Are You Awake for Oral Surgery?

At Implant & Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL, we are driven to help each of our clients bolster their oral health, improve their self-esteem, and boost their quality of life. In some cases, oral surgery is required to improve oral health. Today, we’re answering some of the most frequently asked questions about surgery, including whether you will be awake for it.

Are You Awake for Oral Surgery?

Yes, you will be awake for oral surgery. If you need one or more wisdom teeth removed, you will remain comfortable during your tooth removal with intravenous minimal sedation or an injectable anesthetic. You will not be put to sleep, and you can go home after your procedure. However, you won’t be able to drive for 24 hours if you receive a sedative.

If you need a dental implant or two, local anesthesia will be administered rather than general anesthesia. You will also be injected with a local anesthetic if you need a jawbone graft.

Other Frequently Asked Questions Answered

Am I a Good Candidate for a Dental Implant?

You will most likely be considered a good candidate for a dental implant if your jawbone has developed fully, it is dense enough to support an implant, and you have healthy gums. Additionally, to be considered a good fit for a dental implant, you should be free from medical conditions that can impede your bone healing after your dental implant is placed.

Who Isn’t a Great Fit for a Dental Implant?

You may be considered a poor fit for a dental implant if you are a smoker. Smokers tend to have poor gum health, and tobacco consumption can significantly impede the healing process. You also won’t be considered a good candidate for a dental implant if you can’t commit to maintaining a good oral hygiene routine.

How Should I Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery?

One of the most important preparation steps that must be taken before getting a dental implant is undergoing a comprehensive dental exam. During this exam, 3D images will be taken of your mouth, you will get dental X-rays, and we will make models of your jaws and teeth. It is also vital that you discuss your medical history thoroughly. To confirm your candidacy for a dental implant, we need to know about what drugs and supplements you take.

We also need to confirm that you do not suffer from any medical condition that could affect your procedure or recovery. If you have an orthopedic implant, you may need to take a course of antibiotics before you qualify for implant dentistry.

How Long Does Dental Implant Surgery Take?

As a general rule of thumb, you can expect your dental implant surgery to take an hour or two per implant that must be placed. Before your procedure begins, your areas of concern will be numbed with a local anesthetic. Then, small titanium posts are placed in the hole where your missing tooth was. Over time, your jawbone will grow around the post, and a new tooth can be placed.

What Can I Expect During the Recovery Process?

After your oral procedure, you should get a ride home if you received intravenous minimal sedation. Otherwise, you may drive yourself home. You should dedicate at least two to three days after surgery to relaxing. You may feel drowsy for a while if you receive a mild sedative, so you shouldn’t plan on working from home on the same day as your procedure. You should plan to eat only cool, soft foods for a while.

Good foods to eat while your mouth recovers include yogurt, applesauce, berries, and green smoothies. Just keep in mind that you should sip your smoothie from a cup rather than sucking it through a straw. For 72 hours, you should protect your blood clot. Therefore, straws, smoking, and the consumption of carbonated or alcoholic beverages should be avoided.

What Are the Most Compelling Benefits of Getting a Dental Implant?

One of the most compelling benefits of getting a dental implant is that it significantly improves appearance and self-esteem. Another strong benefit of this procedure is that it is a lot easier to chew food when you have a dental implant than if the tooth slot was empty or you wore dentures. You will also find speaking a lot easier if you get a dental implant.  

What Does a Bone Graft Involve?

Depending on your condition, you may benefit from a xenograft, allograft bone graft, or autogenous bone graft. What you can expect during a jawbone graft depends on the type of graft you get. We will tailor a treatment plan during your initial consultation and advise you on what you can expect during your procedure. If you opt for an autogenous bone graft, we will harvest bone from another part of your body, like your chin or lower jaw.

Typically, in the case of an allograft bone graft, synthetic bone is used. Once the targeted sites have been numbed with local anesthesia, we will make a small incision so we can place the material. Once the bone is in place, it can take several months for the transplanted bone and the existing jawbone to fuse together.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Bone Graft?

You will most likely be considered a good candidate for a bone graft if you want to stabilize your jaw or preserve your bone mass. Often, people seek this procedure to stabilize their jawbone so they qualify for another oral procedure, like dental implant surgery. However, you can also benefit if you have had a wisdom tooth removed or you suffer from periodontal disease.
 

Rest Easy

You will not be put to sleep before undergoing oral surgery. Depending on the procedure you undergo and other factors, you may receive local anesthesia or intravenous minimal sedation. If you get a sedative, you may not drive for 24 hours. To learn more about oral procedures, contact us today at Implant & Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL to schedule a consultation.