Surgical Care Starts Long Before The Procedure
The word “surgery” can make a dental problem feel more intimidating than it already is. Clear planning helps. At Toothology, we begin by explaining why a surgical approach is being considered, whether a less invasive option exists, and what the full process would mean for you.
Oral surgery can be part of removing a tooth that cannot be saved, addressing wisdom teeth, placing dental implants, or preparing an area for tooth replacement. The exact scope of care depends on your diagnosis and needs.
Our Scottsdale dental team uses your medical history, exam, and detailed images to plan the safest reasonable approach. Toothology's cone beam CT technology can provide three-dimensional views for selected procedures, and guided implant surgery lets us plan implant position before the day of treatment.
Oral Surgery Services
Tooth Extractions
Simple and surgical removal of teeth that cannot be saved, including broken teeth and wisdom teeth that are not erupting normally. Learn more about tooth extractions.
Bone Grafting
Grafting rebuilds or preserves jawbone so it can support an implant. It may be done at the time of an extraction to keep the socket from shrinking, or as a separate step when bone has already been lost.
Implant Placement
A dental implant is a titanium post placed in the jaw to replace a missing tooth root. With cone beam CT planning and guided surgery, placement is precise and often quicker than patients expect.
Full-Arch Procedures
When most of the teeth in an arch are failing, All-on-4 full-arch treatment can combine extractions, grafting where needed, and implant placement into one coordinated plan that supports a full set of fixed teeth.
Reasons Oral Surgery May Be Recommended
Your plan may include a surgical procedure when:
- A badly damaged or infected tooth cannot be restored
- A wisdom tooth is not erupting normally
- A tooth has broken near or below the gumline
- Dental implant placement is part of replacing missing teeth
- Bone support needs to be improved before an implant
- A complex dental condition requires direct access to the area
You do not need to decide whether your problem is “surgical” before scheduling. We can begin with an evaluation and explain the appropriate next step.
The Least Invasive Option Comes First
Surgery is a tool, not a default. Before recommending a surgical step, we ask whether a root canal, crown, gum treatment, or simple monitoring could get you the same result with less recovery. When surgery is the better path, we plan the smallest procedure that solves the problem well.
Some situations call for a specialist. Complex impactions, jaw pathology, facial trauma, and certain reconstructive cases are best handled by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. If that is true for you, we will say so, refer you to a surgeon we trust, and stay involved in the restorative side of your plan.
What To Expect
Sharing Your Medical History
Tell us about health conditions, allergies, medications, supplements, tobacco use, and previous reactions to anesthesia or sedation. These details can affect preparation, bleeding, healing, and medication choices. Please be sure to mention:
- Heart conditions, artificial heart valves, or a history of stroke
- Diabetes and how well it is controlled
- Bleeding disorders or a tendency to bruise easily
- Blood thinners, aspirin, or bisphosphonate medications
- Joint replacements or recent surgeries
Do not stop any prescribed medication before surgery unless we or your physician have told you to.
Reviewing The Plan
We review the procedure, expected recovery, alternatives, risks, costs, and instructions before treatment. If you choose oral or IV sedation, you will need an adult escort and must follow the food, drink, and medication directions exactly.
Preparing Your Day
This is also the time to plan for work, meals, childcare, and help at home. Knowing what the first day or two may look like can make recovery less stressful.
The Procedure And Follow-Up
On the day of surgery, the area is numbed and any sedation you have chosen is started before we begin. Afterward, you rest in the office until you are ready to go home, and a follow-up visit is scheduled to check healing.
Comfort Options
The treatment area is numbed with local anesthetic. Toothology also offers three levels of relaxation support for appropriate patients:
- Laughing gas for light, adjustable relaxation
- Oral sedation medication for moderate relaxation
- IV sedation for a deeper, precisely managed level of sedation
The right option depends on your health, anxiety, procedure, and transportation plan. Sedation is never substituted for local numbing, and not everyone is a candidate for every option. Our team includes an IV-certified dentist, so deeper sedation is available in our office for appropriate patients. Learn more about sedation dentistry.
Recovery And Aftercare
We provide procedure-specific instructions for bleeding control, swelling, eating, cleaning, activity, and medications. Follow them closely, even if you feel good right away. You can also review our extraction and implant aftercare instructions online anytime.
Plan to rest, eat foods that do not disturb the area, and avoid touching the site. Some swelling and tenderness are expected, but symptoms should begin moving in the right direction. Call if bleeding does not slow, swelling rapidly increases, pain becomes worse after improving, you develop a concerning reaction, or you are unsure what is normal.
Follow-up allows us to check healing and answer questions. If the procedure was part of an implant or tooth-replacement plan, we also review the next phase.
Questions, Answered
Oral Surgery FAQs
Will I Be Awake During Oral Surgery?
With local anesthetic alone, you remain awake. Laughing gas, oral sedation, and IV sedation create different levels of relaxation, but most dental sedation does not involve general anesthesia. Patients who choose IV sedation are usually deeply relaxed and remember little, though they still breathe on their own and can respond to simple directions. We explain what you can expect from the recommended option.
Do I Need A Referral?
No. You can schedule an evaluation with Toothology directly, whether or not another dentist has suggested surgery. If your case turns out to need an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, we will make that referral for you.
Can Procedures Be Combined?
Often, yes. An extraction and bone graft, several extractions, or extractions with implant placement can frequently be done in one visit, which means one round of numbing or sedation and one recovery. Whether combining makes sense depends on your health, the number of sites, and how long the appointment would run.
How Long Will Recovery Take?
Recovery varies with the procedure, your health, and how closely aftercare instructions are followed. We provide a realistic estimate before treatment.
Can I Drive Myself Home?
Not after oral or IV sedation. You need a responsible adult escort. Driving instructions after laughing gas or local anesthetic depend on the procedure and how you feel.
What Can I Eat After Surgery?
Soft, easy-to-manage foods are usually best at first. Your specific instructions will explain what to avoid and how to protect the surgical site.
How Much Will Oral Surgery Cost?
Cost depends on the procedure, imaging, sedation, and any related restorative care. We review expected out-of-pocket costs and financing options before treatment.