Oral Surgery FAQs

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon evaluates and treats conditions involving the teeth, jaws, mouth, face, and supporting structures. This may include dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, tooth extractions, bone grafting, jaw surgery, facial trauma, oral pathology, and other specialty procedures.

A referral is helpful, especially if your dentist, orthodontist, physician, or another provider is sending you for specialty care. However, not every appointment requires a referral. If you are unsure, call our office and our team can help determine the next step.

Desert Maxillofacial Center serves patients from our Rancho Mirage office: 72780 Country Club Drive, Suite 106, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. Phone: 760-837-1515.

You may be a candidate for dental implants if you are missing one tooth, several teeth, or a full arch of teeth and have enough healthy bone to support an implant. Your overall health, gum health, bone volume, and treatment goals are all considered during the evaluation.

A dental implant replaces the root portion of a missing tooth. The implant is placed into the jawbone, where it heals and becomes stable over time. After healing, a crown, bridge, or full-arch restoration may be attached.

Not every patient needs bone grafting. Bone grafting may be recommended if the jawbone is too thin, soft, or reduced to support an implant securely. Imaging helps determine whether grafting is needed before or during implant treatment.

Wisdom teeth may need to be removed when they are impacted, painful, infected, difficult to clean, damaging nearby teeth, or likely to cause future problems. Evaluation is often recommended during the teenage years or early adulthood.

Recovery varies by patient and case complexity. Many patients experience swelling, soreness, and limited jaw opening during the first few days. Following post-operative instructions for diet, hygiene, activity, and medications can help support healing.

Common signs may include pain near the back of the mouth, swelling, gum irritation, infection, pressure on nearby teeth, jaw stiffness, or difficulty cleaning around the wisdom teeth.

A tooth extraction may be recommended when a tooth is severely damaged, infected, broken, impacted, or cannot be restored. Extractions may also be needed before dental implant treatment, orthodontic care, or other oral surgery procedures.

After an extraction, the next step depends on your needs. Some patients may need bone grafting to preserve jawbone structure. Others may consider a dental implant or another tooth replacement option.

Bone grafting is a procedure used to rebuild or support areas of the jaw where bone has been lost. It may be recommended after tooth loss, infection, trauma, gum disease, or before dental implant placement.

The need for bone grafting is determined through an exam and imaging. If there is not enough healthy bone to support an implant or other treatment, grafting may be recommended.

Anesthesia options may include local anesthesia, IV sedation, or other appropriate options depending on the procedure, your medical history, and your comfort level. Your surgical team will explain the recommended option before treatment.

That depends on the procedure and anesthesia plan. Some procedures may be completed with local anesthesia, while others may involve sedation. The team will review your options and help you understand what to expect.

If you receive IV sedation or certain types of anesthesia, you will need a responsible adult to drive you home. You may also need someone to stay with you after the procedure. Follow the instructions provided by the office.

Follow the instructions provided by the office. These may include guidance for bleeding control, swelling, soft foods, medications, oral hygiene, activity restrictions, and follow-up care.

Call the office if you have persistent bleeding, worsening swelling, fever, increasing pain, difficulty swallowing, reaction to medication, or any concern that does not feel normal during recovery.

Soft foods are often recommended after many oral surgery procedures. Avoid hard, crunchy, spicy, or very hot foods until the surgical area begins healing. Follow the instructions provided for your specific procedure.

Call Desert Maxillofacial Center if you have severe pain, swelling, dental trauma, a jaw injury, or another urgent concern. For severe trauma, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, or life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Handle the tooth carefully and avoid scrubbing it. If possible, place it in milk or a tooth preservation solution and seek care as soon as possible. Prompt evaluation may improve the chance of saving the tooth.

Referring providers can use the online referral form or contact the office directly. Referral information should include the patient's reason for referral, relevant notes, imaging if available, and any important health or treatment details.

Providers may refer patients for dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, tooth extractions, bone grafting, jaw surgery, facial trauma, oral pathology and biopsy, craniofacial reconstruction, cleft-related care, sedation evaluation, or other oral and maxillofacial surgery needs.