Oral Surgery Guide | Oral Surgeon in Lutz FL
September 6, 2022

Did you know that there are more than 9,000 oral surgeons in the United States alone? Oral surgery is a serious procedure and it can address a wide variety of different dental health concerns. For that reason, there are also many different types of oral surgery that can fix all sorts of different issues that not only affect the mouth but also the upper and lower jaw.

 

If you need to get oral surgery from your oral surgeon in Lutz FL, you might be wondering what you should expect. After all, what is oral surgery exactly and what might the procedure be like? What is the recovery timeline like?

 

Keep reading and learn more about this procedure and its variations below. 


What You Need to Know About Oral Surgery

Oral surgery can involve a variety of different portions of your mouth and jaw. For example, it may involve your teeth, gums, and bones. There are some relatively simple types of oral surgery like dental implants and wisdom tooth extractions that are performed on a regular basis. 

 

There are also much more complicated oral surgeries that may aim to change the shape of the jaw or another oral structure. This kind of surgery is less common and is often done if a person has some kind of bone deformity or if their bones have been dislodged or injured due to an accident or other injury.

 

For example, if a person is born with a severe underbite that makes it difficult for the person to eat or speak, or if it causes the person pain, oral surgery may be a good option. 

 

But what should you expect from oral surgery? It all depends on the type of oral surgery you get. For example, if you get dental implants, your dentist will need to drill a hole in your jawbone before implanting a small metal rod to act as a tooth root for your replacement tooth. 


The Details

A fake crown that looks like a real tooth will be mounted on this post so that it blends in with the rest of your real teeth. In the case of a tooth extraction, your dentist will make you as comfortable as possible in order to remove a tooth such as a wisdom tooth or an infected or damaged tooth. But what if your jaw bones need to be operated on?

 

This is a more invasive and intense surgery which is usually only done by very skilled and experienced oral surgeons. This type of surgery may involve adding portions of bone to the jaw, shaving off portions of the bone, shifting the bones, and so on. Moving the bones in this way and then allowing the bones to heal in their new positions will allow the jaw to take on a new and more beneficial form. 

 

Also, since this is such an invasive type of surgery, it will usually come with quite an extensive recovery timeline since your bones will have to heal and reform. 


What to Expect During and After Oral Surgery

A lot of people believe that oral surgery in Lutz FL will be incredibly painful but this is not the case. This is because oral surgery, as long as it is done by a good surgeon, will involve sedation of some kind. If the oral surgery is a relatively simple procedure, your dentist may only use a moderate sedative on you.

 

This will not only numb the treatment area but will also relax you so you won't really be aware of what's happening during the surgery. Even if you are aware of the surgery, you will be too relaxed to care. However, in the case of a more intense operation, your dentist will most likely use general anesthesia to render you unconscious. 

 

This will make the surgery much easier to perform. Besides that, it will eliminate much of your stress and worry about the procedure. While you are unconscious, you won't be aware of the procedure at all and it will be like you are asleep. 


What You Need to Know

You won't feel any pain while you are under anesthesia either. This is usually the case for wisdom tooth extractions and surgeries involving the remolding of the jawbone. After your oral surgery, no matter what kind it is, you will experience pain after the sedation wears off. 

 

This is why you will be prescribed some pain medication for a week or so to help you be more comfortable. During the first week, your mouth will likely be very swollen and tender. You may not even be able to eat solid foods for several weeks as your mouth heals. 

 

This is important because the last thing you want to do is strain your mouth or jaw after going through invasive surgery. After the first week, the swelling and pain will start to go down, although the swelling will likely persist for another week or so before it goes away completely.

After a few weeks, your mouth should be mostly healed and the treatment area should start to look and feel a lot better. 


All About Oral Surgery

Oral surgery can be quite an invasive procedure, but it functions to correct a variety of oral pathology problems. For example, oral surgery may involve wisdom teeth removal, the restructuring of bones in the jaw, the addition of dental implants, and so on. It is a dentist's job to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible during these surgeries, no matter how invasive they may be. 

 

To learn more about oral surgery in Lutz FL, contact us here.

