Oral Surgery

Oral Surgery Specialist

Oral surgery is sometimes necessary for optimal dental care. Dr. Ylang Nguyen is a talented and highly-respected dentist in Tacoma, Washington. You can trust Dr. Nguyen's professional expertise to provide the best possible outcome when your oral care requires a surgical approach. He also uses sedation, as necessary, to help ease your anxiety during the procedure. Call Gentle Family Dentistry for all your dentistry needs. Or try the convenient online scheduling service to make your appointment today.

(253) 535-5616


Oral Surgery Q & A

Why would I need oral surgery?

Oral surgery is performed for a variety of reasons in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. For instance, dental implants used to replace missing teeth require surgery for placement in the jaw. Wisdom teeth that are crowding your mouth often require surgical removal.

Tooth extractions are considered simple, or nonsurgical, if incisions aren’t necessary to remove the tooth. Simple extractions can become surgical dental extractions when a tooth fractures during a nonsurgical extraction or doesn’t loosen adequately under pressure.

While Dr. Nguyen is well-equipped to handle many oral surgical procedures, he’s also comfortable referring you to an oral surgeon, ifshefeels your case requires more than a simple surgical procedure. For instance, a severely impacted tooth may require extraction by an oral surgeon under general anesthesia.

What is sedation dentistry?

Sedation dentistry uses medication to help you relax during a dental procedure. It’s very beneficial for patients who have significant anxiety about everything from dental cleanings to complex root canal treatments. Sedation is often a great advantage when a young child undergoes dental extraction.

With the exception of general anesthesia used by oral surgeons, sedation dentistry does not use medications that put you to sleep or control pain. Instead, Dr. Nguyen uses nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help you feel happy and relaxed. He administers numbing agents in the area of the involved tooth to prevent pain during extractions and other dental procedures.

When should wisdom teeth be removed?

Every patient is unique but it’s generally recommended that wisdom teeth be extracted if you develop gum disease or if they:

  • Cause pain
  • Become infected
  • Develop cavities
  • Cause damage to adjacent teeth

What is recovery like after wisdom teeth extraction?

You can expect some bleeding, oozing, and varying degrees of pain after a wisdom tooth extraction. The bleeding should stop within 8-12 hours, but pink fluid may continue to ooze from the site for one to two days after the extraction. The pain should continue to decrease and essentially resolve after three to four days.

You must also follow a soft diet and avoid vigorous rinsing for 24 hours after the extraction. After that, warm saltwater rinses a couple of times daily can help promote healing. Persistent or increasing pain, bleeding, fever, or other unexpected symptoms require immediate follow-up with Dr. Nguyen.

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Sammy Pak

Monday:

7:30 am-3:00 pm

Tuesday:

10:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:30 am-3:00 pm

Thursday:

10:00 am-6:00 pm

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Closed

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