Is Oral Surgery Safe?

While you may get anxious about a regular dental visit, your anxiety may skyrocket when preparing for oral surgery. Whether you need to get wisdom teeth removed, are getting dental implants, or maybe need surgery to help problems connected to sleep apnea or snoring, most patients immediately wonder if having oral surgery is safe. If you have this same question, here are some answers.

The Odds are in Your Favor

First of all, anesthesia has been used for oral surgery since 1846, and only about six percent of patients given anesthesia for oral surgery experience minor side effects. Best of all, only one in one million patients who are sedated for oral surgery die annually, so the odds of success are greatly in your favor.

Pre-Anesthesia Assessment

Before your surgery, staff will give you a pre-anesthesia assessment. This will include your health history, medical clearances from other doctors, and other related information. Once your surgeon has this information, they can determine any risk factors and select the proper sedative to use.

Highly-Trained Specialists

In all of dentistry, oral surgeons are some of the most highly-skilled specialists in their field. Receiving mandatory training while in school on administering IV sedation and anesthesia, chances are you will be in the hands of an experienced and knowledgeable expert.

Constant Monitoring

Just as it is in a hospital for other types of surgery, your physical condition will be closely monitored throughout your oral surgical procedure. From monitoring your heart activity via EKG, oxygen levels with pulse oximetry, and your blood pressure and body temperature, your oral surgeon and surgical staff will be able to detect even the slightest changes you may be experiencing and adjust accordingly.

Feel Little or No Pain During Surgery

When anesthesia is used properly during oral surgery, patients feel little if any pain, and are usually very safe and comfortable due to having limited physical movement and only vague memories of the procedure. In addition, anxiety levels are reduced to practically zero, since you can often listen to soothing music while the anesthesia is being administered.

No matter the reason for your oral surgery, you will be monitored from start to finish by trained dental professionals who know exactly how to make your surgical experience a success.