5 Ways to Prepare for Your Upcoming Oral Surgery

Oral surgery requires preparation in order to go smoothly. If you’re getting oral surgery soon, it’s important to coordinate with your dental professional in Palmdale, Valencia and the West Valley. Your dental professional at Heritage Oral Surgery & Implant Centers can help you plan for this event by giving you instructions. In addition, the following tips can help.

1. Arrange for a ride.

Your dentist may tell you that you need a ride home from your appointment. Anesthesia can impair your judgment, so you should not operate a car following receiving anesthesia. If you don’t have anyone who can give you a ride back to your home, you may also take public transportation or a rideshare service.

2. Buy any soft foods recommended by your dentist.

Your dentist may recommend that you only eat soft foods during the healing process. Have a range of soft foods on hand at your house, such as yogurt, apple sauce and protein shakes.

3. Be ready to all pre-op instructions provided to you by the dentist.

Most likely, your dentist will give you some instructions that are unique to your procedure. Have them written down and read through them before going through your procedure, to ensure you’re ready to follow them.

4. Pick out the right clothes.

If you’re getting sedation at your dental procedure, then you’ll need to give them your arms for the sedation itself, and so they can monitor your vital signs. Wear short-sleeved shirts to make this easier.

5. Arrange for time off work.

You’ll need to take off at least the day of your surgery, and possibly other days following your surgery. Arrange for whatever time off work is necessary. Your dentist will let you know the bare minimum number of days that you’ll need to take off before you can return to work. Let your workplace know that you’ll need at least this number of days off, and you may need more.

Have questions? Communicate with your dentist ahead of your surgery.

Are you getting oral surgery in Palmdale, Valencia, or the West Valley? Talk to your dentist at Heritage Oral Surgery & Implant Centers to learn more about what you can do to prepare for the upcoming event.

portrait-smiling-young-woman-sitting-chair-dental-clinic

What is the Recovery Period Like After Oral Surgery?

Oral surgery is very common. From tooth extractions to dental implants, many dentists perform these procedures every single day. However, while patients may deal with multiple oral surgeries in their lifetime, the recovery period is never easy. 

You may experience pain, discomfort, and even complications. In order to limit the pain and recover faster, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.Keep reading to learn more about the recovery period from oral surgery, including some useful tips to limit the chance of any problems.

24 Hours After Oral Surgery

The first 24 hours after oral surgery are typically the most uncomfortable. Your doctor will likely advise you to rest, refrain from strenuous activity, and stay home from work or school. You may also be told not to drive, especially if you had anesthesia.

During the first 24 hours, you may experience mouth pain, bleeding, and swelling. You may be advised to bite down on sterile gauze for 30 minutes to reduce the bleeding. For swelling, applying ice and keeping your head propped up typically help in easing symptoms.

Treating Pain and Discomfort

Ice and pain medication are the leading ways to treat pain after oral surgery. Your doctor should give you clear instructions on how to treat your pain and discomfort, so be sure to follow their orders for the best results.

Eating Soft Foods

It’s also important to eat soft foods and drink cold liquids for the first few days after surgery. This includes foods like smoothies, yogurt, pudding, and applesauce. After about 48 hours, you should be able to incorporate warm foods, such as soups and mashed potatoes. Be sure to avoid any hard foods and anything difficult to chew.

If you think you may need oral surgery, contact the specialists here at Heritage Oral Surgery & Implant Centers. We provide trusted and reliable oral surgery in Valencia, CA, and we also serve residents in Canoga Park and Palmdale.

2-3 Days After Oral Surgery

After two or three days, you should be able to resume some normal activities, such as going to work or school. However, if you had an extensive surgery, you may need more time to rest and recover. Once these two or three days have passed, your stitches should dissolve or fall out on their own.

Contact Us 

To work with dependable, experienced oral surgeons in Valencia, CA, make an appointment at Heritage Oral Surgery & Implant Centers today!

 

What Kind of Pain After Dental Surgery Is Abnormal?   

You’re probably expecting some type of discomfort after dental surgery in Canoga Park, CA. Ideally, your dentist would have given you some indication of this well before you agreed to the procedure. However, you may be wondering how bad it should be and what constitutes an abnormal reaction. We look at whether you should be concerned.

What’s Normal

Pain, bleeding, swelling: these are not necessarily signs of a problem. As time goes by, the pain should get better. Follow the directions of your dentist in Valencia, CA, which may mean refraining from strenuous activity for a few days or only eating soft foods for a week. For those who’ve had a tooth pulled, you should avoid straws as it can potentially loosen the blood clot that forms at the site of the pulling.

