Extractions - What to Expect
Before your appointment
Have a light meal before you arrive, unless instructed otherwise. As long as your medical history allows it, and if you’ve used the medication before with no concerns, please take 400mg of Ibuprofen approximately one hour before your appointment time. If you are unable to take Ibuprofen, that does not matter and the surgeon will discuss alternatives with you when you arrive.
You should inform the surgeon of any allergies you have and any medical conditions you have ever been diagnosed with, even if you believe that they are not relevant to your oral surgery treatment.
Take all your regular medications as normal, unless instructed otherwise.
Bring a list of any medications that you take, and if you have had any blood tests within the few days prior to your appointment, bring the results with you.
Patients having treatment under local anaesthetic alone may drive to and from their appointments.
Before the procedure
The surgeon will see you and make a full assessment and discuss everything with you. You must take this opportunity to ask all questions that you may have. You must ensure that you understand everything before agreeing for the surgical procedure to proceed.
The procedure
Most oral surgery procedures can be completed within 45 minutes.
You will initially be made numb with some small scratches in the gum as necessary. The surgeon will first ensure that you are completely numb before embarking on the procedure. It is normal to feel a substantial amount of pressure and pushing, however it is not sharp and does not hurt. If it does, then you must inform the surgeon so that the numbness can be maintained.
Sometimes, opening the gum may be necessary to access the site of surgery. This feels no different. A machine that vibrates and sprays water may then be used. Once the procedure is completed, the gum will be placed back in position with stitches. Unless informed otherwise, you can assume that dissolvable stitches have been used, so there would be no need for you to return to have them removed.
After the procedure
The surgeon will not discharge you until satisfied that there are no concerns such as bleeding. You will be provided instructions on how to take care of your mouth during the healing phase.
It is common to expect a small degree of discomfort after the procedure, which is normally readily controlled with simple painkillers such as Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. Swelling, bruising and stiffness of the jaw are not uncommon.
Potential risks and complications
Complications are rare and therefore should not be expected, but it is important to recognise that they are possible. As is the case with any intervention, the risks and benefits must be carefully considered prior to proceeding with surgery. Unless specifically advised to the contrary, you should expect your procedure to be completed uneventfully with minimal complications.
Procedures involving lower teeth may rarely cause trauma to a nerve that runs through the lower jaw and supplies the lip, chin, gums and tongue with feeling. This may result in an altered sensation of any of these areas, which could be anything ranging from numbness, tingling, pins and needles, or even pain. In most cases, the feeling returns to normal eventually, but very rarely, the effect may be permanent. The surgeon will discuss this in more detail with you, including the relative chances of it affecting you in particular. In the greatest majority of people, it is reasonable to expect that nothing untoward will happen at all.
Procedures involving upper back teeth may affect your sinuses, which lie just above the teeth. Sometimes, a small opening occurs between the mouth and the sinus, which tends to heal spontaneously depending on its size. If it doesn’t, it can be managed with another small surgical procedure involving stretching the gum across the opening. Teeth fragments could potentially slip through the opening into the sinus. If this rare event occurs, then it would necessitate an onward referral to our ENT colleagues for retrieval.
Operating on a tooth requires leaning on the adjacent tooth. If this is heavily restored or has a crown, or is decayed and fragile, then there is a susceptibility for the tooth to fracture or the restoration to be dislodged, requiring you to return to your dentist for further management.
Working on your back teeth involves stretching your lips so it is not uncommon for them to be a little sore or chapped after the procedure. A little Vaseline will help.
As is the case with any surgical procedure, anywhere in the body, infections are possible. If this occurs, we will make sure it is treated. Smokers and patients on particular medications may have delayed healing and susceptibility to infections. The surgeon will discuss the relevance of this to you.
Have a light meal before you arrive, unless instructed otherwise. As long as your medical history allows it, and if you’ve used the medication before with no concerns, please take 400mg of Ibuprofen approximately one hour before your appointment time. If you are unable to take Ibuprofen, that does not matter and the surgeon will discuss alternatives with you when you arrive.
You should inform the surgeon of any allergies you have and any medical conditions you have ever been diagnosed with, even if you believe that they are not relevant to your oral surgery treatment.
Take all your regular medications as normal, unless instructed otherwise.
