Oral Surgery in Carson City, NV

Oral surgery consists of tooth extractions, reshaping the jaw, placing bone grafts.

Severe decay or pain, and advanced gum and bone disease are common reasons to undergo oral surgery.

Oral surgery options

  • A tooth extraction is when a dentist removes a tooth from your mouth. This is usually done when a tooth is badly damaged, impacted, infected, overcrowding, or to replace teeth with implants or dentures.

  • A bone graft is a procedure that helps rebuild bone in your jaw. It’s often needed when there isn’t enough bone to support a dental implant or if bone has been lost due to a missing tooth, gum disease, or injury.

    Here’s how it works:

    • We place a small amount of special bone material in the area where more support is needed.

    • Over time, your body builds new bone in that spot.

    Bone grafts are safe and help strengthen your jaw so it can hold an implant or stay healthy. We’ll make sure you’re comfortable and walk you through each step of the process.

  • An alveoloplasty is a oral surgical procedure that smooths and reshapes the jawbone, usually after a tooth has been removed.

    Reasons why you might need an alveoloplasty

    • To remove sharp edges or bumps in the bone

    • To help dentures fit better

    • To speed up healing after extractions

    • To prepare the mouth for future dental work

Post op instructions after extractions

First 24 Hours:

  • Bite on gauze: Keep firm pressure on the gauze pad for 30–60 minutes to help stop bleeding.

  • Don’t rinse, spit, or use straws or suction motions: These actions can disturb the blood clot and delay healing.

  • Avoid smoking, vaping, or alcohol: These can slow healing and increase the risk of infection.

  • Rest: Take it easy for the rest of the day—no heavy lifting or intense activity.

  • Eat soft foods: Stick to yogurt, mashed potatoes, soup, eggs, or applesauce. Avoid hot or spicy foods which can cause inflammation.

Pain and Swelling:

  • Take medication as directed: Take 400-800 mg of ibuprofen and/or 500-1000 mg acetaminophen every 4-6 hours. This combination of over the counter pain killers are proven superior for relief and fewer side effects than opioids.

  • Use an ice pack: Apply it to the outside of your cheek (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) to reduce swelling during the first 24 hours.

After 24 hours

  • Rinse gently: You can start rinsing with warm salt water (½ tsp salt in 8 oz water) a few times a day.

  • Brush gently: Avoid the extraction site, but keep the rest of your mouth clean.

Watch For:

  • Excessive bleeding (more than 24 hours)

  • Severe pain or swelling that gets worse

  • Signs of infection (fever, pus, foul taste)

If you notice any of these symptoms, contact our office right away.

Healing usually takes about 1–2 weeks. Following these instructions will help you recover quickly and comfortably.