Oral Surgery FAQs

Some oral surgery is routinely done in a general practice and some is better handled by a specialist — and the honest answer depends on the individual case as much as the procedure. Straightforward extractions and smaller grafting procedures are commonly done in-house; complex impactions, large reconstructions, and cases with significant medical complexity are frequently referred to an oral surgeon or periodontist. We’ll tell you plainly which category you fall into at your consultation, and a referral is based on the expertise and setting needed for safe treatment.

Most oral surgery in a dental practice is done with local anesthetic, so you’re awake but the area is completely numb — you feel pressure and movement, not pain. Sedation options exist for people who find that prospect difficult, ranging from something that simply takes the edge off to deeper sedation where you remember little of the appointment. General anesthesia is a hospital or oral-surgeon setting. What’s available and appropriate depends on your health, the procedure, and your preference, and it’s a conversation to have before the day rather than on it.

It depends on how you were kept comfortable, and it’s worth settling before the day. After surgery with local anesthetic only, most people are fine to drive themselves — though if you’re anxious or it was a long appointment, having someone with you is sensible. Sedation changes things, and not all sedation is the same: nitrous oxide wears off within minutes, while oral sedation takes hours to clear and means you must have a responsible adult drive you and stay with you. Our sedation page sets out the differences. We’ll tell you exactly which applies to your appointment when it’s booked, so please arrange transport in advance rather than on the day.

It depends entirely on how you’re being kept comfortable. For surgery under local anesthetic alone, you generally do not need to fast, and having eaten something beforehand is often better — it keeps you steadier during the appointment. If you’re having sedation, fasting instructions almost always apply, and they will be given to you specifically. Follow the instructions you are given for your appointment rather than general advice, and call us if you’re unsure.

Please do not stop or change any prescribed medication on your own — including blood thinners — before dental surgery. Stopping them can carry a greater risk than the bleeding they might cause. What we need is to know about them well in advance, along with everything else you take, so we can plan the procedure appropriately and coordinate with your physician where that’s needed. That conversation happens before surgery is scheduled, not on the day.

Very often yes, with planning that accounts for your medical history. Conditions affecting healing, bleeding, immunity, or blood sugar all matter, and so do the medications that treat them. Bring a full, current list of your medical history and medications, including anything over-the-counter or herbal. Where appropriate we’ll liaise with your physician before proceeding. This information helps us plan your care safely.

Not routinely. Antibiotics are used when there’s an active infection, or preventively for certain specific medical histories where guidelines recommend it — not as a default for every procedure, since unnecessary antibiotic use carries its own costs. Whether you need them is a clinical decision based on your history and the procedure. If you’ve been told in the past that you need antibiotics before dental treatment, tell us, and bring any letter from your physician.

It depends on the procedure and on what your work involves. A straightforward extraction may mean taking it easy for the rest of the day; more involved surgery, multiple extractions, or anything with sedation typically warrants a day or two. Physically demanding work and heavy lifting need longer than desk work, because exertion can restart bleeding. Ask us for a realistic estimate for your specific procedure when you book, so you can plan properly rather than guess.

Yes, and for many people it helps a great deal. If you’re having sedation, someone must come with you and take you home. Even without sedation, having another person hear the aftercare instructions is useful — it’s a lot to absorb straight after a procedure. If you’re anxious about surgery, tell us that when you book; it changes how we plan the appointment.

Tell us about your concerns as early as possible. We can discuss sedation options, longer appointment times, treatment in stages, and a signal to pause. Discussing anxiety before your visit helps us plan care you can manage and avoid delaying treatment until the problem becomes urgent.