Oral Surgery Archives - Champion Dental

What Is The Recovery Period For An Emergency Tooth Extraction?

Posted on May 19, 2023 | by mel | Leave a Comment

How Long Does It Take To Get Back To Normal After Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extraction can be a daunting and awful task for many individuals. For some, it is just like removing a cherry from the top of the cake. For some patients, it can be an agonizing moment. The recovery also depends upon the type of extraction done.

After analyzing the condition & chances of infection getting spread (if any), Dentists provide OTC medications. Once it is treated with it, again, the dentist will check and suggest precautions. Patients also sometimes ask to get teeth removal for permanent relief.

So, in this way, a tooth removal happens. Many dentists suggest an emergency tooth extraction to stop the widespread infection or problem with other teeth. It can be an excruciating or less painful process depending on the severity of the treatment.

How Does Recovery Happen? What Is the Estimated Time?

People heal at different rates, so how fast one person heals may differ from what you experience. Recovery will also be based on the type of wound. Some teeth extractions are simple, taking very little time because the teeth are showing above the gum line.

Other wisdom teeth will require more complex surgery, such as an impacted tooth, which is completely encased in bone. Naturally, when this type of surgery is necessary, healing time is going to be considerably longer.

Teeth Extraction Recovery Time

With many tooth extraction processes, the pain from the extraction will last for two or three days. The anesthesia you are given for the surgery will wear off in about four hours. You will be given a prescription for pain medicine from the oral surgeon. After a couple of days, all you will need is over-the-counter medications.

Your gums (if affected) will heal within two weeks. They usually heal faster than most other tissues. If the surgery involves removing any bone, it could take three months or more for your jawbone to heal completely.

When you get home from the surgery, you should plan on resting for the remainder of the day and not overexert yourself. This can cause problems that are both painful and will slow the healing process. You may be able to go to work the next day, but avoid strenuous activities for about a week.

What Is A Dry Socket? When Does It Happen?

Although it is relatively rare, you might develop what is called a Dry Socket (if the newly formed clot is dislodged). If this happens, it exposes the bone under the tooth and the nerve. This can make it sensitive to anything that touches it – even cold air. It can be excruciating. If the clot is dislodged, you will need to go back to the dentist to apply a medicated dressing on it and for pain medication. A dry socket can take up to a month to heal, but it may heal within a week.

To prevent dry sockets, you will need to eat liquid or soft foods that are not hot for a couple of days. You also need to avoid acidic foods which would dissolve the clot. Foods with seeds or that are hard (chips and other snack foods) may get into the socket and cause an infection.

Control Swelling

You will probably have some swelling, and it will peak between 48 to 72 hours later, and then it will start to subside. You can apply an ice pack on your face or cheek where it is swelling. To prevent damage to your skin, alternate the ice pack between 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.

Why Do Teeth Need to Be Removed?

Many people do not ever need their teeth removed. For some people, though, emergency tooth extraction becomes necessary for several reasons, which may include:

They are hard to keep clean – It is challenging to keep them clean with a toothbrush and almost impossible to floss adequately.
They can develop cavities – If they are visible above the gum line, cavities may develop.
They can get gum disease – If food gets trapped under the gums, bacteria can enter around the tooth and cause gum disease.
They can become infected – An abscess could develop in the tooth.
They can damage neighboring teeth – Because wisdom teeth often come in crooked or even sideways, they can damage and crowd other teeth.
They can develop a cyst – A cyst can develop near the tooth, destroying the tooth roots of other teeth and the bone.

What Is The Suitable Time to Remove Teeth?

As you get older, the roots of your teeth grow longer. A nerve runs under your teeth (lingual nerve), and when you get 35, the roots of your teeth run close to that nerve. This makes it more complicated for an oral surgeon to perform the surgery safely because there is a greater risk of damaging or even severing the nerve. The best time to have teeth examined and removed if needed is before you are 25 to 30s.

If you need to have an emergency tooth removal, you should set aside a couple of days for recovery time – just in case. While most people stay home the day of the surgery and the day after, a more complex tooth extraction will likely require more time to recover. When you want a specialist for your teeth surgery, Champion Dental clinic dentists can provide the services you need in their Farmers Branch Office , DFW, Texas. Nearly all dental health insurance plans are accepted.

