Can I have my oral surgery completed under GA - General Anaesthesia?

Yes, if you prefer to be put to sleep for your oral surgery procedure, we’ll refer you to a specialist oral or maxillofacial surgeon with a hospital theatre list. Please note there’s usually a waiting period, and the fees for the hospital and the anaesthetist will add significant costs to your treatment.

Can I have IV or twilight sedation during my oral surgery procedure?

Yes, if you prefer IV or twilight sedation for your oral surgery procedure and are in reasonably good health (ASA I or II), we work with highly experienced IV Sedationists. We can complete your procedure in the dental chair. There will be additional costs for this service.

Which is better: happy gas (nitrous oxide) or oral sedation?

Happy gas or nitrous oxide is a very safe form of relative analgesia that can be used by most people. It wears off completely at the end of the appointment. You need to be able to breathe through your nose throughout the whole procedure for nitrous to work. If you breathe through your mouth, nitrous stops working very quickly.

Oral sedatives are benzodiazepine tablets typically taken an hour before your oral surgery procedure. While you remain conscious, the sedative effect inhibits your responses and reaction time for up to 24 hours. You can’t drive or operate machinery until they’ve completely worn off. They work well for oral surgery procedures, particularly if you breathe through your mouth. They are not suitable for use by some people. You must be driven to and from your appointment by a friend or family member if taking oral sedatives.

Can I go back to work after my oral surgery procedure?

We recommend you take time off after your oral surgery procedure - for how long depends on the complexity of the treatment:

• simple extractions in healthy people - you can usually go back to work the next day, but avoid heavy lifting or strenuous work for another day

• wisdom teeth - we recommend taking 2-3 days off work after surgical removal, as typically your face will swell up and you may get bruising

• jaw bone remodelling - 1-2 days off work afterwards is usually a good idea for most people

• soft tissue reshaping including frenums - you can usually go back to work or school the next day, but avoid heavy lifting or strenuous work until the stitches come out

• implants - time off varies with the location and complexity of placement, as you may experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort for up to several days

Can I exercise or play sports after my oral surgery procedure?

It’s best to take it easy and not exercise immediately after your oral surgery treatment.

For simple procedures, this may be 24-48 hours only, but when there are sutures or stitches in place, it’s best to wait a week to do anything more than easy light exercises, for example, gentle walking, or cycling.

Can I drink alcohol, smoke, or use recreational drugs after my oral surgery procedure?

Alcohol stimulates bleeding, so it’s best to avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours after your procedure to avoid bleeding from your wound.

Alcohol delays wound healing, so avoiding alcohol until you’ve completely healed from your procedure offers the best chance of reducing post-operative complications.

Smoking anything is best avoided for a minimum of 3 days after your oral surgery procedure or until your stitches or sutures come out, which can be up to 2 weeks.

Smoking greatly reduces the quality of healing and greatly increases your chances of lingering pain and complications like dry socket or infection.

Recreational substances can delay healing and make you more likely to develop a painful complication or infection. We recommend avoiding recreational substances for at least a week after your treatment, or until the sutures have come out, but it’s best to wait until you’ve completely healed.