Bring a list of any medications that you take, and if you have had any blood tests within the few days prior to your appointment, bring the results with you.
Patients having treatment under local anaesthetic alone may drive to and from their appointments.
Before the procedure
The surgeon will see you and make a full assessment and discuss everything with you. You must take this opportunity to ask all questions that you may have. You must ensure that you understand everything before agreeing for the surgical procedure to proceed.
The procedure
Most oral surgery procedures can be completed within 45 minutes.
You will initially be made numb with some small scratches in the gum as necessary. The surgeon will first ensure that you are completely numb before embarking on the procedure. It is normal to feel a substantial amount of pressure and pushing, however it is not sharp and does not hurt. If it does, then you must inform the surgeon so that the numbness can be maintained.
Sometimes, opening the gum may be necessary to access the site of surgery. This feels no different. A machine that vibrates and sprays water may then be used. Once the procedure is completed, the gum will be placed back in position with stitches. Unless informed otherwise, you can assume that dissolvable stitches have been used, so there would be no need for you to return to have them removed.
After the procedure
The surgeon will not discharge you until satisfied that there are no concerns such as bleeding. You will be provided instructions on how to take care of your mouth during the healing phase.
It is common to expect a small degree of discomfort after the procedure, which is normally readily controlled with simple painkillers such as Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. Swelling, bruising and stiffness of the jaw are not uncommon.
Potential risks and complications
Complications are rare and therefore should not be expected, but it is important to recognise that they are possible. As is the case with any intervention, the risks and benefits must be carefully considered prior to proceeding with surgery. Unless specifically advised to the contrary, you should expect your procedure to be completed uneventfully with minimal complications.
Procedures involving lower teeth may rarely cause trauma to a nerve that runs through the lower jaw and supplies the lip, chin, gums and tongue with feeling. This may result in an altered sensation of any of these areas, which could be anything ranging from numbness, tingling, pins and needles, or even pain. In most cases, the feeling returns to normal eventually, but very rarely, the effect may be permanent. The surgeon will discuss this in more detail with you, including the relative chances of it affecting you in particular. In the greatest majority of people, it is reasonable to expect that nothing untoward will happen at all.
Procedures involving upper back teeth may affect your sinuses, which lie just above the teeth. Sometimes, a small opening occurs between the mouth and the sinus, which tends to heal spontaneously depending on its size. If it doesn’t, it can be managed with another small surgical procedure involving stretching the gum across the opening. Teeth fragments could potentially slip through the opening into the sinus. If this rare event occurs, then it would necessitate an onward referral to our ENT colleagues for retrieval.
Operating on a tooth requires leaning on the adjacent tooth. If this is heavily restored or has a crown, or is decayed and fragile, then there is a susceptibility for the tooth to fracture or the restoration to be dislodged, requiring you to return to your dentist for further management.
Working on your back teeth involves stretching your lips so it is not uncommon for them to be a little sore or chapped after the procedure. A little Vaseline will help.
As is the case with any surgical procedure, anywhere in the body, infections are possible. If this occurs, we will make sure it is treated. Smokers and patients on particular medications may have delayed healing and susceptibility to infections. The surgeon will discuss the relevance of this to you.
After your appointment
Local Anaesthetic
The local anaesthetic will make you feel numb for a least a couple of hours. Beware not to eat or drink something hot as you will not be able to judge temperature and may scold yourself. Don’t be tempted to chew or touch the numb area.
Surgical site
The surgical site immediately forms a blood clot, which is the first phase of healing. It is important you do not dislodge this blood clot so that the healing is not disturbed. Therefore, do not rinse your mouth out or touch the area for the rest of the day in order to leave the blood clot in place. Brush your teeth as normal but avoid the surgical area and you may choose to dribble the water rather than spit it out.
Keeping the area clean
From the day after surgery, the blood clot should be more secure so you should keep the area clean by rinsing gently with either lukewarm salty water or any mouthwash of your choice. The advised time to do this is after you eat any food in order to wash the debris from the area. The surgeon may advise you to use a specific mouthwash but this is not normally necessary.
Eating
You may eat and drink as normal but you may choose to eat food that is easier to chew. A liquid diet is unnecessary but eating crunchy foods may be uncomfortable and disrupt the surgical site. You must avoid hot food and drink.
