Oral Surgery

Though the words “oral surgery” are enough to make most people shudder, here at Hitek Dental, our highly trained professionals have all the skills they need to make your experience go as smoothly and painlessly as possible.

An internationally recognized surgical specialty, oral/maxillofacial surgery is used to treat problems involving the mouth and jaw. Oral surgery can be required to treat a number of conditions; the most common ones are impacted teeth, lost teeth, and jaw issues like TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. In these cases, oral surgery is necessary to remove misaligned teeth, install replacement teeth, and reposition or correct irregularities of the jaws. Other oral surgery procedures include facial reconstruction, lesion removal/biopsy, cleft lip and/or palate repair, and treatment of snoring and sleep apnea.

Who can perform oral surgery?

Oral surgeons are among the most highly trained dental professionals. Lots of schooling is necessary to become an oral surgeon. Many people in this profession hold dual degrees in both dentistry and medicine, qualifying them to perform complex procedures. This challenging and ever-evolving field draws the best and the brightest, who are devoted to improving lives by way of performing important oral and maxillofacial procedures.

What to know before oral surgery

Knowing what to expect for your surgery and the recovery process is key to ensuring a good experience. Generally it’s performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning that you’ll return home shortly after the surgery is complete.

You will likely be required to fast before your surgery. Be sure that you know exactly how long you’ll be required to fast for, and plan ahead for this the day before. Talk to your oral surgeon in advance to make sure you’re aware of everything you need to do.

Before you go in for your surgery, you’ll also want to make sure that your home is stocked with everything you’ll need for your recovery — you most likely won’t feel like doing any shopping after leaving the oral surgeon’s office with a mouth full of gauze. Make sure you’ve got plenty of soft foods, like soups and yogurts (look for choices high in vitamins A and C to aid the healing process). As you’ll probably be laid up in bed for at least a day or two, it’s a good idea to have some movies or reading material on hand, too.

Your oral surgeon will discuss with you exactly what you can and cannot do after your surgery. It’s very important that you follow these instructions exactly if you wish to avoid painful complications! Not smoking after an oral surgery is one of the most important rules to follow. Drinking out of a straw (or anything else involving a sucking motion) and consuming hot foods or beverages can also be detrimental to the healing process.