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Facing oral surgery can be a time of extreme fear and anxiety for many people, especially since the placement, on the face, feels so personal. In addition to this, many oral surgery procedures seem intense, serious, and invasive. At NextGen OMS, we’re here to give our patients more detail about the procedures that we recommend, plus reduce the fear and dispel some myths that people believe about oral surgery.

For example, in most cases, oral surgery is relatively non-invasive and low-risk. It can involve any number of procedures, including tooth repair and dental extractions. We’ve put together a guide about what you can expect from your oral surgeon, and dispel some of the fears that you might have.

What Is Oral Surgery?

In a nutshell, oral surgery covers procedures completed by an oral surgeon. These typically involve tooth extraction too complicated by a general dentist, but can also include some cosmetic and restorative oral procedures, including dental implants.

Whether you’re considering removing wisdom teeth, replacing missing or damaged teeth with dental implants, or you have concerns about the overall state of your teeth, gums, and jaw, a surgeon in Frisco, TX, can help. Our team handles dental implants, extractions, even complicated ones, and wisdom teeth cases from all over the metroplex. We know what to do to ensure a safe, effective oral surgery, performed by a board-certified oral surgeon.

What Are Some Common Risks Of Oral Surgery?

Surgery performed in the mouth is different from procedures performed in other parts of the body. First and foremost, the mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, so recovery can be tricky. Secondly, you use your mouth every day, from breathing to talking, chewing, and drinking. Minimizing the pain and discomfort, and helping our patients get back to their daily life quicker is the goal of every procedure.

One of the most common after-effects of an oral surgery procedure is bleeding from the gums around the area of the operation. Occasionally, patients can experience prolonged bleeding in the area, simply due to the fact that the mouth is continually in motion, plus producing saliva, both of which can make it difficult for the bleeding to stop. However, applying gauze and pressure to the surgical site, and following the post-surgical instructions can remedy this.

Another typical side effect after oral surgery is numbness and a tingling feeling from the novocaine and anesthesia. These will go away as the medication is flushed from your system, and the numbness and “funny feeling” should subside in the days that follow your procedure. Many people may find it a little difficult to speak clearly for the first few days, but the swelling should naturally go away by itself. However, if you’re experiencing permanent difficulty speaking or otherwise moving your mouth, you may need a follow-up consultation with your dental team.

Are There Serious Risks To Oral Surgery?

Like any medical procedure, oral surgery does have some more serious risks and complications that can occur after the fact. You can mitigate these by selecting the best surgeon in your area, plus carefully following the instructions post-surgery.

Some serious consequences can happen if something goes wrong with the procedure, but most often complications arise from a lack of communication between the patient and the oral surgeon. One way we can prevent this is through an open and honest conversation about the patient’s medical history, including whether you smoke or drink (both of these can hurt the healing process) and to avoid the patient having a bad reaction to anything used during their procedure.

Infections are another serious risk of oral surgery – or any surgery, for that matter. While most can be easily treated with a course of antibiotics, an infection can still be dangerous for people with a compromised immune system. If you are one of these individuals, telling your surgeon beforehand can help them work with you to minimize your susceptibility to infection. For example, the surgeon may prescribe a course of antibiotics before performing the procedure to reduce the risk of infection and the serious repercussions that can follow.

Talking About Your Oral Surgery Fears Can Help

Your oral surgeon isn’t just somebody who will extract a tooth and be done with it. They’re also doctors, who are there to help patients understand the nature of each procedure, how to prepare, how to heal best, and how the patient can expect to feel afterward. They’ll also talk to you about what can happen if you don’t have the procedure done!

Whether you’re having dental implants placed, having a wisdom teeth removal procedure, or having a tooth replaced, reconstructed, or removed following an accident, an oral surgeon can help assuage your fears by being honest about what to expect.

Overcoming Fears Through Sedation Dentistry

For some patients, the fear of dental procedures is very real and can cause them to delay routine procedures and even medically necessary ones. Sedation dentistry from your oral surgeon may be the answer. Sedation dentistry involves different kinds of sedation that can help patients feel more relaxed and avoid the stressful feelings associated with an oral surgeon procedure.

It’s performed using either nitrous oxide (laughing gas), Oral sedation through a pill or IV sedation to keep you steadily calm throughout the procedure. Sedation dentistry can also help patients from forming unpleasant memories after the treatment and can help alter their sense of time, allowing them to undergo longer treatment procedures without feeling anxious. Plus, it can also help fidgety patients remain still, yet able to communicate with the oral surgeon.

Schedule Your Consultation Today!

NextGen OMS is an oral surgery team in Frisco, TX serving clients throughout the metroplex. We offer specialized dentistry and oral surgery services that go beyond the scope of general dentistry. If you have chronic jaw pain, headaches, or if you’re missing a tooth due to extraction or decay, we can help! Give us a call or visit us online today to schedule your personalized consultation.