What’s Abnormal

You should be concerned if you experience any of the following:

  • Severe lightheadedness/trouble breathing: This is rare, so there’s no reason to expect this by any stretch. However, you may have a poor reaction to the surgery in this case, so it’s important to seek emergency help if you feel like you might pass out or you can’t get enough air.
  • Severe pain: Usually, over-the-counter medication can handle a lot of the pain. Or you may need to rely on prescription medicine from your dentist. If the pain doesn’t get any better after taking the meds, you should seek immediate care.
  • Split incision: An open incision can be a major health hazard, so you’ll need to get it closed up immediately if it splits.
  • Infection: Severe heat, redness, and swelling are not normal. If the pain is getting worse or you have red streaks from the surgical site, draining pus, or a fever, you may have an infection.
  • Nausea: If you can’t keep down fluids or you’re having a severe stomachache, you’ll need to contact your dentist or the ER for help.

Dentists in Valencia, CA

Heritage Oral Surgery has locations in Canoga Park, Valencia, and Palmdale, CA, and our staff is here to help you get through any surgery you might need. From root canals to extractions, we do everything we can to make your experience as quick and painless as possible.

 

What to Expect Before, During, and After Getting a Wisdom Tooth Removed

Are you having problems with your wisdom teeth? If you are experiencing mouth pain or any other dental issues, you might need a dentist in Canoga Park, CA to look at your teeth and give you a diagnosis. If the problems you are having are due to your wisdom teeth, your dentist might recommend removing them. So let’s talk about what is involved before, during, and after wisdom tooth removal surgery.

What Happens Before a Wisdom Tooth Removal Procedure?

You will talk with an oral surgeon who will go over the process with you. Your oral surgeon will also ask you about your medical history and any health problems you might have. They will also need to know what medications you are currently taking. The oral surgeon will then talk to you about the type of anesthesia they recommend for you.

What Happens During Wisdom Tooth Surgery?

Wisdom tooth surgery in Canoga, CA takes approximately 45 minutes or so. You will be given one of three types of anesthesia.

  • Local – a shot of Novocain in your mouth to numb the area. You might also be given nitrous oxide to relax you.
  • IV Sedation – you will be given a shot of Novocain and you will also receive a sedation drug through a vein in your arm to make you drowsy. Some people might even fall asleep.
  • General – you will either receive a sedation drug through a vein in your arm or your doctor might have you breathe gas through a mask. Either way, you will remain asleep throughout the entire procedure.

There are some instances where the doctor must cut your gums or some bone just to get your wisdom tooth out. If this occurs, you might have stitches where the incision was.

What Happens After Wisdom Tooth Surgery?

Anesthesia affects everyone differently. If you received a local anesthetic, you will probably feel fine and be able to drive yourself home and resume normal activities. Most people don’t experience much, if any, pain after surgery. However, the area where the wisdom tooth was removed will usually be swollen and a bit uncomfortable for a few days. And it might take your mouth a few weeks to completely heal.

You can use an ice pack on your jaw to help reduce the swelling. You should also eat soft foods and drink plenty of fluids until your mouth heals. Talk with your dentist about any other guidelines they want you to follow. And always contact your dentist immediately if you have a fever, experience any pain, or if the swelling doesn’t improve.

If you need a dentist in Canoga Park, CA, please Contact Heritage Oral Surgery & Implant Centers today.

What is the Process of Bone Grafting? 

Dental implants work and survive so well because they are securely secured in the jawbone for optimal support, much like natural teeth. However, in order to take advantage of this incredible technology, you must have enough tooth-supporting bone in your jaw to keep a dental implant in place. Unfortunately, the surrounding bone nearly invariably deteriorates following tooth removal, losing width, height and density, and this process begins practically immediately after tooth loss. The bone that used to surround a lost tooth deteriorates more the longer the tooth remains gone. Thanks to dental bone grafting procedures, you may still be able to getdental implants in Canoga Park, CA.

How Bone Grafting Works

Bone grafting is a small surgical operation performed in the oral surgeon’s office to replace lost bone in the region of the jaw where teeth used to be. A tiny incision in your gum is made to expose the bone underlying it, after which grafting material is applied. The most common grafting material is processed bone, which acts like a scaffold for your body to deposit new bone cells upon. Your body will ultimately absorb the grafting material, which will then be replaced by your own new bone. Grafting materials can be obtained from a variety of places, including your own body. Frequently, however, a special laboratory processes bone from either an animal or human donor to ensure that it is completely sterile and safe for use. Even synthetic grafting material can be used. It’s available in powder, granules, putty or a gel that is injected with a syringe.

The Process of Bone Grafting

The technique for inserting a bone transplant normally only requires local anesthetic. However, oral or IV sedatives might be utilized to produce a more relaxed condition. Because a tiny incision in your gum tissue is required to reach the underlying bone that will receive the graft, you may suffer some discomfort in the region following the treatment; this can typically be treated with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and/or pain medicines, as well as ice therapy. Though you will quickly feel entirely normal, it may take up to seven months for your body to mature enough for your dental implant to be placed. The time spent waiting permits the healing process to accomplish the intended outcome: optimal support for replacement teeth that look excellent and last a lifetime.

