Oral Surgery

Even with the best preventive measures, sometimes oral surgery is the best option. When oral surgery is required, New York General Dentistry is here to take excellent care of you.

Whether it’s removing wisdom teeth, restoring a tooth suffering from extensive decay, or helping you recover from gum disease, we’re here to help. Our dental specialists provide a variety of oral surgery procedures and the highest quality of care to relieve pain and restore your health.

With an emphasis on comfort, precise results, and easy recovery, our team works hand-in-hand with you to ensure your dental surgery procedure is as stress-free as possible.

Types of Oral Surgery 

Maxillofacial Surgery

Maxillofacial surgery is focused on the jaw and lower facial regions. This type of surgery is usually recommended by Dr. Chern if you have a misaligned jaw that causes issues with chewing or speaking. Additionally, this type of surgery can help alleviate TMJ disorders. This surgery can not only help your comfort, lifestyle, and oral health but can also improve your cosmetic appearance and function.

Tooth Extraction

A common procedure performed by oral surgeons is tooth extraction. Extractions are usually necessary for resolving extensive decay, trauma, or overcrowding in the mouth. Removing diseased tissue restores the mouth to health and function and also prevents further concerns from developing. Often, tooth extraction is performed in tandem with restorative treatments like implants or bridges to make sure your smile remains complete and you don’t experience negative side-effects from gaps in your smile.

Implants

Implants are usually used to replace missing teeth. They work by placing a socket in the jawbone where a rod can be attached to support a fabricated tooth or bridge. The process is often performed under local anesthesia and requires several months of healing prior to final crown placement. Implants can restore your oral function and fill in missing gaps where teeth were lost.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Although some people don’t experience any problems with their wisdom teeth, many people need them removed at some point. This is because they can cause concerns like crowding, shifting, problems with your bite, or even discomfort if they aren’t removed within the right timeframe.

Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is a minor procedure where bone material from elsewhere on your body (or from another source) is deposited into the jaw to combat bone loss. Bone loss usually happens as a result of decay, but it may also be necessary to graft bone onto the jaw in order to place implants. 

Crown Lengthening

This procedure is used to expose more of the tooth structure by reshaping the gum and bone tissue. This can have a lot of benefits including cosmetics (to address a gummy smile) or for certain restorative procedures.

The Oral Surgery Process and What to Expect

Your First Appointment (30-45 minutes)

Dr. Chern will speak with you during a consultation to discuss your oral surgery options in Midtown. A surgical treatment plan will be formulated, and our team will coordinate your subsequent appointments. We are partnered with experienced oral surgical specialists all around New York and can ensure you receive consistent and high-quality care. 

Your Surgical Appointment (60-90 minutes)

Your oral surgeon will make sure you know what to expect during your surgical procedure. Most oral surgeries are performed using a local anesthetic or IV sedation, meaning you’ll be comfortable and relaxed throughout. You’ll receive detailed aftercare instructions to follow, as well as what to expect from follow-up with your oral surgeon or our office. Your oral surgeon will coordinate any relevant information with us as well so that we can keep track of your treatment.

Your Follow-Up Appointment (15-30 minutes)

As you recover, it’s important to keep an eye on your progress and take the right steps for the next part in your treatment plan, whether this includes restorative devices or further care from Dr. Chern. We’ll make sure you know whether to come back for another follow-up and can help you schedule accordingly.

Caring for Your Oral Surgery Results

Your oral surgeon will provide detailed instructions to follow to ensure a successful recovery. When it comes to maintaining your results for the long term, make sure to follow these steps:

• Eat a healthy diet (with moderate amounts of sweets and soft drinks)
• See your dentist regularly for check-ups and hygiene appointments (every 4-6 months)
• Brush your teeth twice daily for 2 minutes with a soft or electric brush
• Floss every day or use a water flosser (Waterpik)