Frequently Asked Questions about Oral Surgery

Several dental problems require surgery. Maxillofacial and oral surgeons perform these surgeries. Today, we will discuss the FAQs about these surgeries so that you can be psychologically prepared should you have to go for one. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

What Does a Maxillofacial Surgeon Do?

A maxillofacial surgeon is a professional who deals with problems that need surgery around your maxillofacial area (face, mouth, teeth, and jaw). One completes four years in a dental school and then take up to four more years studying hospital surgery.

A maxillofacial surgeon can deal with problems such as misaligned jaws, wisdom teeth extraction, and face pain. Your dentist may have to recommend you to a maxillofacial surgeon; if you have a dental problem, he feels he might not be able to provide you with the best services.

Maxillofacial surgeons spend years learning about pain management, and they are allowed to use almost every sedation available. This means any procedure with these surgeons is as painless as possible. Your dentist has to recommend you to a surgeon if he or she is not allowed to use certain kinds of sedation.

Can I Be Treated In One Visit?

It all depends on your condition. Some patients are treated and released the same day.Others have to wait for a few days or come back for a second appointment. For example, if you are visiting a maxillofacial surgeon for tooth extraction, he can treat you and release you on the very same day. If the treatment is a bit complicated, like root canal therapy, you require another session.

How Is Bleeding Stopped?

It is common sense that after surgery, there will be bleeding, so how is it stopped? Well, the surgeon will ask you to bite onto a gauze to keep the bleeding under control. Please make sure to bite onto it for 30+ minutes even after you get home.

Remove the gauze gently after you have applied enough pressure on it. If bright red blood still flows from the surgery site, bite onto the gauze for another 30+ minutes. Apply more pressure this time. The bleeding should stop after the second time.

What If I Still Notice Blood on My Gauze?

If you still notice blood on your gauze even after biting onto the gauze the second time, don’t panic, do it again. During this time, don’t spit or talk, just remain calm for 30 minutes. In the meantime, you can try the ice-cold compress method.

Apply some ice bag from the outside of the surgery site for an interval of ten minutes. This should help reduce the bleeding as well as any visible swelling. Call your dentist if this doesn’t work.

What Can I Do to Alleviate Pain?

Pain is always a part of dental surgery. Not during the surgery, though. The pain comes after, during the healing time. Your dentist will equip you with proper ways of alleviating pain. Some of the things you can do from home include:

• Take the painkillers prescribed by your maxillofacial surgeon
• Apply an ice bag from the outside of the surgery site after every ten minutes
• Avoid eating hard foods for a few days. Overworking your jaw will only cause more pain
• Avoid disturbing the surgery site as much as possible

How Long Will the Recovery Take?

You should be patient with yourself and don’t rush anything during the healing time. Give yourself three to four days off. How fast you will recover depends on how well you cooperate with your body during the healing process. These tips can help you during this process:

• Don’t smoke or chew tobacco
• Avoid alcohol as much as possible
• Rinse your mouth with saltwater from time to time
• Don’t be vigorous while brushing your teeth. Be gentle, not to disturb the surgery site.
• Continue maintaining proper oral hygiene to avoid bacteria from building up.

How Much Does it Cost?

The cost of surgery will be affected by different factors. Some of them include:

• The extent of your dental problem
• The expertise of your maxillofacial surgeon
• Your location
• If insurance will cover the cost full, half, or not all. Be sure to contact your provider before the surgery.

Conclusion

Dental surgery is necessary to fix some issues, but it needs to be conducted by a professional with enough experience. You can count on Dental Arts Clearwater if you are looking for an oral surgeon in Clearwater, FL.