Questions to Ask an Oral Surgeon in Walnut Creek

As an oral surgeon in Walnut Creek, we can replace your missing teeth with dental implants to help you regain the functionality of your smile. We can also remove teeth when necessary, as is often the case with wisdom teeth or oral infection. When it comes to oral surgery, some people are not aware that it can be extensive and that it needs treatment with the same level of care that applies to any surgery. Just because your mouth is a small area of the body does not mean that it is less sensitive than something like your arm. The opposite is actually true because you use your mouth constantly throughout the day.

Every time you speak, take a drink of water or eat a snack, your mouth is impacted. You cannot avoid using it like you can with an arm, leg, or another area of the body. This makes it incredibly important to work with the most experienced surgeon that you can. After all, the skill of your surgeon and the tools that they use will directly impact how you feel after surgery and how quickly you will recover. As such, we recommend that you visit our office for dental surgical care.

If you do not live near Walnut Creek be sure to interview your dentist or oral surgeon and ask these questions:

Is surgery really necessary?

In dentistry, there is often more than one way to tackle a problem. For example, if a tooth is infected, it could be saved by removing the infection and placing a dental crown around it. While this is not always a possibility, it is wise to ask about the options. People may find that there is a less invasive option.

It is important to give oneself the best opportunity for a fast recovery by taking a few steps. For example, if the patient struggle with diabetes then the patient needs to pay extra attention to his or her blood sugar and take the proper steps to prevent a diabetic episode. Otherwise, the white blood cells can be inhibited and cause the recovery to take longer. As an oral surgeon in Walnut Creek, we always want to know about any other medical conditions that one has so that we can make thorough recommendations.

What will the day of surgery be like?

Depending on what procedure the patient is going through, he or she may have the choice of going to sleep during the procedure or merely numbing the operating area. This decision will directly impact how long it takes for the to recover in the clinic and whether or not the patient needs to arrange for a ride home. The level of anesthesia that we use will also determine whether or not the patient can eat before coming in.

How fast will my recovery be?

That depends on the type of procedure. Generally speaking, any time that we cut into the gums, patients can expect to have some swelling for a day or two. During this time, you should use an ice pack for 15 minutes at a time and take ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. For a week, we typically recommend eating soft foods and being as gentle as possible when brushing teeth.

To learn more about oral surgery, call our office at (925) 300-4536 and schedule an appointment with an oral surgeon in Walnut Creek.