Oral Surgery in Sonora, CA
If the words “oral surgery” send a shiver down your spine, you are far from alone. Studies show that approximately 80% of adults experience a sense of unease about dental procedures, with 20% even admitting to being scared of dental work. Oral surgery may be the most intimidating procedure of them all, as the word “surgery” is often seen as intense and invasive. However, at our office in Sonora, CA, Dr. Berger ensures that patients like you have nothing to be afraid of! Using innovative techniques and patient-centered care, he helps create a safe environment that focuses on restoring and maintaining your oral health. Trust Dr. Berger and his knowledgeable staff at Sonora Dentist to take care of you and your smile.
Why Is Oral Surgery Necessary?
Oral surgery refers to a surgical procedure of the mouth, jaw, or gums. Often, it’s a necessary step we take when your oral health is at stake! Issues like infections, tooth pain, and missing teeth all significantly impact your ability to function, and oral surgeries help alleviate these problems.
However, many patients hesitate to seek necessary dental care as they experience dental anxiety or phobia. For those who are afraid of dental procedures, Dr. Berger offers sedation dentistry as a way to make dental care more accessible! Using oral conscious sedation, he ensures your comfort before, during, and after the procedure.
Before your appointment, you’ll take a prescription pill to help you relax. By the time you arrive, you should be calm, alert, and ready for treatment!
What Counts as Oral Surgery?
At our office, Dr. Berger performs a variety of oral surgeries to combat infection, decay, and tooth loss.
Dental Extraction
When a tooth experiences severe infection or decay, posing a risk to your oral health, Dr. Berger may need to remove it from your smile using one of two extraction methods.
The first is a simple extraction, which involves pulling the tooth directly out of its socket. When your infected tooth is easily accessible in your jawbone, he’ll use specialized dental tools to loosen the tooth and remove it carefully. Afterward, Dr. Berger will flush out the socket to clear the remaining debris and ensure that the infection is gone!
However, he can’t always use a simple extraction. Some teeth are more difficult to access, requiring a surgical extraction. Often, teeth that are partially underneath the gums or broken require a more invasive approach that involves incisions. With better access to your tooth, Dr. Berger can repeat the process of removing it and any debris left behind.
If you’re experiencing problems with wisdom teeth, Dr. Berger may be able to extract them without issue. If your tooth is impacted or requires a more advanced approach, he will refer you to a specialist.
Bone Grafting
After losing a tooth, whether due to decay, injury, or extraction, your jawbone will begin to shrink in a process known as bone resorption. This is a natural process caused by missing tooth roots, which are responsible for stimulating your jaw to maintain its health.
Unfortunately, losing jawbone structure often results in changes in facial structure, wrinkling skin, and difficulties replacing missing teeth!
Fortunately, Dr. Berger offers bone grafting to help rebuild the bone you’ve lost. Using material from your own body, a donor, or synthetic material, he places bone grafting material in the affected area, encouraging natural bone regeneration!
Additionally, if your sinuses interfere with your ability to restore your smile with dental implants, Dr. Berger can perform a sinus lift! This procedure gently raises your sinuses and fills the now-empty space with bone grafting material to create a larger place for the implants to stabilize.
Dental Implants
When missing teeth, it’s important to replace them as soon as possible, preferably with dental implants. Because these implants replace your tooth roots, they help both maintain your jaw’s health and restore your smile. With dental implant solutions, Dr. Berger can secure a crown, bridge, or denture to replace your missing teeth with a stable restoration.
At Sonora Dentist, we utilize mini dental implants, which are a smaller version of conventional dental implants. Though technically considered an oral surgery, mini implants allow Dr. Berger to use a minimally invasive approach that avoids using incisions or stitches.
Instead, he creates a tiny pilot hole in your gums and jaw, using it as a guide for the implant. Using special dental tools, he will gently screw the implant in place, where it immediately stabilizes in your bone. Once secure, he’ll attach a temporary restoration to maintain the aesthetics and function of your smile. After a brief healing period, Dr. Berger will remove your temporary restoration and attach a final restoration to restore your smile!
Restore Your Oral Health With Oral Surgery!
At Sonora Dentist, oral surgery doesn’t have to be a scary, unknown experience. Dr. Berger aims to provide a comfortable environment focused on improving and protecting your oral health! Whether you need bone grafting, extractions, or mini dental implants, Dr. Berger and his team will take care of your smile.
Book a consultation today to start your journey to a healthier smile!
Frequently Asked Questions
In general, patients should feel very little pain during oral surgery, as we use a local anesthetic to keep them numb and comfortable. You may experience some pain or discomfort after your procedure, depending on the treatment you received.
For example, a tooth extraction often causes discomfort for a few days, especially with the surgical method. While this is usually easy to manage with over-the-counter medications, exercise caution for two to four weeks.
A mini dental implant placement causes less post-op discomfort, especially if no extraction was necessary. Even with a temporary restoration, you should be able to chew softer foods with little issue, experiencing minimal pain.
After a tooth extraction, we recommend avoiding solid foods for the first 24 hours and refraining from drinking through a straw for at least a week. Your gums will be very sensitive at this time, and any excessive pressure can disrupt your healing process!
If your healing period is progressing normally, you can begin reintroducing solid foods to your diet after 24 hours. In a week, you should be able to eat harder foods without issue. However, we advise avoiding sticky or crunchy foods for a while, and trying to chew on the other side of your mouth.
If you experience any swelling or pain after a week, please contact Dr. Berger as soon as possible.
The cost of oral surgery largely depends on what procedure you need.
Dental implants are one of the most expensive oral surgery procedures, as the implants are made from high-quality titanium. In contrast, routine extractions are typically less expensive, and often covered by insurance companies!
At your appointment, we will discuss pricing with you, review what your insurance may cover, and explore financing options. Additionally, Dr. Berger works with multiple third-party financing companies to help split your costs into manageable monthly payments!
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