How to Stay Comfortable After Oral Surgery

Posted on April 7, 2023 | by mel | Leave a Comment

Several Ways to Prepare Yourself to Cope

Many people fear going to the dentist for oral surgery because they know that they may feel uncomfortable afterward. While some discomfort will occur after any type of surgery, there are some steps you can take to reduce the pain and discomfort. This will help you to stay more comfortable when you are back at home.

About Oral Surgery

There are many types of oral surgery, so the type you receive may differ from what someone else experiences. Whether it is a wisdom tooth extraction, a tooth implant, oral maxillofacial surgery, or some other type of dental surgery, there will be some discomfort afterward.

In order to help relieve immediate pain, the dentist will usually give you some pain pills to use once the numbing medication wears off. With some types of anesthesia, you may need someone else to drive you home. With other types, such as nitrous oxide, you could probably drive yourself home.

Dental Instructions

After your oral surgery, the dentist will provide you with some detailed instructions that you need to follow for best results. Following them carefully will help you be more comfortable afterward.

Dry Sockets

After oral surgery, particularly after a wisdom teeth removal or another tooth, the clot in the empty socket does not heal correctly. This can happen if the clot becomes dislodged. If it does occur, it will often be a painful experience until it does heal correctly.

Preventing a dry socket means avoiding drinking through a straw and eating food that might disturb the clot. Smoking and drinking alcohol should also be avoided for at least 10 days. A dry socket is more likely to occur in women, in smokers, and in people who are using oral contraceptives.

Before Surgery

Before the surgery, the dentist will likely advise you to stop taking any vitamins or supplements about two weeks prior to the surgery. You may also be advised to take vitamin C because it will help with pain and healing.

After Surgery

If you had a wisdom tooth extraction, or a molar, you will likely be told to bite down on a piece of gauze. You will need to keep this in place for at least 30 minutes before replacing it with new gauze. If it continues to bleed, moisten a new piece of gauze a little and keep on replacing it about every 30 minutes. The bleeding may occur for as long as 24 hours.

If the bleeding continues to be rather heavy after some time, you can moisten a tea bag and put it on the site. Tea has chemicals in it that will help to constrict the blood vessels to help the bleeding stop.

Stick to a Liquid Diet

After the surgery, it is important that you continue to get a good amount of nutrition. The right kind of food will help keep inflammation down and will also aid in healing. During the healing process, you will be instructed to stick to drinking liquids and soft foods. You can eat soft foods such as pudding, blended soups or broth, mashed potatoes, applesauce, ice cream, smoothies, cottage cheese, and salmon.

You also want to avoid some foods. This list includes hot (eat cold or lukewarm foods) and spicy foods, foods with seeds in them, foods that are crunchy – such as potato chips, cookies, etc., and foods that are chewy.

Get Some Rest

Once you are at home, you should plan on resting and taking it easy. In some cases, the dentist or oral surgeon may want someone else to stay with you for a few hours after you go home.

Use Ice Packs

You may have some swelling in your cheeks and jaw. Place ice packs that are wrapped in a towel on the area that is swelling. As the swelling goes down, it will also help to relieve pain. In order to avoid damaging your skin, do not leave the ice packs on for more than 20 minutes, followed by 20 minutes off. Then repeat until the swelling goes down and you are more comfortable.

Rinse Your Mouth with Saltwater

You may be directed not to brush your teeth for a day or two. If so, the dentist may provide you with an oral mouthwash. Keeping your mouth clean is important in order to prevent infection. You may also use a saltwater mixture to rinse with, just add 1/4 teaspoon to an 8-ouce glass of water. You should also brush and floss other areas (unless the dentist directs otherwise) of your mouth, but be careful not to disturb the clot.

Keep Your Head Elevated

Staying elevated for about three days while you sleep is important because you will have more blood in the area when you lay flat, causing the wound site to throb. It will also help to reduce swelling.

