| General Questions |
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A)Scheduling |
| Absolute Oral Surgery & Implant Centers are open varying hours in multiple locations. We will schedule your appointment as promptly as possible. If you have pain or an emergency situation, every attempt will be made to see you that day or as soon as possible. |
| We try our best to stay on schedule to minimize your waiting. Because AOS provides Surgery services, various circumstances may lengthen the time allocated for a procedure. Emergency cases can also arise and cause delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience. |
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| B)Consultations |
| Your initial appointment will consist of a consultation explaining your diagnosis and treatment options. Occasionally, surgery can be done the same day as the consultation. However, a complex medical history or treatment plan will require an evaluation and a second appointment to provide treatment on another day. |
| Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your consultation: |
- Your Surgery referral slip and any X-rays if applicable
- A list of medications you are presently taking
- If you have medical or dental insurance, bring the necessary completed forms. This will save time and allow us to help you process any claims.
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| Important: |
| All patients under the age of 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the consultation visit |
| A pre-operative consultation and physical examination is mandatory for patients undergoing IV anesthesia for surgery. Please have nothing to eat or drink after midnight prior to your surgery. You will also need someone 18 years of age to drive you home. |
| Please alert the office if you have a medical condition that may be of concern prior to surgery (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, artificial heart valves and joints, rheumatic fever, etc.) or if you are on any medication (i.e. heart medications, aspirin, anticoagulant therapy, etc.) |
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| Please note that your first visit will not have the procedure done. Plan on having a second appointment for the procedure to be preformed. |
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C)X-ray |
If your dentist or physician has taken x-rays, you may request that they forward them to our office. If there is not enough time, please pick them up and bring them to our office. If additional films are necessary, they can be taken at our facility. |
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| D)CT Machine |
| AOS has a fully functional CT machine at it Harleysville location and is used for many procedures including extractions, implant placement, pathology, fractures and many more. |
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| E)Pre-Op |
| Remember: |
- Put nothing in your mouth after midnight prior to your surgery (if sedation is being done), not even coffee, water, gum, mints or lifesavers.
- In the morning brush your teeth BUT DO NOT SWALLOW any paste, water , mouthwash, etc.
- Arrange for a responsible adult (over 18 years of age) to take you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.
- The portion of Surgery charges agreed upon at your exam is due from you at the time of surgery. If you cannot make such a payment on the day of surgery, you need to call our office prior to your surgery to make alternative payment plans.
- Make not if local anesthesia is taking place and any children are to be accompanied with the patient please make arrangements to have an adult (over 18 years of age) to watch the children while the procedure is taking place.
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| To prepare for your at-home-recovery: |
- Plan for adequate time away from work, school, or other daily responsibilities to give your body time to heal properly.
- Have ice and ice packs on hand. Frozen vegetables also work very well.
- Have plenty of carbonated beverages, fruit juices and water on hand. NO STRAWS!
- Have soft foods stocked: yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, soup, oatmeal, eggs, etc.
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| Wear comfortable clothes with short sleeves to your surgery appointment, if general anesthesia is being done. |
| Nothing to eat or drink after midnight! NOTHING!!! |
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| F)Post-Op Day 1 (first 24 hours) |
| On your way home: |
- Have you filled your pain medication prescription? If not do so now. Wait to take the medication until you have completed steps 2-6 to follow.
- When you first arrive home: For the first 60 minutes keep firm, continuous pressure on the gauze over the Surgery site. Afterwards, remove gauze. If bleeding has not stopped, place fresh gauze in your mouth. Bite down with firm, continuous pressure for another half hour. Remove gauze. Blood may ooze slightly after gauze is removed. A pinkish tinge to your saliva is normal. If continued bleeding apply a tea bag to the extraction site and keep firm continuous pressure for 60 minutes or longer.
- Rest with head elevated, as in a recliner chair or with extra pillows. Expect to sleep most of the day.