Bone grafting is an important piece of the puzzle when getting dental implants. It may or may not be necessary, depending upon your individual circumstances. Talk to youroral surgeon in Canoga Park, CA to learn more.

4 Reasons You Might Need an Oral Surgeon

Oral surgeons offer supplementary dental services in specialized cases. Your dentist will usually be able to take care of most of your dental needs. However, there are many situations when you may need the assistance of an oral surgeon. In fact, most people do need to visit an oral surgeon at least once in their lives. Here are four reasons when you might need an oral surgeon in Valencia, Palmdale or West Valley, CA.

1. Removal of Wisdom Teeth

Whether you are planning to get braces and need your wisdom teeth surgically removed, or you simply have dental issues that necessitate wisdom teeth removal in Palmdale, CA, an oral surgeon is the professional to see. Wisdom teeth that have not yet erupted will require oral surgery to remove, before they have a chance to cause issues in the mouth.

2. Oral Cancer Treatment

Oral cancer can be brought on by a host of reasons including excess alcohol consumption and the use of tobacco products. If your dentist or physician has diagnosed oral cancer, you’ll need to get treated by an oral surgeon, who may surgically remove the cancerous cells or perform a biopsy for further investigation.

3. Help With Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is sometimes caused by being overweight. In that case, lifestyle changes can help. However, there are instances where sleep apnea is caused by a physical problem, related to excess mouth tissue, palate issues or problems with the uvula. Any of these problems will need to be addressed by your oral surgeon.

4. Bone Grafting

Older folks often lose important bone in the jaw. This can result in facial structure abnormalities and other problems. In other cases, bone grafting may be needed before the implantation of dental implants, which are used to replace missing teeth. In any case, all bone grafting in West Valley, CA is typically performed by an oral surgeon.

As you can see, there are many reasons why you might need to see an oral surgeon, including many that aren’t listed here. Your dentist will be able to recommend a quality oral surgeon so that your specialized dental needs can be taken care of in an efficient and effective manner.

Preventing Dry Socket After Oral Surgery

Do you know someone who has experienced the pain of dry socket? Dry socket can happen following the extraction of a permanent tooth. Normally, a blood clot develops in the cavity where the tooth used to be, acting as a shield to protect the nerve endings and bone until they’re sufficiently healed. When a blood clot fails to form, or if it becomes dislodged too soon after your oral surgery, you may feel intense pain. The empty socket may become inflamed, and bits and pieces of food debris may lodge inside, worsening the condition.

If you’re experiencing a significant amount of pain following a recent oral surgery, your dentist in Valencia, CA, may diagnose dry socket. Usually, it takes a prescription-strength painkiller to bring relief. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent dry socket from developing, and they include preserving the protective blood clot until the socket has had time to heal. There are several things you can do immediately following your oral surgery.

1. Refrain From Using a Straw in Your Beverage

Using a drinking straw is one of the most common ways to induce dry socket. The force required to draw liquid up through the straw can also suck the blood clot away from the socket. To be safe, refrain from using a drinking straw for at least a week following your tooth extraction.

2. Get Plenty of Rest

You should plan a day of rest following your oral surgery, instead of returning immediately to work or school. Rest will help prevent any type of vigorous activity that might dislodge the blood clot. It’s also good to avoid participating in sports or exercising rigorously immediately afterward.

3. Eat Soft Foods

Foods such as pudding, yogurt, or soft noodles are good options following your procedure. Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth that’s affected, and avoid foods that are too hot or too cold for at least several days. Hard or crispy foods such as potato chips or chewy candy should be avoided.

Following your oral surgery in Valencia, CA, your dentist will give you a list of post-operative care instructions to help you avoid the pain of dry socket. However, if you’re experiencing any type of unusual pain in the few days following, contact Heritage Oral Surgery & Implant Centers right away.

Should Elderly People Settle For Dentures Instead of Implants?

Most people experience the loss of natural teeth at some time or another. If you live long enough, chances are that you’ll have age-related tooth loss. Older folks who experience tooth loss have two available options, which are dental implants or dentures. The main difference between these two solutions is that dental implants in Valencia, CA are permanent, while dentures aren’t. However, there are other striking differences between these two options that should be considered when the patient is elderly.

Dental Implants Require Oral Surgery

Dental implants require oral surgery to be installed. An FDA-approved titanium implant is embedded above the gum line. A screw, or abutment, is attached to the implant, and a crown is attached to the abutment. The fact that dental implants require surgery should be the primary deciding factor in whether an older patient should choose dental implants or dentures.