One more step in being more comfortable after oral surgery is to get a dentist who is very experienced in the type of dental surgery you need. If in search of an experienced oral surgeon in Farmers Branch , call Champion Dental clinic at 214-747-0763 today

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Pinhole Surgery – Everything You Need to Know

Posted on March 28, 2023 | by mel | Leave a Comment

Looking for a Non-invasive Way to Get Gum Surgery?

When you have receding gums because of gum disease, a new non-invasive technique called pinhole surgery can give you beautiful gums again. The procedure is fast and requires very little downtime. You also will not need to worry about stitches and it is not considered to be painful.

What is Pinhole Surgery?

Pinhole surgery is a rather new way to provide receding gums treatment. Invented by John Chao, DDS, MAGD several years ago, it is becoming the increasingly popular way to treat gum recession.

Periodontal disease causes recession of the gums, as well as erosion of the jawbone. Treating the disease often still leaves the gums unattractive. Up until recently, the most common way to treat the gums so that their natural and healthy appearance is regained is through gum graft surgery – with or without a laser. This older type of surgery requires the use of stitches and is rather painful.

The new pinhole surgery technique is revolutionary in that no stitches are required, and it is much less painful. It is also scalpel-free. After making a small hole in your gums above the teeth, special tools are inserted into the hole that enables the surgeon to gently lift the gums off the teeth and slide them down – covering the exposed roots and restoring the natural gum line.

Although no stitches are used, oral surgeons will likely place collagen strips under the gums to provide support and keep them in their new position. Some surgeons will also place platelet-rich fibrin membranes under the gums, but this is at their discretion.

An additional advantage of pinhole surgery for gum recession is that it is fast. Dental surgeons can correct the gums over many teeth at one time – often in less than an hour. Patients get to see immediate results.

There also is very little post-operative pain. It is also long-lasting. Patients can expect there to be little or no downtime, and they are able to eat a normal dinner the same evening.

Who Can Go for Pinhole Surgery?

Most anyone is a good candidate for pinhole surgery. You need to be in rather good health and have moderate to severe gum recession.

Patients that have rampant gum disease will need to have it treated prior to the pinhole surgery. This helps to ensure that the surgery’s effects will be longer lasting. It also ensures that your gum disease is still not causing further damage to your gums and jawbone.

Pinhole Surgery Aftercare

Once the surgery has been completed, there is little aftercare needed. The patient will need to return to the surgeon’s office for a checkup after a couple of days to ensure that there are no problems.

The success of the surgery will partly depend on the patient following the advice of the surgeon after the surgery. This includes not brushing aggressively once given clearance to brush. Patients who grind their teeth (bruxism) may need to wear a dental appliance to prevent damage to the gums.

Advantages and Complications of Pinhole Surgery

The pinhole surgery technique puts gum treatment on a whole new level. It is much faster than traditional gum surgery, and it is usually completed in an hour or less. Once completed, you can also leave the office right away, because there is no need for a period of recovery.

Patients also do not need to put up with a lot of pain in the roof of their mouth, which is usually where the material for the new gums is taken from in a gum transplant. You also do not need to be concerned about a special diet during recovery time. Pinhole surgery is considered non-invasive, and patients can see the results immediately.

With normal gum grafting procedures, which uses cutting and stitches, patients can expect healing to take between 14 to 21 days. The pinhole surgery method enables patients to go back to work immediately. In addition, gum grafting may require multiple surgeries, especially when there is more extensive damage. It can take up to a year to complete one person when several surgeries are needed.

Although there are a few possible complications with pinhole surgery, they are much fewer than might be experienced with traditional gum grafting. Since there is no cutting, there is a much smaller risk of infection, even though a few tiny holes will be made. These holes heal quickly, which reduces the risk of infection considerably.

Cost of Pinhole Surgery

The pinhole gum surgery cost is similar to regular gum graft surgery. The advantage in cost is that you do not need to return for multiple treatments, and it is often completed in one appointment.

