Oral Surgery Specialist

Herrick Lai, DDS -  - Dentist

PreZenDental

Herrick Lai, DDS

Dentist located in Gramercy, New York, NY

As an expertly trained dentist in the Gramercy area, Dr. Lai is skilled in oral surgery procedures used to address dental issues in patients at PreZen Dental in New York City, NY. Today's surgical techniques and pain management methods can provide patients with the best results.

Oral Surgery Q & A

What kinds of surgeries does oral surgery include?

Oral surgery can include many surgical techniques which are used to fix imperfections or problems in the mouth. It can include surgeries to correct damage from decay as well as reconstructive surgeries used after cancer treatment or external damage. Oral surgery can also include complex tooth extractions which can require incisions. This includes most wisdom tooth extractions and extractions of impacted teeth. Impacted teeth are those that are “stuck” under other teeth and can’t erupt from the gum. Bone grafting, gum grafting, and dental implant procedures can also be considered forms of oral surgery.

Should all wisdom teeth be removed?

Wisdom teeth erupt when all the other teeth have already surfaced and can cause overcrowding. As a result, these teeth can come in sideways or become impacted beneath neighboring teeth. This often causes pressure and pain in addition to compromising the integrity of healthy teeth. To preserve the health and balance of the entire mouth, wisdom teeth are commonly removed. Even when wisdom teeth come in straight, they can cause problems. This is because they are located so far back in the mouth, making them extremely hard to keep clean. This increases the risk of developing gum disease and decay. Removing these teeth is a good idea and can be accomplished at the PreZen Dental office.

What types of anesthesia are used during oral surgery?

Some relatively minor types of surgery can be performed under local anesthesia, occasionally used in conjunction with oral sedation. However, in most cases IV or intravenous, sedation is used so patients can relax during surgery. IV sedation is occasionally referred to as “conscious sedation” because patients can still respond to requests, such as “open wider,” but they will not experience pain or have any memory of the procedure. The type of anesthesia used will be based on the type of procedure which is being performed in addition to overall health and the person’s preference.

Please contact our office if you have questions regarding insurance or payment options.

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