Frequenty Asked Questions
Implant procedures are done under local anaesthesia or IV sedation. It is minimal, and most of the patients would be able to resume their regular daily routine on the same day of their surgery.
Post-operative instructions and medications are provided to ensure you will be pain-free during your recovery.
Dental Implants are commonly recommended in adults. This is because all their adult teeth would have erupted, and their jaws have fully developed.
With improvements in technology, dentures can now be fabricated with greater accuracy and better fit. However, some patients may still experience pain and discomfort from denture usage.
Dental Implants are a sturdier alternative because they are securely anchored in the jawbone with titanium screws. There is no problem with slippage, and it allows one to be able to eat and speak with comfort and confidence.
Dentures cover larger areas of the mouth that may be traumatised during use. Dental Implants are standalone replacements that do not require supposed from the soft tissues of the mouth and are more comfortable for long-term usage.
It is best that you consult with our Specialist Dentist to see whether dental implants will work for you. Many factors are considered before proceeding with this procedure, such as if you have sufficient bone to support the implant screw, if you are a teeth grinder, smoker, suffer from gum disease or are immune suppressed.
Our dental team will do a thorough examination before advising if you’ll be a suitable candidate for dental implant treatment.
Bone grafting is a procedure to add bone to the sites of the mouth with deficient bone quantity. It is commonly performed to increase the bone dimensions that will be supporting the dental implant screws.
There are different types of bones that you can use for this procedure. Check with your Specialist Dentist to find out more before making your decision.
You should take care of your dental implants the same way as you would your real teeth. Regular dental cleaning every 6 months is important, as your dentist will also do a check to ensure that your implants are still in good condition.
Clinical Research and materials for dental implants have advanced significantly and implants can last for a long time if they are maintained properly. Your Specialist Dental do play a part in treatment success; however, the patient has a more significant role to ensure long-term success. While an implant cannot decay like a normal tooth, do take note that our implant is anchored in your bone and gums. Do treat your implant like a natural tooth as neglecting it can result in bone loss and eventually loosening of the implant.
Dental Implants are made of titanium. Unlike old orthopaedic plates made of steel which must be removed after a while, titanium implants integrate with your bone. Titanium does not trigger any alarm when you go past a metal scan detector, such as at the airport.
If you travel frequently and are worried, you can request your Specialist Dentist for an implant card to verify that you are wearing dental implants.
Please let your oral surgeon know if you are on any medication. You are advised to consult your physician before stopping your medication.
Dry socket is also known as alveolar osteitis and is a painful post-extraction condition that may occur after your treatment. Patients at risk include those who smoke, women on oral contraceptives and patients who have had complex extractions. Common symptoms of dry sockets include extreme pain and sensitivity of the extraction site a few days after the procedure. There is usually a lack of swelling and pus. Please call us if you think you may have a dry socket so that we can schedule a visit with you as soon as possible.
It is advisable to remove your wisdom tooth when it is impacted or challenging to care for. If your wisdom teeth are fully erupted or entirely buried and you have no problem maintaining oral cleanliness, they may be left alone.
Do consult with your doctor for further advice as a thorough examination with radiographs is usually required to check the complexity.
A rare complication which may develop is numbness of the lips and tongue. However, this is not a common occurrence, and the effects are usually temporary when it does happen.
Before your treatment, your doctor will run through what to expect during and after the removal.
Local anaesthesia will be administered before the procedure. If you require, other pain relief options are available for you to decide on before your procedure such as general anaesthesia.
With the different pain relief options, it should be a pain-free procedure for you.
Sedation differs from general anaesthesia (GA) in that it puts you in a drowsy, comfortable state, but you remain conscious. Under general anaesthesia (GA) however, you are fully unconscious and will not be able to respond.
Having dental treatments under sedation would help to put you at ease and handle invasive procedures such as having multiple wisdom teeth removed or having dental implants to replace missing teeth.
Sedation is most appropriate for people with a real fear or anxiety that is preventing them from going to the dentist.
Sedation dentistry may also be appropriate for people who:
- have a low pain threshold
- can’t sit still in the dentist’s chair
- have very sensitive teeth
- have a bad gag reflex
- need a large amount of dental work completed
You will be instructed to fast for at least 4-6 hours before IV sedation. As this would prevent vomiting while under sedation which would complicate the procedure and endanger your airway.
You will wake up a few minutes after the medication is stopped. However, you are advised to rest in our recovery room for at least half an hour to ensure you are fully awake before returning home.