If you live in and around Farmers Branch TX area and need receding gums surgery, you can contact Champion Dental Clinic specialists for pinhole surgery. We perform pinhole gum surgery and regularly treats patients for periodontal disease. For more information about our dental services and offers, or to set up an appointment, call us at 214-747-0763

Why Extracting Wisdom Teeth Can Be a Good Idea

All You Want To Know About Wisdom Teeth Removal

Posted on March 16, 2023 | by mel | Leave a Comment

Why Extracting Wisdom Teeth Can Be a Good Idea

In most people, wisdom teeth will become a problem. They often grow in at a steep angle, or nearly horizontal, and do not have enough room to reach their full size, causing problems with neighboring teeth. Other cases may involve a wisdom tooth that has become infected, and when that happens, wisdom tooth removal by an oral surgeon becomes necessary.

Wisdom teeth often cause problems with other teeth, which is why getting wisdom teeth out becomes necessary. Not everyone is born with wisdom teeth, and when that happens, they never have to worry about it.

What is wisdom teeth removal?

Wisdom teeth removal means taking the wisdom tooth or teeth out. Many times, not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. This is a dental surgery that is usually performed by an oral surgeon, rather than a regular dentist.

The reason for this is because taking out wisdom teeth can be a complicated process. The wisdom tooth may be partly or even completely encased in bone, but it can still become infected. Another possible problem is that the roots may be near the nerve that runs through the jaw (lingual nerve) and surgical precision is needed from a more experienced dentist – an oral surgeon.

Who should go for wisdom teeth removal procedure?

The placement of the wisdom teeth will vary with each individual. While some people will need surgery to have them all removed, others may only need one or two taken out. They are usually the last permanent teeth to grow in and they typically appear sometime between 17 and 25.

When a wisdom tooth does not have enough room to grow, it is called an impacted wisdom tooth. This can happen when the tooth does not grow properly or in the right direction. It may grow horizontally, toward the back part of the mouth, or even be upright but not break through the bone.

Besides being painful, an impacted wisdom tooth can cause a number of problems. It can:

Become infected
Lead to periodontal disease
Become decayed
Damage a nearby tooth
Develop a cyst around the tooth
Move other teeth out of alignment

As wisdom teeth come in, some symptoms may be experienced. These may include:

Pain
Painful to chew food
Face or jaw pain
An earache
Increased sensitivity to hot or cold
A sore throat
A headache.

There are also some other symptoms that may indicate a problem with wisdom teeth. When these occur, immediate treatment is necessary. They include:

A fever
Swollen gums around the wisdom tooth
An abscess
Swelling in the jaw that makes it difficult to open the mouth.

Wisdom teeth removal procedure

Before you have a wisdom tooth extraction, you will be asked to fast for at least six hours prior to the appointment. Not following this guideline could lead to nausea and vomiting when the anesthesia is applied. You will be asked about it, and, if you did not follow it, the appointment will be rescheduled. Various types of anesthesia can be given, ranging from local to general. One or more wisdom teeth can be removed at the same time. It is not uncommon to remove all four – usually under general anesthesia.

In many cases, the wisdom tooth will be broken into pieces, and then the pieces will be removed. In some cases, the gums will need to be cut first, and then some of the jaw bone removed to get access to the tooth.

Medication will be given to prevent infection and to minimize the pain you might otherwise feel afterward. When the patient is of a minor age, a parent will need to be present and will have to watch the young person for the remainder of the day.

Recovery and aftercare

After wisdom teeth surgery, the dentist will provide some gauze pads for you to place on the site of the extracted tooth. This will need to stay on the site for at least half an hour. During that time, a clot should have formed. If it has not formed in the first 30 minutes, it should be repeated. Some swelling is to be expected, and it can occur around the mouth, cheeks, and eyes. The amount depends on how extensive the surgery was. Ice packs can be placed where the swelling occurs. Medication will be given for pain after the anesthetic has worn off. Antibiotics are also likely to be prescribed.

Care needs to be taken not to dislodge the blood clot over the site because this may permit a dry socket to form. This means you should not brush your teeth, floss, or swish water in your mouth. Avoid smoking, which can delay healing.

It is not unusual for there to be a sore throat or pain in your jaw for two or three days. It should subside after that. Call the dentist if pain continues longer than that.

How much does it cost for the wisdom teeth removal procedure?

Calculating the wisdom teeth removal cost depends on what needs to be done to extract them. On average, it is likely to cost $75 to $200 per tooth. If there is an impacted wisdom tooth, this will likely cost $200 to $500, but it will also depend on the type of anesthesia used. Removing all four wisdom teeth may cost around $1,600. Dental insurance will often pay between 25 to 50 percent of the cost.

