There are various reasons a person may need oral surgery. You may need a tooth extraction such as wisdom teeth removal, a root canal, veneers or more. Whatever the reason, you can expect to have similar experiences with whatever oral surgery you are undergoing.
Before your surgery, your dentist/oral surgeon will likely have a consultation with you to ensure that they have selected the best solution to the problem you might be having. They’ll answer any questions and give you a brief overview of what you can expect during oral surgery and how to prepare. They will also explain the recovery plan and let you know if you’ll need someone to drive you home after the surgery. Almost all oral surgeries use some sort of general anesthesia, so the dentist will also go over those options with you. By going under anesthesia, you will feel minimal pain and discomfort throughout the surgery.
You can expect that oral surgery will last anywhere from 10 minutes to a few hours, depending on what the surgery is. Recovery also varies, depending on the type of surgery you are having. Typically, after an oral surgery is over, you will only be able to have soft foods for a certain period of time. You may experience some swelling and pain, but the dentist will provide antibiotics or pain killers if needed. Oral surgery may require stitches, which will dissolve after a period of time. Typically you will be asked not to eat several hours prior to the surgery. Be on the lookout for excessive swelling or bleeding, and let your dentist know right away if something doesn’t seem right. Oral surgery may be necessary due to infection, disease or even sleep apnea. It can be related to dental prosthetics or overcrowding.