Yes. You can have surgery during menstruation or if you have a mild flu. However if you are feeling unwell, you may choose to delay your surgery at your own discretion.
IV sedation is not suitable for pregnant women.
IV sedation is not suitable for everyone. You may consult our dentist for advice.
Before the appointment
- Have nothing to eat or drink 4-6 hours before your appointment. If you have a morning appointment, have nothing after midnight.
- If you take any prescription medications, you should take them at your usual times with a small amount of water
- No alcohol should be consumed 24 hours prior to the appointment.
- Smoking should cease at least 24 hours prior to the appointment and preferably earlier.
- Do not wear contact lenses
- Please bring any tablets or list of medications that you are presently taking.
- State and report any known allergies.
- You should be accompanied by a responsible adult who can escort you home afterwards and arrange for you to be looked after for the next 24 hours
- We will need to observe you here at the surgery for a period of time after your treatment is completed
- Your escort should take you home by taxi or car
- You should try to rest and not undertake any strenuous activities the rest of the day
- If hungry, you can have light meals
- If nauseous, have a fizzy drink and lie down and have a rest
- You should not drive, operate machinery or use domestic appliances for 24 hours
- You must not drink alcohol, return to work, make any important decisions or sign any important documents for 24 hours after sedation
Sedation can be used for everything from invasive procedures to a simple tooth cleaning. How it’s used depends on the severity of the fear.
Sedation is commonly performed to aid certain groups of patients in their acceptance of dental care and is generally considered safe. Some patients may experience some postoperative side effects such as stomach problems, nausea, vomiting, headache, sore throat, and cardiac or respiratory issues.
These effects vary largely between individuals and are mostly minor and temporary. The most severe risk is a 1 in 3 million chance of mortality/death, but this is considered to be extremely low.
Botox can be given as a treatment for wrinkles or as a supplement for facial pain. It is not permanent and will wear off after 3-4 months. Do note that how long Botox will last depends on the individual and your doctor will be able to advise better.
If you would like to find out more about Botox treatment, do make an appointment with our Specialists.
The process is relatively pain-free and can be completed within a few minutes.
After the procedure, there might be a tiny bite of bruising and swelling around the injection site. The side effects should disappear quickly, and patients can resume their daily activities after leaving the clinic.
Our Specialist will be able to tailor your treatment plan accordingly, to ensure results longevity. The dosage and frequency of touch-up treatments will also be determined by how severe the condition is.
The duration between each injection can range from 3 to 6 months, depending on your recommended dosage. Reinjection is required when the results start to wear off.
Patients should begin to see the results in a couple of days to 2 weeks, depending on the size of the muscle injected and the size of the injected area. The injection’s full effects could take up to 2 weeks to emerge fully.
Post Surgery
There should be minimal to no pain, bleeding or swelling after the surgery. Medication will be prescribed should you have any discomfort.
For the first 1-2 days, you are advised to adhere to a soft diet so as to better rest the jaw after your procedure.
You can brush your teeth normally, with gentle cleansing at the wound region. You can supplement brushing with the mouthwash prescribed as instructed.
You are advised to bite on the gauze for 30-45 minutes. Upon removal of the gauze, if it appears bright red, you are advised to continue biting on a new gauze at the same area for another 30-45 minutes. You can dispose of the gauze when it appears partially white, pink or dull red, which indicates that the bleeding has stopped.
The healing process of a dental implant is similar to any oral surgical wound and swelling usually peaks on the second day after surgery. It’ll gradually subside over the next 3 to 4 days till your post-op review appointment. Do complete your course of medications to ensure a smooth recovery.
Strenuous exercise / activities are to be avoided for the first 1-3 days after the surgery.
It is generally a good idea to stay in the country for the next week following surgery but if you feel perfectly well by the third post-op day, feel free to resume your plans! Do consult our clinicians on further advice as surgery at certain locations does require a bit more care!
General
Please let your oral surgeon know if you are on any medication. You are advised to consult your physician before stopping your medication.
Dry socket is also known as alveolar osteitis and is a painful post-extraction condition that may occur after your treatment. Patients at risk include those who smoke, women on oral contraceptives, and patients who have had complex extractions. Common symptoms of dry sockets include extreme pain and sensitivity to the extraction site a few days after the procedure. There is usually a lack of swelling and pus. Please call us if you think you may have a dry socket so that we can schedule a visit with you as soon as possible.