft foods, will feel the best at first.  This includes jello, ice creme, yogurt, popsicles, and smoothies.  Drinking smoothies is an excellent way to get the nutrition that you need without causing yourself additional pain.  Load them up with superfoods like kale, potassium rich bananas, berries, and yogurt.  Add protein powder or peanut butter for protein nutrition. Do not eat crunchy foods like chips or pretzels for six weeks or more.  This can cause you significant pain. 

·         Healing time.  The first 48 hours are going to be the most painful.  After that, you should start to resume normal activity, though you may not feel well.  It can take up to two months before you are eating everything like normal.

We will make sure that you are as comfortable as possible during and after an oral surgery.  At your pre surgery appointment, we will answer any questions that you have and discuss your treatment plan in detail to ensure that you are properly prepared. 

A Cosmetic Dentist for Teens

Many people think that a cosmetic dentist can only treat adults, and typically treats older adults.  This is actually not the case.  There are many non-invasive dental procedures that are ideal for teenage patients.  This can be a difficult time in life for many youth.  Kids can be cruel and a large gap, chipped, or yellow tooth can cause embarrassment and hurt your child’s self-esteem.  The Perio and Implant Center can help.

Before, providing the patient with any cosmetic procedures, we require that your teen visits the office for a routine teeth cleaning and evaluation.  It is important to identify any health issues, cavities, or tooth decay that needs to be addressed.  Now, teenagers are so busy that it is more common to avoid the symptoms of tooth trouble until the pain becomes unbearable.  That is why a routine visit will help to prevent and correct any oral health issues before they become a problem.

As a cosmetic dentist we are able to help teens with the following:

·         Teeth whitening.  This simple procedure is non-invasive and can be completed in under one hour.  This means that your teen can get out of the dental chair and back to school quickly.  Even children become victims of yellow teeth, and this can make them embarrassed to smile.

·         Teeth cleaning.  Let’s not forget this important step to maintain a beautiful smile.  We can remove stains that are caused by plaque and tartar build up, prevent cavities, and tooth decay by regularly cleaning your teen’s teeth.  We also recommend fluoride treatments until they turn sixteen.

·         Invisalign.  Crooked teeth can cause teens to feel insecure.  This is an extremely vulnerable time in their life and putting braces on, can often lower their self-esteem even further.  If your teen wants straight teeth but would be embarrassed by braces, consider Invisalign as an alternative.  With Invisalign, your teen would wear clear aligners that have been custom made for their treatment plan.  Every few weeks ,the old aligner, is replace with a new one until their teeth are straights.  Since they are clear, no one can tell that they are wearing them which makes it easy to go about life without any further embarrassment. They also require fewer appointments than braces, so it is easier to work treatment into a busy schedule.

·         Veneer.  It is common for teens to chip a tooth while playing sports.  When this happens we can correct it by placing a veneer on top of the injured tooth.  Veneers are placed on top of natural teeth so that the existing one is never removed.  This is less invasive and will recreate their perfect smile.

As a cosmetic dentist, we treat patients of all ages.  Some procedures we don’t recommend until people reach adulthood.  This also depends on each patient’s oral health, their maturity level, and the condition of their adult teeth.  If you and your teen have concerns about how their smile makes them look, schedule an appointment.  We can give you recommendations and discuss a treatment plan that will accomplish your goals.