Surgery & Treatment
Before, during & after your procedure
Looking for something specific? We also have dedicated dental implant FAQs and sedation FAQs.
We will discuss your anesthesia options at your consultation. Our goal is as little discomfort as possible. Local anesthesia is used for treatment, and oral sedation or IV sedation is available for more involved procedures or anxious patients.
It is important to discuss all medication with us during your pre-surgical consultation. In most cases medication should be continued unless specifically instructed otherwise. Typically Plavix, aspirin, Coumadin, and other types of blood thinners can be continued. When necessary, we will consult with your physician to safely manage your medications.
If treatment calls for you to be sedated, then yes, you must not consume anything, including water, for 6–8 hours prior to surgery. See our full pre-IV-sedation instructions.
The length of surgery depends on your treatment. Some surgeries are less than 30 minutes, while other procedures may take considerably longer. We will provide you with the estimated time of surgery at your pre-surgical consultation.
Yes. Your doctor and highly trained surgical assistants will continuously monitor your vital signs throughout treatment and recovery.
We commonly use antibiotics to kill bacteria found in the mouth, which also prevents infection after treatment, particularly with the placement of dental implants immediately after extracted teeth. The specific drug used depends on the medical profile and well-being of the patient and the type of treatment.
Plan to stay in our recovery area for at least 20 minutes if sedation was involved, or until your doctor is satisfied that you have recovered sufficiently to go home. If your procedure required sedation, you must be completely alert before leaving and have a ride home; you may not drive yourself. We recommend that you not drive for at least 24 hours after surgery.
Depending on the extent of the procedure and the type of sedation, you may resume work and a normal lifestyle anywhere from a few hours to a few days. It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. Brushing and flossing at least once a day speeds healing and keeps your mouth fresh and clean. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2–3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately.
It's important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding after a tooth extraction. You'll bite on a gauze pad for 30–45 minutes immediately after the extraction, replacing it and repeating if oozing persists. After the clot forms, don't disturb it. Avoid vigorous rinsing, straws, smoking, alcohol, and brushing next to the extraction site for 72 hours, and limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours. See our surgical instructions for the full aftercare guide.
After a tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack applied to the area keeps swelling to a minimum, and it usually subsides after 48 hours. Some treatments cause minor bruising; in procedures such as dental implant placement, there is ordinarily no bruising at all. Your doctor will discuss what bruising, if any, to expect from your specific procedure.
The procedure and your health are the determining factors. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone, and call the office if the medication does not seem to be working. Drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious soft food on the day of an extraction; you can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable. Your doctor will discuss what, when, how long, and dosage in both the pre-surgery and post-surgery conversations.