Any kind of dental surgery can be daunting – that’s why Church Road Dental’s team of dentists and dental nurses want to put your mind at ease. Some of the more common procedures we undertake are tooth extractions, dental implant placement, bone grafting to allow implant placement, gum surgery, and root-end fillings (apicoectomies) - knowing what to expect before, during and after these procedures can help to alleviate your anxiety.
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For more advice on dental surgery in Teddington, please contact us on 0208 977 3746.
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Preparing for surgery
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Before you book in for any procedure at Church Road Dental Care Centre in Teddington, our dental surgeons will provide specific instructions tailored to your procedure. These will be discussed with you at your initial consultation. Any preparative diagnostic tests (for example, blood tests, cbct scans or x-rays) will be completed prior to surgery and you’ll have the time to ask questions before the procedure.
During the procedure
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Once you have been prepared for your dental surgery, the surgeon will administer local anaesthesia into the treatment area. The dental surgeon will then perform the necessary procedure with the assistance of our professional dental nurses. They will be responsible for monitoring your anaesthesia and comfort throughout the procedure. Occasionally patients will opt for sedation to reduce anxiety. If sedation is requested, you’ll be monitored throughout the procedure and until you are ready to return home. If sedation is used, you will then need a chaperone to drive you home, and stay with you for the rest of the day.
Recovery
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After surgery, our dentists will provide you with specific care instructions on how to minimise complications and optimise healing. You will also be booked in for post-surgery check-ups with the Church Road Dental Care team. These include advice on:
Pain management
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To manage the pain and swelling we recommend the use of appropriate over the counter analgesics. We advised taking both paracetamol and ibuprofen, as required, as long as they are not contraindicated by your medical history. Most patients require analgesics for just the first 24 hours. We also advise using an ice-pack to reduce swelling. These should be used 10 minutes on, and 10 minutes off for the first 12 hours. Rest will also aid your recovery.
Eating and drinking
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Sticking to soft foods is essential and avoiding complex or spicy foods as these could irritate the surgical site. We advise eating any foods on the other side of the mouth to the surgical site to avoid the risk of trauma and bleeding.
Oral hygiene
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Ensure you prioritise good oral hygiene when healing from your procedure. Gentle tooth brushing twice a day is advised for the first 7 days, taking care to avoid the surgical site with your brush. Ideal healing can occur, and infection risk reduced, by bathing the surgical site with saltwater. This is not a vigorous rinse but a gentle holding of salty water over the site, 4 times a day for 7 days. The salt water is made by adding 1 teaspoon of salt to warm water in a mug. Use up the whole mug with your gentle bathing of the site, letting the water pour from the mouth into the sink rather than spitting.
Extra tips from our Teddington dentists
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Monitor the treatment site for signs of infection including persistent pain, swelling, discharge and fever symptoms.
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as these can delay the natural healing process and the chemicals in these products can increase infection risk.
Being patient and taking plenty of time during the recovery period is essential for proper healing.
Some procedures will require the use of antibiotics. If you require these please inform your dentist of any allergies you have and once prescribed make sure you follow the instructions and complete the course.
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Our Teddington dentist team hope this advice helps to put any anxieties you have about upcoming dental surgery to rest. Our kind and caring dentists want you to feel comfortable at Church Road Dental Care Centre, so if you have any concerns or questions in the run-up to your appointment, please contact us on 0208 977 3746.
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