Safe and Comfortable Treatments
Sometimes, in order to restore oral health, you’ll need to undergo oral surgery. At Oelwein and West Union Dental Associates, we provide nothing but the best when it comes to removing teeth, preserving bone, and providing expert dental care.
Learn more about our oral surgery options and why you should choose Oelwein and West Union Dental Associates to get back on track with your oral health and overall well-being.
What is considered oral surgery?
Oral surgery is a procedure that involves the manipulation of the tissues in your mouth, such as your gums or jawbone. For your oral surgery procedure, IV anesthesia is an option for our patients offered by our dentists. Examples of oral surgeries include tooth removal, root canal treatment, or a variety of other surgical procedures.
Is oral surgery dangerous?
Although complications are rare, whenever a patient undergoes surgery, there are some risks involved. Any complications are usually due to the pre-operative general health status of the patient.
Choosing highly trusted and experienced dentists such as all of our dentists at Oelwein and West Union Dental Associates will help to ensure proper screening measures are taken into consideration prior to your operation. This helps prevent any complications that may arise during the procedure and the healing process.
Extractions
Damaged, decayed, or impacted teeth can potentially cause problems, like infections, may need to be removed. This is especially common with wisdom teeth. Extractions can range from a single tooth to removing all four wisdom teeth at once.
Based on the preference of the dentist and/or patient, a local anesthetic may be administered to numb the areas where the teeth will be extracted. A general anesthetic is also an option for patients who prefer to be sedated during the procedure.
Our trusted and compassionate dental team will do everything they can to ensure you’re comfortable during the entire tooth extraction process. We’ll explain every detail of the procedure to give you peace of mind, and discuss restoration options for the future so you don’t have to suffer from an incomplete smile.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is a restorative dental procedure used to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth, and save the natural tooth. The root canal is the layer that contains the pulp. When cavities or cracks damage the enamel of the teeth, bacteria can enter the pulp and cause infection. It’s important to remove the source of the problem to save your natural tooth before it has to be extracted.
If you have an infection in the root canal, which is a canal that travels vertically through the crown and down into the tooth root, you may require a root canal. Your doctor will go into the canal, remove the infection, sterilize and fill the chamber to prevent further infection, and restore the tooth with a crown. Most of our root canal patients experience little to no pain or discomfort, and minimal recovery time.
We know that many patients may feel dental anxiety when it comes to a root canal procedure. Our dental team will do everything they can to make sure you’re comfortable through every step of the root canal process. Due to the advancements of techniques and technology, root canals are a very routine and painless procedure.
FAQs About Oral Surgery and Root Canals
Are there dietary restrictions after oral surgery?
Each patient and procedure is different, so any guide is going to vary. Following oral surgery, you’ll want to be cautious about what you eat. It’s best to eat softer foods and avoid sugary drinks. Additionally, you should avoid hot foods and liquids. Of course, Dr. Kruger will have suggestions for you to follow as well. On top of those guidelines, we’ve compiled a list of foods that may aid your recovery process:
- Jell-O
- Mashed bananas
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Soups (not too hot!)
- Protein Drinks
How do I accelerate my recovery process?
After your surgery, Dr. Kruger will provide a set of suggested tips designed to get you back in the world and beaming your healthy smile as soon as possible. These recommendations will depend on your procedure. There are, however, several general guidelines to foster a smooth and successful recovery. Some of these include:
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol
- Refrain from touching the area of your surgery
- Patients often aggravate the area with their tongue or mouth; these are both detrimental to your recovery!
- Chew on the opposite side of your mouth
- Rest as much as possible
- Eat soft foods
- Stay hydrated
- Use a cold compress
- Utilize over-the-counter pain medications as needed
- Practice good oral hygiene
- Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day and floss at least once a day
- Schedule follow-up appointments at either our Oelwein or West Union office
How long does root canal therapy take?
Root canal therapy can take up to three appointments lasting anywhere from 90 minutes to two hours. If you’re only having one tooth treated, we may be able to finish the procedure in one visit. Your health and safety is our primary focus. Rest assured, we’ll minimize any discomfort and get you back to feeling your best.
Can root canal therapy cause headaches?
A common progressed symptom of an infected root canal is a severe generalized headache. Toothaches of this variety, as well as other dental problems, can often cause cranial pain. In most cases, however, they can be abated using over-the-counter pain medication.
If your headache persists after your root canal therapy, we strongly advise you to contact your general doctor.
Visit Oelwein and West Union Dental Associates
If you’re in need of tooth extraction or a root canal, you’ve made the right choice in seeking compassionate and skilled care from our dental team. If you have any questions about oral surgery or root canals and are ready to schedule a consultation, call us at our Oelwein practice (319) 283-4222 or our West Union practice at (563) 422-6292.