Recovery times will vary based on the type of procedure and your overall health. For simpler treatments like tooth extractions, most patients recover within a few days. More involved procedures - such as dental implants or bone grafts - may take several weeks to fully heal. After your treatment, we’ll provide clear, personalized recovery instructions to support a smooth and successful healing process.

Please remember to bring the following items with you:

√ A valid photo ID or driver’s license

√ Your insurance card

√ A list of any medications you’re currently taking (if applicable)

Having these items ready helps us ensure a smooth check-in process.

After most oral surgery procedures, a soft food diet is recommended for the first few days to protect the healing area. Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods, as they can irritate or disrupt the surgical site. We’ll give you a detailed list of foods to enjoy and those to steer clear of to support a smooth recovery.

At Panhandle Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, we offer both intravenous (IV) sedation for patients who prefer to be asleep during their procedure and local anesthesia for those who are comfortable staying awake. We’ll review all available options with you and recommend the best choice based on your needs and comfort level.

If your surgery involves IV sedation or general anesthesia, you’ll need someone to drive you home, as these options can temporarily impair your ability to drive safely. If your procedure uses only local anesthesia, you can typically drive yourself. We'll let you know ahead of time if you need to arrange for transportation.

Proper post-surgery care is essential for healing. We recommend gently rinsing with salt water, avoiding aggressive brushing near the surgical site, and carefully following the personalized instructions we’ll provide. It’s also important to avoid smoking and using straws, as both can interfere with the healing process.

Oral surgery is typically very safe, but like any medical procedure, it does carry some risks – such as infection, prolonged bleeding, or nerve irritation. Our team takes every precaution to reduce these risks and will review them with you before your procedure.

We also monitor your recovery closely to ensure everything is healing properly and address any concerns along the way.