In some cases, elderly patients aren’t in peak physical shape. They may have a heart condition or another condition that makes them more susceptible to problems if they undergo surgery. And remember, oral surgery is still surgery. There will be sedation or anesthesia, associated pain and discomfort and a recovery period. The process of getting dental implants isn’t just one appointment. It typically entails multiple visits to the oral surgeon’s office. In other words, although dental implants are a wonderful option, they may not be the easiest option for elderly folks.

Dentures Are Easier

The process of getting dentures isn’t seamless, but it is a lot easier. Once the natural tooth is extracted or falls out, the dentures are custom-fitted to the palate and gums. The prosthetic is then adjusted as needed so the patient feels comfortable wearing, speaking, eating and drinking with the dentures in. There will be multiple visits to ensure a good fit, and as time goes on, a new set of dentures may be needed. However, no surgery is involved and the patient’s overall health is not a huge concern with the fitting of dentures. Almost anyone in any health condition would be able to readily get dentures.

Your dental professional will be the best person to consult with about getting dentures or dental implants in Palmdale, CA or dentures. Contact us today to find out what your best option is as an older man or woman.

What Are The Risks of Oral Surgery?

Oral surgery in West Valley, Valencia and Palmdale, California is for patients who need to have certain oral health issues taken care of. Typically, oral surgery is used to remove wisdom teeth before they’ve erupted above the gum line, remove the bone for bone grafting, do dental implants, repair injury from accidents, and much more. Oral surgery is major surgery and it is just as serious as other kinds of surgery, carrying the same number of risks. However, by taking certain steps, the inherent risks associated with oral surgery can be mitigated.

Infection

Any time there is surgery, there is the risk of infection. Since oral surgery in West Valley, Valencia and Palmdale, California is performed in the doctors’ offices instead of in a hospital, some risks of infection are avoided. Your oral surgeon will do everything in their power to avoid the risk of infection, too, by maintaining the highest standards of hygiene. As a patient, you can help reduce this risk by ensuring that you eat right and exercise moderately in the weeks leading up to the surgery. The healthier you are, the less chance that infection has a chance to take hold.

Dry Socket

Oral surgery carries a specific type of risk called dry socket. This is a condition where an empty tooth socket takes a much longer time to heal because of loss or minimization of blood flow. This risk is often related to the patient’s habit of smoking or allowing food debris to sit in the pocket due to poor oral hygiene post-surgery. Dry socket is highly preventable. Talk to your oral surgeon about ways to prevent it.

Sinus Problems

The sinus cavity is located very close to where upper wisdom teeth come in. If you’re having wisdom teeth surgically removed, there is an inherent risk that you may develop sinus problems. Typically, the problem resolves itself after a short period of time. However, if you notice that your newly developed sinus problems persist, talk to your oral surgeon about possible treatment.

Oral surgery carries inherent risks no matter what you are having done, or who performs the surgery. Your oral surgeon will apprise you of all risks so that you are well-informed ahead of time.

4 Signs Your Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed

Do you get regular headaches, experience difficulty eating, and often notice pain and irritation in the back of your mouth? If so, you may be experiencing problems with your wisdom teeth.

Knowing the types of issues that you’re likely to experience due to wisdom teeth can help you decide if your wisdom teeth are likely giving you trouble. If you are experiencing difficulty with your wisdom teeth, then it may be time to see your oral surgeon.

1. Pain

Pain and irritation is a problem that people experience when their wisdom teeth are protruding, however, pain alone is not an indication that your wisdom teeth need to be removed. If you experience pain relating to your wisdom teeth, talk to your oral surgeon.

2. Difficulty Eating

It’s common for people with protruding wisdom teeth to experience difficulty eating. Often, this happens because food becomes caught between the gums and the tops of the teeth. People may also experience difficulty eating if their wisdom teeth negatively affects the alignment of their teeth, causing them to become crooked.

3. Cyst

Sometimes, cysts can form around the wisdom teeth. Cysts can cause a variety of problems. Cysts can destroy the bones and nerves in the surrounding area. When this happens, the wisdom teeth will most likely need to be removed.

4. Teeth are Shifting

If your teeth are slowly becoming crooked, this could be because of the emergence of your wisdom teeth. Shifting teeth can cause a variety of problems. If your wisdom teeth are pushing some of your other teeth out of alignment, then they may need to be removed. Your oral surgeon can tell you whether this procedure could help you.

Ready to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed? Contact Your Oral Surgeon Today

You don’t have to live with the discomfort of having wisdom teeth. At Heritage Oral Surgery, we help patients suffering from problems with their wisdom teeth and other types of urgent dental problems. To find out more about how you can have your wisdom teeth safely removed, contact us for an initial appointment.