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A recent study by Rojas et al. (2025) found that individuals who received implants as part of their treatment reported significantly improved comfort and quality of life compared to those who used dentures, highlighting the inherent benefits of implants. However, implants are no longer limited to single-tooth installations, as you can now receive an All-on-4 implant, which replaces an entire arch of teeth. With both dental implant options available, which one is best for your needs? Let us help you make that decision. Below, you will find information on single implants vs arch reconstruction, including: Types of implants offered by TERSA Oral and Facial Surgery The benefits of each option How the dentist determines suitability Step-by-step walkthrough of the procedure Healing timelines Learn what each requires, as well as its costs. Our expert guidance can help you decide which dental implant option is best for you when you come for a consultation with us. Dental Implant Options Offered by TERSA There are several different types of dental implants that TERSA offers to our clients, all of which provide different benefits, including: Treating traumatic dental injuries Offering All-on-4 full-arch implants Using guided surgery with computerized scans Individual dental implants Single-tooth implants are ideal for individuals who have only a single missing tooth, provided all adjacent natural teeth are still healthy. This means that we can focus purely on the single area and also try to recreate the bone's interaction with its previous tooth as much as possible. Through mimicking the root with the implant itself, you also preserve the jaw's density . These need minimal preparation compared to many other processes. However, if you have more than one or two teeth that need replacement in this way, it may be wise to explore alternatives . Why the Dentist Needs to Assess Suitability Dr. Guerra has gained a great deal of knowledge over his 15 years of education , as he discussed with Laker/Lutz News, which he applies to every patient, ensuring that you receive the highest-quality care possible. For example, he will start by imaging the area where the implant will be placed, as well as assessing local nerves and sinus cavities to ensure that the implant will not interfere with them. By reviewing your medical history, he can also discuss various risk factors with you that may impact bone healing, such as diabetes or a history of smoking, helping you avoid complications . The doctor also has a keen understanding of the mechanics of an implant. He will want to ensure that your implant can withstand functional forces, such as chewing, without overloading the surrounding tooth and jaw. This means he has the experience to discuss the issue with you in great detail . Preparing Yourself for Surgery After consultation, and if you choose to go under IV-sedation, be aware that your surgery will require you to not eat for around six hours before the surgery, and not drink anything for two hours before. If the dentist has any specific other requirements or recommends a different amount of time, he will inform you. The dentist may also request that you take other steps , such as: Using a mouth rinse beforehand to reduce mouth bacteria Scheduling your work so that you only have light duties for up to 72 hours after the surgery Arranging a driver to take you home or ensure you can travel for a day after surgery Ensure you have already collected any necessary medication Step-By-Step Dental Implant Procedure During the surgery, the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to ensure that the area is numb and unable to feel the effects of the surgery. However, they may also offer you sedation to ensure your comfort . After you are appropriately prepared, they will make a careful incision to expose an area of your gums and jawbone, then carefully create a space in which to insert a small titanium implant . After the implant is in place, they will suture the space closed, allowing the gum to heal and the jaw to start accepting the titanium post. Once the surgery is completed, you will need to wait up to three or four months for your jaw to adapt to the existence of the post. It will undergo a period of "osseointegration", in which your body will start building natural structures around it and your bone fuses with it, preventing the implant from moving. Healing Timeline for Working Floridians While every individual is different, you should expect the timeline to look something like this: Day 1: Apply an ice pack to your jaw after surgery, and expect mild swelling. You may also experience discomfort, so be sure to have painkillers available. Avoid solid food if possible, and be cautious if not. End of week 1: At this point, you can switch to softer foods, such as yogurts and smoothies, or you can try to chew foods carefully, so long as you keep them on the non-surgery side of your mouth. End of month 1: Attend a check-up for your implant so that the dentist can ensure your body is accepting it. End of month 3: You should return to the dentist for the installation of a custom crown around this time. They will ensure that the shape and color of the implant matches the rest of your mouth, which ensures that the implant is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. The process may take more than one appointment, as the dentist must scan your gums and jaw following the surgery to ensure they get the shape of the crown correct. The dentist may request another check-up after one year, to ensure that everything is as it should be. Key Benefits of Dental Implants Dental implants are an excellent option for individuals concerned about their jawbone starting to lose volume. The additional load placed on the area due to eating and other activities will prevent atrophy, which is usually seen with missing teeth. An implant also acts just as your previous tooth did, ensuring that you can continue to chew with complete efficiency. It is also very common for them to survive for a significant period, with many lasting beyond the 25-year mark and into the remainder of someone's life. All-on-4 at TERSA One could think of the "All-on-4" as a "Denture implant". It is designed for patients with several failing or missing teeth, who would otherwise order a set of dentures but are worried about the upkeep and appearance of removable dental arches. Unlike a single implant, the All-on-4 system uses four angled implants that securely hold a large denture in place. These implants can even be used to hold a temporary denture between implant installation and the creation of the final arch. This way, you can have the benefits from day one that you would not have with a single-tooth implant. It also significantly reduces the cost of having a full row of single implants due to the reduced number of installations. Surgery Preparation Steps The preparation for an All-on-4 denture is similar to that of a single denture, except that it is more involved due to the dentist needing to check more areas in the mouth. However, they are also likely to check things that you would usually expect when doing a consultation for traditional dentures, like: Gum contouring Tooth proportions Full-mouth bite Residual root existence They will then create a custom-printed denture frame, using it to test your mouth's shape so that they can have a full denture immediately for surgery day. Additional Steps For All-On-4 Surgery Although the majority of the surgery is similar to four individual implants as described above, there are distinct differences: The dentist may remove other teeth to make way for the denture All implants will sit at different angles for more stability Postoperative scans will verify the alignment of the implants Advantages of All-On-4 Surgery As opposed to getting all of your teeth replaced, an All-on-4 implant will require you to have only four implants on which the denture sits. Fewer incisions and a reduced time taken mean that you can get a greater benefit more easily. The complete denture will also look perfectly natural, sitting comfortably in your mouth and secured by four posts that are angled to prevent slipping and reduce stress on each one. This option is ideal for individuals with slightly lower bone density who are still eligible for surgery. If you need a future upgrade throughout your life , such as a change in the material, you can also follow through with implant changes without as much hassle. The removal of old materials and replacement with new ones takes significantly less time, providing you with more options. Choosing Single-Tooth or All-on-4 Implants Whether you want to make use of a full arch or a single new tooth, Dr. Andrés Guerra of TERSA Oral and Facial Surgery is ready to bring his expertise to bear. In a procedure that demands precision, empathy, and in-depth knowledge, he will do everything necessary to ensure your comfort and confidence in the process.  We are ready to discuss your dental implant options and schedule a consultation for you . Reclaim your smile and ensure you are happy with the person you see in the mirror today.