At Sapphire Dental Care in Oceanside, New York, Mark Zafir, DDS regularly performs oral surgery onsite, including dental implant placement, root canals, and extractions. Make an appointment today by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature.
Oral Surgery Q & A
What is oral surgery?
Oral surgery is an umbrella term for operative procedures performed on the teeth, gums, tongue, or jaw. During oral surgery, the team at Sapphire Dental Care uses special tools to make repairs and/or remove infected tissue.
How do I prepare for oral surgery?
Before recommending oral surgery, the team at Sapphire Dental Care reviews your dental records, completes an oral exam, and orders digital X-rays. You may qualify for treatment if they identify an underlying problem, like a tooth with a deep cavity or receding gums. Let the team know about the prescription medications you take and if you have any underlying health problems. Certain drugs and conditions can increase the risk of complications, so it’s crucial the team’s aware.
What are some examples of oral surgery?
At Sapphire Dental Care, the team performs several types of oral surgery, including:
Dental implant placement
If you’ve lost most or all of your permanent teeth, the team might recommend dental implants. Implants are titanium posts that replace your tooth roots. Your dentist places them into the empty sockets where your teeth used to be, and they fuse with your jaw. Once that process is complete, dental implants provide a base for crowns or implant-retained dentures.
Root canals
A root canal is an oral surgical procedure that removes the infected or inflamed pulp from the center of a tooth. Tooth pulp has nerves and blood vessels, but it isn’t necessary for your tooth’s long-term survival. After removing the pulp, the team caps your tooth with a crown. The crown restores your tooth to its near-original condition, preventing the need for an extraction.
Extractions
If you have a severe cavity and there’s no way to preserve your tooth, the team might recommend an extraction. During an extraction, your Sapphire Dental Care provider uses dental forceps to loosen and remove your tooth carefully. Afterward, they fill the empty socket with gauze and write you an antibiotic prescription to prevent infection.
What is recovery like after oral surgery?
After oral surgery, you may experience mild swelling, bruising, and discomfort after the anesthesia wears off. Take any medication as prescribed, drink lots of water, and get plenty of rest. You may need to eat soft foods for several days, like scrambled eggs, soup, or yogurt. To learn more about oral surgery, request a consultation at Sapphire Dental Care today. Call the office to speak with a staff member or book online.