- Apply ice packs to the face over the Surgery area to reduce swelling. begin ice during the first hour and continue for 24 hours. Follow a schedule of 20 minutes on-20 minutes off. The ice is effective in reducing swelling only during the first 24-36 hours although swelling may continue for several more days peeking around day 3.
- In the first few hours after surgery: Drink a carbonated beverage to help settle your stomach. DO NOT USE A STRAW. A straw creates suction which could break down the blood clot at the Surgery site, prolong bleeding and delaying healing. Smoking causes a similar problem. DO NOT SMOKE!!!! For at least 72 hours.
- Drink a cold milk product about half an hour after the carbonated beverage. We recommend a milk shake. This helps minimize nausea that pain medication may cause. Those allergic to milk products may try juices or soup.
- After you drink the product recommended above, take the first dose of pain medication as directed on the label. Continue to take medication as prescribed throughout the day.
- Drink fluids frequently. Wake younger children every hour to have them drink fluids. This will minimize nausea.
- Begin eating very soft foods today if it is comfortable.
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IMPORTANT
DURING THE FIRST 24 HOURS
DO NOT |
| Rinse your mouth, spit, smoke, drink with a straw or brush your teeth. |
| Post-Op Day 2/3 (48-72 hours) |
- Eat a soft diet. For health's sake choose nutritious foods: scrambled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, mashed bananas, applesauce, juices, and soups. Consider juicing vegetables and grinding meats in a blender. Baby food works well. You might want to add salt, pepper, or other spices to it. Some patients have recommended eating cream of rice or wheat topped with tomato, pesto, or cheese sauce.
- Avoid hard foods that require chewing or that have small pieces which could enter the Surgery site or break the forming blood clot. such foods include, but are not limited to, granola, nuts, rice, popcorn, and small candies. A broken clot can lead to "dry socket", which causes pain, delaying healing and may require additional healing.
- About 24 hours after surgery start to rinse your mouth gently with warm water. Use 1/2 teaspoon salt to a glass of warm water. Rinse about once an hour while awake, roughly 10 to 12 times per day. Brush very gently in areas where incisions have been made or stitches placed. Brush the rest of your mouth thoroughly in your regular manner.
- Continue to rest and drink 2-3 quarts of fluid per day. Both are vital to promoting healing and preventing infection.
- Reduce swelling with gentle warm rinses and take your anti-inflammatory medications as prescribed. Take medication after putting some food or milk product in your stomach. Swelling is normal during this time and peaks on days two and three.
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| Follow Up Visit (If you were given one) |
| Until Your Follow-Up Visit: |
- Continue to eat a very soft diet. Avoid vigorous chewing or small, hard foods.
- Continue warm salt water rinses and regular oral hygiene.
- Maintain good fluid intake.
- Do not smoke. Smoking may cause post-Surgery complications to develop.
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| Follow-Up Visit: |
Usually a week after the surgery, we will inspect the Surgery site to assure that proper healing is occurring.
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| That's it. The process of having your teeth removed is successfully accomplished! |
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| G)Why should wisdom teeth come out |
| By the age of 21, the average adult has 32 teeth; 16 teeth on the top and 16 teeth on the bottom. Each tooth in the mouth has a specific name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine, and bicuspid teeth) are ideal for grasping and biting food into smaller pieces. The back teeth (molar teeth) are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable for swallowing. |
The average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your third molars, also known as "wisdom teeth."
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| Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum, and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to successfully erupt. |
| These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the teeth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain, and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom teeth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure. |
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| H)General |
| We want your recovery from oral surgery to be as comfortable and rapid as possible. Therefore, we have provided this step-by-step guide to help you care for yourself after surgery. We urge you to follow it carefully. |
| Having teeth removed is a significant Surgery procedure that affects your whole body. It will take your body several days to recover. Following these procedures can help you reduce your discomfort and promote more rapid, uncomplicated healing. |
| We appreciate the trust you have shown in us by selecting us to perform your surgery. Because we are committed to providing you with the best care possible, we welcome your comments and questions about any aspect of your treatment. |
| If you need such services in the future we hope you will call on us again. |
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