If teeth are impacted or can’t be saved by other treatments, the best treatment may be oral surgery. Dr. Hung T. Chau of Sunshine Dental, located in Houston, Texas, is a skilled and gentle oral surgeon who you can trust. Schedule an appointment online or call today to see Dr. Chau about your surgical options.
Oral Surgery (Wisdom Teeth Extractions) Q & A
What is oral surgery?
Oral surgery is a surgical procedure to remove one or more of your teeth while under general anesthesia. Dr. Chau may perform oral surgery when it’s your best option to restore or manage your oral health. Wisdom teeth extraction is one of the most common oral surgeries and it’s provided by Dr. Chau.
What happens during wisdom teeth extraction?
Dr. Chau numbs your gums with a local anesthetic. If multiple wisdom teeth are extracted, you may receive general anesthetic instead. Dr. Chau explains your anesthesia options before the extraction surgery.
He assesses the condition of your gums and wisdom teeth. If they’re impacted, he needs to open the gum tissue, remove the wisdom teeth, and use sutures to close the gums. Gauze is placed at the extraction site to manage the bleeding.
After the surgery, you may need someone to drive you home, depending on the anesthesia Dr. Chau uses. For pain management, he may prescribe medications.
When is oral surgery recommended?
If your mouth is crowded, Dr. Chau may suggest oral surgery. Crowding makes it difficult for teeth to grow because there’s not enough room. Your teeth may become impacted, affecting your jawbone and gums. Crowding also makes it harder to clean your mouth and keep it free of bacteria. Wisdom teeth are the teeth most likely to be impacted, and Dr. Chau may recommend oral surgery to remove them. Additionally, if your teeth are infected or have severe decay, oral surgery may be an option.
What are the risks associated with surgery?
As with any surgical procedure, you face risks. The general anesthesia used during oral surgery may cause allergic reactions. But serious complications from the medication are rare. After oral surgery, some patients report feeling nauseous but this side effect usually fades quickly. When a tooth is extracted, there are risks of bleeding and pain.
What is the recovery time after oral surgery?
It may take several days to recover from the effects of surgery. You may feel tired afterward, so it’s recommended that you not drive for at least 24 hours. You also may experience pain after the extraction. Dr. Chau explains how long the pain may last and prescribe medications to reduce its severity. If the pain doesn’t improve after the allotted time, you should call Sunshine Dental for guidance.