Oral Surgery Q&A

What is oral surgery?

Oral surgery involves surgical procedures to treat complications with your teeth, gums, or jaw. Often, dentists recommend oral surgery when they’ve already tried treating you with noninvasive strategies. 

During your consultation for oral surgery at Bay Dental, the team details your options for anesthesia. Many oral surgeries only require local anesthesia, often with sedative options like oral sedation or intravenous (IV) sedation. In rare cases, general anesthesia is necessary.

The team at Bay Dental has extensive training in oral surgery and helps you prepare for the operation ahead of time. They also offer detailed instructions for aftercare to minimize the risk of complications or the need for retreatment. 

Which oral surgeries can I get?

Bay Dental provides many oral surgeries in their large, state-of-the-art facility. The team recommends oral surgery on an as-needed basis and routinely performs procedures like:

Surgical extractions

Not all tooth extractions are surgical, but you might need a surgical tooth extraction if you have teeth that have not erupted from beneath your gums. The team makes an incision to access the tooth before pulling it out, often breaking it into pieces first. 

Dental implant surgery

Dental implant surgery involves placing in your jawbone tiny metal screws, which act as anchors for crowns or bridges to replace missing teeth.

Bone grafts

You might need a bone graft if you experience jawbone deterioration after losing a tooth. Without a tooth’s root, the jawbone lacks support, and this can lead to resorption. You might need a bone graft before you get a dental implant. 

Periodontal surgery

Periodontal surgery, or gum surgery, involves surgically repositioning your gums to clean your teeth and their roots before reattaching the gums. You might also need a gum graft, which treats gum recession. 

How should I prepare for oral surgery?

Before any oral surgery, you must visit Bay Dental for a comprehensive evaluation. During this visit, the team checks your jaw, gums, and teeth with a visual exam before taking dental X-rays. A digital dental X-ray displays the parts of your mouth and face you can’t see, like your jawbone, sinuses, and the roots of your teeth. 

The team also helps you review options for anesthesia and sedation during your consultation. Once they make their decision, they let you know if you need to take any other steps to prepare, like fasting or avoiding certain medications. If you smoke, you’ll probably need to stop smoking for a period of time. 

Find out more about oral surgery and the different types you can get at Bay Dental by scheduling an appointment over the phone or online today.