Stitches
You may have had stitches in your gum. If this is the case and unless the surgeon has told you otherwise, they will dissolve. This may take up to 3 weeks.
Bleeding
A little bleeding is not uncommon and is of no concern. Sleep with a towel over your pillow on the day of surgery in case you dribble a little blood. Your saliva may be stained a little pink from the blood clot. Don’t be concerned by confusing this with actual bleeding. Profuse bleeding that gushes or fills your mouth is very unlikely and should be managed by tightly placing a tissue or the gauze provided and biting extremely hard on it for at least 20 minutes. Firm pressure almost always stops bleeding.
Pain relief
Surgery on any area of the body may cause some discomfort afterwards in much the same way as you would expect after any other operation. It is therefore advisable to take painkillers before the numbness wears off. The jawbone would heal in a similar way to your leg or arm or any other part of your body after an operation. Don’t be surprised or concerned by this.
The discomfort should be managed by taking regular painkillers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, if your medical history allows it. If you are taking any medication, please confirm with your surgeon that routine painkillers are appropriate for you to take. Ibuprofen reduces swelling as well as treating discomfort. Although these medications can be taken together, it is advisable to take them at different times in order to for the effect to occur more frequently.
Physical activity
This should be kept to a minimum as it exacerbates bleeding.
Smoking
Smoking delays healing and if this occurs, it is more likely that you get an infection. Infection and poor healing can be very painful so try your best not to smoke until the healing is complete in an attempt to prevent this.
Local Anaesthetic
The local anaesthetic will make you feel numb for a least a couple of hours. Beware not to eat or drink something hot as you will not be able to judge temperature and may scold yourself. Don’t be tempted to chew or touch the numb area.
Surgical site
The surgical site immediately forms a blood clot, which is the first phase of healing. It is important you do not dislodge this blood clot so that the healing is not disturbed. Therefore, do not rinse your mouth out or touch the area for the rest of the day in order to leave the blood clot in place. Brush your teeth as normal but avoid the surgical area and you may choose to dribble the water rather than spit it out.
Keeping the area clean
From the day after surgery, the blood clot should be more secure so you should keep the area clean by rinsing gently with either lukewarm salty water or any mouthwash of your choice. The advised time to do this is after you eat any food in order to wash the debris from the area. The surgeon may advise you to use a specific mouthwash but this is not normally necessary.
Eating
You may eat and drink as normal but you may choose to eat food that is easier to chew. A liquid diet is unnecessary but eating crunchy foods may be uncomfortable and disrupt the surgical site. You must avoid hot food and drink.
Stitches
You may have had stitches in your gum. If this is the case and unless the surgeon has told you otherwise, they will dissolve. This may take up to 3 weeks.
Bleeding
A little bleeding is not uncommon and is of no concern. Sleep with a towel over your pillow on the day of surgery in case you dribble a little blood. Your saliva may be stained a little pink from the blood clot. Don’t be concerned by confusing this with actual bleeding. Profuse bleeding that gushes or fills your mouth is very unlikely and should be managed by tightly placing a tissue or the gauze provided and biting extremely hard on it for at least 20 minutes. Firm pressure almost always stops bleeding.
Pain relief
Surgery on any area of the body may cause some discomfort afterwards in much the same way as you would expect after any other operation. It is therefore advisable to take painkillers before the numbness wears off. The jawbone would heal in a similar way to your leg or arm or any other part of your body after an operation. Don’t be surprised or concerned by this.
The discomfort should be managed by taking regular painkillers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, if your medical history allows it. If you are taking any medication, please confirm with your surgeon that routine painkillers are appropriate for you to take. Ibuprofen reduces swelling as well as treating discomfort. Although these medications can be taken together, it is advisable to take them at different times in order to for the effect to occur more frequently.
Physical activity
This should be kept to a minimum as it exacerbates bleeding.
Smoking
Smoking delays healing and if this occurs, it is more likely that you get an infection. Infection and poor healing can be very painful so try your best not to smoke until the healing is complete in an attempt to prevent this.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS FOLLOWING SURGERY YOU SHOULD CONTACT US ON 01202 022146 or by email [email protected]