Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Surgery

Just about everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed in their lifetime (around 85%, as estimated by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons). But what comes after your wisdom teeth are taken out?

Our oral surgeons help patients get successful treatment and recommend the following steps for post-extraction care:

Gently place gauze at the site of treatment – You may experience some bleeding right after surgery, but this is normal. Dr. Hagerty and Dr. Summers will provide you with soft gauze that can be changed out as needed to keep your mouth clean during the healing process. However, if you are still experiencing bleeding the day after surgery, contact our office for more information.

Use ice packs to control swelling – After surgery, your cheeks and face may appear swollen, but this can be minimized with the use of packs. If you don’t have an ice pack handy, place some ice cubes in a plastic sandwich bag and wrap the bag in a hand towel. Gently place the ice pack on the sides of your face to reduce the appearance of swollen tissues.

Eat soft foods – Your mouth will be sore after wisdom teeth extraction, so choosing foods that don’t require a lot of biting and chewing will make you feel better. We recommend foods like pudding, soup, Jello®, and mashed potatoes.

Prescription medication can be used for any discomfort – Dr. Hagerty and Dr. Summers can recommend effective medication to help you remain comfortable while resting after your treatment.  Take medication only as directed and talk to our office if you have any questions about your prescription. You can also rinse with salt water when needed to help alleviate discomfort.

Carefully brush and floss teeth – When brushing teeth that are close to the treatment site, use a gentle touch to avoid removing the blood clot(s) that is a part of your body’s natural healing process.
Flush out debris at the treatment site, per your dentist’s instructions – When tissues have healed sufficiently and you are ready to eat more solid food, you can rinse out any leftover debris in teeth sockets with a special tool provided by our office.

Rest up! - Recovery time typically takes about 48 hours – use this as your opportunity to get plenty of rest and allow your body to heal from treatment. Once the recovery period is over, you’ll no longer have to worry about complications from still having your wisdom teeth.

If you have questions about wisdom teeth surgery or the recovery process, contact our office to speak to our friendly oral surgeons.

What to Look for in a Sedation Dentist

You’ve probably heard about sedation dentistry by now, especially if you’re anxious about seeing the dentist and are interested in learning more about how sedation can help.  While the proper sedation method is important for each individual patient, picking the right sedation dentist is important too.

Consider the following when looking for a dental office to provide you with sedation during your visit:

Training: For certain types of sedation, dentists have to undergo licensing and certification to offer them to patients.  Each state has different requirements, but getting certified for the use of oral conscious (for example) requires advanced training to learn about safe ways to administer this treatment.

Experience:  It’s easier to feel comfortable about your sleep dentistry appointment when you know that your dentist has done this sort of thing many times before. Tried and true experience in safely giving sedative medication to patients is a good indicator of a trustworthy dental office to seek if you’re an anxious patient.  Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist how long he has been helping fearful patients with sedation dental care.

Options:  There’s no one-size-fits all sedation method that works for everyone. Popular sedation options include conscious sedation and nitrous oxide; even when choosing the oral conscious method, there are different types of medication available that take effect and wear off at varying rates. The best way to get sedation dental care is to visit an office that provides you with choices and helps you select a method that will work best for you.

If you’re interested in sedation dentistry – we can help.  Drs. Hagerty and Summers have 34 combined years of experience that allow us to give you expert care for your sedation dental needs. Our dentists are certified and have advanced training that allows us to provide sedation services ranging from nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) to in-office IV sedation and general anesthesia in the hospital, allowing you to safely get the sedation dental treatment you need for comfortable visits to the dentist.

Call our Albany, OR dental office to learn more about nitrous oxide, conscious IV sedation dentistry, or hospital dentistry. We gladly help you pick the option that best suits your needs!

Reasons to Love Dental Implants

No one enjoys covering up a smile because of the embarrassment of missing teeth, and we’re hard-pressed to find someone who enjoys the occasional slip of dentures. Luckily, living with missing teeth or dealing with dentures aren’t the only options anymore, thanks to dental implants.

We think you’ll love dental implants, and here’s why:

1. Success rate - Everyone loves a good success story. It has been reported that 98 percent of dental implants are a success, which is a great statistic for our patients.

2. They’re trusted by hundreds of thousands of people – According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), the number of people with implants grows by 500,000 per year. By the year 2018, the projected market in America for dental implants could exceed $4 billion. That’s a lot of money, and no one is paying that much for a procedure that doesn’t work.

3. Permanence - This is not a procedure where you will have to go in every few years and get all of your implants replaced. “How often will my implants last?” you ask. How does 40 years sound? Your implants require care just like real teeth, but are made to be a strong and lasting part of your oral health.

4. No slipping or loose teeth – Dentures come out. As in, you’re talking with your friends and your dentures move out of place, embarrassingly. Or you’re eating a fantastic meal, and somehow your teeth end up on the plate next to your steak. We don’t want that to happen, and you definitely don’t want that to happen. If you want a replacement for any missing teeth, why not go with the permanent solution?

5. Your smile is beautiful, once again - Whether you are at a job interview, or meeting someone for the first time, you want to make the best impression possible. One of the easiest ways to smile with confidence is with permanent teeth that support best aesthetic and oral health.

If you have questions about dental implants, Dr. Patrick Hagerty and Dr. Brian Summers are here to help. Our implant dentists can carry out all parts of your implant treatment right in our office. Give us a call today to see how we can help you get permanent teeth with implant dentistry.

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