Oral Surgery Specialist

If you have health insurance…they will only pay on a claim if:

1. The wisdom teeth are impacted or unerupted.
2. Surgery is performed by an Oral Surgery Specialist – that’s us!

Oral Surgeons have undergone special training in order to be able to remove your wisdom teeth in a safe and efficient manner with the minimum of complications.

Also, oral surgeons have special skills in relation to sedation and pain management.

Sometimes our wisdom teeth can grow at an unusual angle and become impacted or “stuck”, this can lead to the following complications:

• Infections
• Food trap
• Decay of other teeth
• Pain
• Movement / Crowding of teeth
• Radiating pain
• Growth of abnormal cyst in bone of the jaw
• Complications later in life

You can eat soft food only and have water or a warm drink as soon as you get home. It is recommended that you start eating ASAP before you take your medications.

Please take care while your mouth is numb. Please see the “Nutritional Guidelines” in the booklet given to you during your consultation for more information.

They will dissolve in 7-10 days.

Please remember to keep the area clean and free of food and plaque. This will help with healing.

• If sutures have been placed, these will soften and resorb (dissolve) in approximately 7 to 10 days.
• Depending on where they are in your mouth, they can sometimes be stubborn and may need to be removed at your post-operative appointment.
• If your surgery site is extra-oral (outside your mouth) you may have non-resorbable sutures that will need to be removed. This is carried out at your post-operative appointment. There is no charge for this appointment.

Depending on your procedure and recovery, you may need 1 to 5 days off work.

This may also depend on the type of work you do. For example, if your job does involve overly physical or strenuous activity, we would recommend you take leave from work to allow yourself the time needed to recover. If required, we are able to provide a medical certificate for your employer.

If you have had sedation, you must not drive until the following day.

You must not do any of the following for the rest of the day:

• Drive or operate machinery
• Undertake any responsible business matters
• Drink alcohol
• Supervise others (e.g., children)
• Talk or text on your mobile phone

Rest, sleep or quiet indoor activity is recommended for the rest of the day. Children should not attend school for the remainder of the day.

You may brush your teeth on the night of the oral surgery but avoid the surgical site.

Please rinse your mouth gently, 3-4 times a day after food with warm salty water.

• 3 x daily – Mix ½ teaspoon of salt with a glass of warm water.
• AM and PM – Use Savacol Mouthwash (10 mls undiluted). Rinse around the surgical wound and hold for 1 minute and then spit out.
• Continue this regime for one week following your surgery.
• This is not necessary if your surgical wound is outside of your mouth (extra-oral).

This may occur when you eat and brush your teeth. It is easy to mistake this for saliva tainted with a small amount of blood. This may occur the day after oral surgery also. This is to be expected and not a problem. Please be assured, it will ease.

If you do experience undue bleeding, we have provided you with some gauze swabs.

• Roll the gauze swab or a part of a clean handkerchief to the size of your thumb.
• Place this on to the surgical site and either apply gentle firm pressure with your finger or bite with moderate pressure.
• Sit quietly for 20 minutes – You may need to repeat this process.

If bleeding continues, please call the rooms (09) 529 5061 or if after hours please call or TXT your Oral Surgeon directly. His number is on your discharge instructions.