If you live in the Farmers Branch TX area and need wisdom tooth removal, Champion Dental clinic . We regularly perform teeth extractions and many other dental services. For more information about our services, or to set up an appointment, visit our website

What You Need To Know About Nerve Damage after Oral Surgery

Posted on January 25, 2023 | by mel | 5 Comments

How Dental Nerve Damage Can Affect You

On some occasions, some types of dental surgery may result in damage to the nerve (the lingual nerve) in your lower jaw. The injury is accidental, but it does occur. This kind of dental nerve damage affects the nerves in the lower lip, the tongue, and the chin. In most cases, this type of injury is temporary and recovery takes place within eight weeks.

How It May Occur

During any oral surgical procedure on the back teeth of your lower jaw, it is possible for a lingual nerve injury to occur. It is a risk that can take place during the removal of wisdom teeth while installing dental implants, root canal treatment, and during surgeries to the face or mouth.

Pain or other sensations can be caused when a nerve is injured or severed. A lingual nerve injury can occur from many things, including from a needle when injecting the pain medication, from pulling gum tissues out of the way, from cutting the gums, placing an implant, during suturing, from a bruise on the nerve, or from compression of it – or possibly from inflammation.

There are several other ways that it may occur. This includes damage from the eruption of a blood vessel, which puts pressure on the nerve; or from the anesthetic itself damaging the nerve.

In some rare cases, the dentist may choose to leave the tips of the roots of a wisdom tooth in place. This will be done because the dentist believes that they are too close to the nerve to try and remove them. If attempted, the nerves would likely be damaged.

Nerve Damage and Dental Implants

Damage to the nerves in the jaw can rather easily occur during implant surgery. Every step of the procedure has the possibility of damage to the nerve. In addition to the above mentioned possible occasions for damage, there is also the problem of using surgical instruments to stretch tissue or to compress it while placing an implant. The risk varies based on where it is placed.

In the event of nerve damage caused by the placing of an implant, recovery may involve a few steps. Generally, the sensation of temperature and pain will recover first, and others may follow.

How It May Affect You

The resultant injury to the nerve may affect you in different ways, says the Oral Facial Surgery Institute. In many situations, various sensations may be felt, such as tingling, numbness, the feeling of something crawling on you, burning, shocks, or being extra sensitive in that area. For most people affected by nerve damage, the sensation is continuous.

The feelings may affect you by altering how you taste, chew, drink liquids, speak, kiss, and eat. These new feelings – or a lack of them – can drastically change how you do things. For some people, it can be hard to handle and may affect their quality of life. If these changes persist for more than six months, it is considered permanent.

Dental Nerve Damage Treatment

There are generally four methods of treatment for a nerve injury of this type. The National Institute of Health says that lingual nerve damage treatment is fourfold:

The use of medication (may include narcotics) – Three main types of medication may be used, including analgesics, antidepressants, and antiepileptics.
Laser treatment may help recover some sensation – The laser has been valuable to help recovery when used at low light levels. It can also be helpful when used before and after nerve surgery.
Surgery to restore nerves – Several types of surgery is used to treat damaged nerves.
Hypnosis and other therapy – Various therapies have been used with some success, including cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, acupuncture, relaxation therapy, and more.

Recovery Periods

When nerve damage is from the extraction of a wisdom tooth, recovery will most likely occur within the first three months. At about six months, about half of those with nerve damage will be recovered.

If the nerve damage is caused by an injection, most people recover completely within eight weeks. When recovery takes longer than that, full recovery is not likely.

Risk Factors

The greatest risk factor for potential nerve damage during a dental procedure is age, particularly in the case of wisdom teeth. After age 25, the wisdom teeth are more fully developed and the roots are longer and more complex, making it more difficult to remove them. This can make it easier for damage to occur to a nerve.

If you are experiencing some nerve pain after surgery, or tooth pain, our expert dental team at Champion dental, Farmers Branch can help you in alleviating it. Contact our office today at (214) 747-0763 for more information or to set up a consultation.

Category: Oral Surgery