Oral Surgery

Getting Oral Surgery

Oral surgery isn’t something anyone looks forward to getting. At Avero Dental in Kitchener Ontario, we take dental surgery seriously. We try to avoid it by supporting oral health with preventive and minimally invasive measures. Sometimes, oral surgery is unavoidable. That is when our compassion and specialties make a great deal.

Types of Oral Surgery

Oral surgery covers both minor and complex procedures. The definition is based on any procedure where there is an incision or an opening of an area. Both tooth extraction and gum grafting are considered oral surgeries. Oral surgeries include:

Oral surgeries are sometimes the last resort to resolving an issue like periodontitis. They can relieve pain coming from impacted molars and prevent problems associated with decayed teeth, wisdom teeth, or misaligned jaws. The benefits include better mouth function, elimination and reduction of pain, and an improvement in oral health.

The Surgical Process

Getting oral surgery is a process that comes from identifying problems in an exam, X-rays, and considering other treatment options first. The steps are listed below:

Discuss the reason and expectations of the surgery in a pre-op consult with your oral surgeon.

Prepare for sedation. While sedation isn't required for all surgery procedures, it remains an option for nervous, young, or special needs patients. The type of sedation should be determined based on health and comfort.

Prepare to take a couple of days off work or school, depending on the type of surgery. Some surgeries may have moderate pain afterward that will need to be managed with pain relievers, either prescribed by your oral surgeon or over-the-counter at the pharmacy.

Follow any pre-op instructions from your oral surgeon. This may include fasting or avoiding certain foods, avoiding medications, and arranging for someone to drive you and take you home if sedation other than localised anaesthesia is used.

Arrive to the office early the day of surgery. You may have additional paperwork to complete and arriving early eases stress.

Listen to your doctor with aftercare instructions. They may give this to you before surgery if you are being sedated. Otherwise, they will give you a packet of items and instructions afterward.

Take your aftercare seriously. Failure to maintain your oral surgeon's instructions could result in the loss of the blood clot, which can be painful for a week or two beyond typical healing.

Think You Need Oral Surgery?

You won’t know for sure if you need oral surgery until you are examined. Make an appointment today for a consultation to see if oral surgery is the answer to your oral health or if there is something less invasive that would work better.

FAQs

What procedures count as oral surgery?

Tooth extractions, wisdom tooth removal, bone grafting, implant placement, and some gum procedures.

Will I be put to sleep?

Most procedures are done under local freezing while you are awake. Sedation is available for more involved surgery or if you are anxious.

How long is recovery?

Simple extractions settle in a few days. More involved surgery can take one to two weeks. We give you written aftercare and stay reachable if you have concerns.

What should I eat afterward?

Soft, cool foods for the first day or two. Avoid straws, smoking, and vigorous rinsing, since these can dislodge the clot and cause a painful dry socket.