Healthy smiles make for happy people. The many different types of oral surgery offered by the skilled team of dentists at Sunrise Dental of Seattle - Ballard can help to improve the appearance of your smile and maximize your oral health. Whether it’s installing dental implants, extracting a tooth, or treating gum disease, the team of caring dentists at Sunrise Dental of Seattle - Ballard can help you to look and feel your best. To learn more, book an appointment today by calling the office or using the convenient request appointment tool.
At its most basic, oral surgery is any sort of surgical procedure that’s performed on your teeth, gums, and the tissues in your mouth. While the term oral surgery might sound scary, many oral surgery procedures are incredibly common and routine and can be done on an outpatient basis in the offices at Sunrise Dental with minimal recovery time.
The list of different types of oral surgery is nearly endless. Modern dentistry has a wealth of tools and procedures at its disposal to safely and effectively treat an incredibly wide range of dental and orthodontic conditions. Some of the most common oral surgeries are:
If you have a tooth that’s suffered extreme decay or damage, oral surgery can remove it and improve your overall oral health. Extractions as a form of oral surgery are also frequently used to remove wisdom teeth that have become impacted beneath the gum line or are causing other problems.
If you want to replace a missing tooth, you can undergo oral surgery to install a small metal post, called a dental implant, into your jawbone where your natural tooth’s root once was. The implant acts as a sturdy anchor on top of which a crown or bridge is placed.
If you’re suffering from periodontitis, there are a number of oral surgery procedures that can prevent further damage to your gums and stave off infection and tooth loss, such as pocket reduction surgery and soft tissue and bone grafting.
The recovery process for oral surgery will vary depending on what procedure you’ve had done, but most patients experience some degree of:
Slight bleeding is common and normal for up to 24 hours after oral surgery. Biting down on gauze can minimize bleeding. If bleeding continues, some patients find relief by biting down on a moist black tea bag. The tannic acid found in black tea can aid clotting and reduce bleeding.
Most surgeries will leave you with a little bit of swelling, but it should go away within seven to 10 days. To mitigate swelling, keep your head elevated and use an icepack on the outside of your face.
The expert dentists at Sunrise Dental might give you medication for pain management following your oral surgery. Consult with the office before taking any over-the-counter pain medications.
The compassionate team of dentists at Sunrise Dental of Seattle/Ballard are skilled in many different oral surgeries that can improve your oral health and give you a happy and healthy smile. To learn more, book an appointment today by using the convenient online scheduling tool or calling the office.
