If you’re in need of oral surgery, Colin Young, DMD, and our professional dental team at Crystal Smiles Dental in Livermore, California, have the expertise and experience to surgically take care of your oral needs and help you recover successfully. Here are the reasons why you may need oral surgery and what to expect afterward.
Why oral surgery might be necessary
Oral surgeons provide oral surgery for a number of reasons, including:
- Wisdom tooth extraction
- Impacted tooth
- Dental implant
- Oral cancer
- Infections
- Biopsies
- Reconstructive surgery
- Cosmetic surgery
- Temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ)
- Sleep apnea
Before any type of oral surgery, we consult with you to help you prepare and know what to expect. We also provide our follow-up recommendations.
What to expect after oral surgery
After your oral surgery, you need to take care of your mouth to ensure a full, quick recovery. To avoid any kind of infection, follow these steps:
Don’t overdo it
After your surgery, stay off your feet and rest. If you had sedation for your procedure, give yourself some time for the drowsiness to wear off. Don’t drive a vehicle or do anything that requires concentration.
Avoid any kind of activity, such as bending over or lifting objects. Those actions could dislodge blood clots and cause you to bleed. And, when you go to sleep, keep your head elevated with pillows.
Follow our instructions
When you leave our office, we give you written instructions to follow. If you have any questions, call our team and ask. We can provide answers and give you the guidance you need.
Use ice
If you have swelling or bruises after your surgery, wrap ice in a bag or cloth and place it on your jaw area for 30 minutes, then remove it for 15. Repeat this cycle as often as possible. If you had surgery on both sides of your mouth, ice one side at a time, switching between jaws. Your swelling should go down in 2-3 days.
Stop the bleeding
If you bleed after your surgery, bite down on a folded piece of gauze to stop the flow. If your bleeding doesn’t subside after 24 hours, call Dr. Young.
Don’t drink from straws
Sucking from a straw can disturb the blood clot that’s trying to heal the wounds in your mouth. You shouldn’t smoke either.
Take your medicine
We can provide you with prescription pain medication, or you can use over-the-counter medicine to manage your discomfort.
Watch for alarming symptoms
If you develop a fever, notice infection, have difficulty with swallowing or breathing, or experience swelling in your jaws or mouth for more than two days, you should call Dr. Young right away. You could have an allergic reaction to your anesthetic.
Don’t miss your follow-up appointments
Keep your post-surgery follow-up appointments to make sure you’re healing successfully.
To schedule a checkup or to learn more about oral surgery, contact our team today. Call, text, or use the convenient online scheduling tool.