Oral Surgery

You’re in capable hands at Hutton Village Dental Practice. When you require oral surgery, our experienced team makes sure you’re comfortable and confident with our treatment plan.

What to Expect from Your Hutton Village Dentist Before Oral Surgery

In broad terms, oral surgery refers to any surgical procedure performed in or around your mouth and jaw. These surgeries range from simple to complex, and we are always thorough in our preparation. When you require surgery, we always go through the following checklist:
  • A comprehensive dental exam for the patient. Depending on the type of surgery, we will take X-rays, 3-D images, create models of your teeth and more if required.
  • Review of your medical history. Before surgery, we need you to bring us up-to-date on your medical status. This includes any medical conditions you have and medications you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements.
  • A tailored treatment plan. Every single one of our patients are different. We always take into account factors unique to you when recommending treatment.
  • Patient approval. You are a vital component of our treatment plan, and we want you to be involved with any decisions regarding your care.

Implant-Related Surgeries at Our Essex Dental Practice

Our dentists perform many oral surgeries at our practice, giving our patients exemplary results. Two surgeries that are often performed at Hutton Village Dental Practice include bone augmentation and sinus lifts.

Bone Augmentation

Bone can deteriorate over time. We perform bone augmentation surgery when bone loss affects the health of nearby gums and teeth or prior to placing dental implants.

When patients don’t have enough bone to securely anchor implant hardware, they need bone augmentation surgery. Dental implants require a certain amount of bone and when it’s not available, this surgery helps build up the bone. We stimulate more bone growth in the area, or we retrieve bone from another area and insert it where we will eventually place the implant.

Patients are sedated during the surgery and won’t feel pain until the anaesthesia wears off. This is a simple procedure where we take a small amount of bone, likely from the back of the jaw, and graft it into the future implant area. We make an incision into the gum, separating it from the bone where we place the bone graft. We position the new bone material between sections of existing bone that need to grow together, prompting new bone formation.

Sinus Lift

Sinuses are cavities inside the skull. When we lose a tooth near the upper molars, the bone around the root area starts to recede. This can lead to the sinus expanding into the tooth root area. The implication with a dental implant here is that there may not be sufficient bone to support it.

We can perform a bone graft for upper jaw stability that lifts the sinuses back to their proper position. Over time, the bone will re-grow providing enough bone to support a dental implant. Depending on the individual, the bone graft needs to develop for four to 12 months before the implant can be placed.

We perform a common surgical technique to lift the sinuses. Starting with an incision, we cut a small circle in the bone and lift it into the sinus cavity, like a trap door. We fill the vacant space below with graft material, keeping the sinuses in the correct position. We close the surgical incision and give it the time it needs to heal.

Preparing for Oral Surgery

Once you’ve booked your appointment for oral surgery, we will outline what you need to prepare. It’s important that you follow our instructions for preparation and aftercare. Essentially, we ask you to prepare the same way you would for any significant medical procedure:
  • Arrange for somebody to drop you off and take you home after surgery. For patients receiving IV conscious sedation having this responsible adult with you and to stay with you at home afterwards for a few hours is essential. Sedated patients are legally not allowed to drive for 24 hours, so please make sure you have safe transportation organised.
  • Give yourself time to heal. Recovery time varies depending on the oral surgery. We tell you how many days you should clear your schedule or wait to resume your regular activities.
  • Some procedures necessitate fasting beforehand. If this applies to you, we let you know how long to fast prior to surgery
  • We may prescribe medications or advise you on taking your existing medications leading up to your appointment.

Oral Surgery Aftercare

Understandably, following any oral surgery, you may feel post-operative discomfort. In many cases, pain can be managed with over-the-counter medication and rest. We will advise you specifically what you should and should not do following surgery. Here is a basic overview of our instructions:
  • Rest up following surgery as the body needs time to heal, particularly avoiding strenuous or high-stress activities
  • Once you feel comfortable to eat, soft, room temperature foods are recommended – do not eat hard, crunchy, or chewy foods
  • Room temperature or slightly warm beverages are best – as temperature can cause sensitivity, avoid hot and cold drinks
  • Avoid drinking through a straw, spitting or rinsing for at least 24 hours
  • After 24-48 hours as directed, regularly rinse your mouth with salt water or antibacterial mouthwash
  • Please closely follow guidance given by your dentist on avoiding the surgical site to avoid irritation during early healing
  • You must not smoke, vape or use any other tobacco-related products for a minimum of 48 hours

You're In Excellent Hands at Hutton Village Dental Practice

Our focus on preventative care at our Brentwood dental practice helps to prevent the need for our patients to undergo oral surgery. In cases where oral surgery is required, our thorough and gentle team provides exceptional results.