Oral & Facial Surgery Center of Virginia Blog

If you’re planning to replace missing teeth with dental implants, one of the first practical questions that may come to mind is: “How much time should I take off work?” It’s a fair question—after all, balancing recovery with your responsibilities isn’t always easy.

The good news is that many patients are surprised by how manageable dental implant recovery can be. That said, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Your return-to-work timeline depends on the complexity of your procedure, your comfort level, and the type of work you do. Giving yourself enough time to heal can help set the stage for a smoother recovery and long-term success.

During your oral surgery, your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic so you don’t feel a thing. Sedation options, such as nitrous oxide sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia are also available to ensure that you are perfectly comfortable throughout your procedure. However, some patients worry about post-surgical discomfort. Opioid pain relievers are common for managing pain following oral surgery, but they aren’t the right option for everyone. This is where Exparel comes in. Continue reading to learn about Exparel, how it works, and its benefits!

At first glance, your teeth and your heart may seem unrelated. However, growing research shows a strong connection between oral health and overall health, including your cardiovascular system. If you’re considering dental implants, understanding how they relate to heart health can help you make more informed decisions.

BOTOX treatment is well known for temporarily reducing the appearance of motion-related wrinkles using a small amount of botulinum toxin. However, this method can provide a wide range of other benefits that you may not be aware of. Here’s a quick look at a few of the issues BOTOX can address other than wrinkles as well as how this safe and effective treatment is administered.

Implant dentistry has evolved, resulting in higher success rates among individuals experiencing tooth loss. Dental technology has also changed in recent decades, offering specialists new ways to generate more accurate and longer-lasting results. This is evident with the development of guided dental implant surgery. While many experts still use the freehand method to place these prosthetics, it’s time to learn which one produces better results.

When you think of all the money you’ve spent on lotions and potions to make your skin look and feel younger, that number can be a little shocking. In fact, the average woman spends about $600 a year or $28 a month on skincare alone.  If those products did indeed do everything they claimed, that number would probably not be so hard to digest. But unfortunately, with this type of over-the-counter solution, many consumers end up with an empty wallet and nothing to show for it.

With BOTOX, however, you get more for your money. While it’s true that your results aren’t permanent, they are both safe and effective at temporarily smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. Here’s how long you can expect your BOTOX treatment to last, and how it can save you time, money, and frustration over storebought anti-aging creams.

If you’re a young adult and you’ve noticed that the back of your mouth or jaw has been feeling particularly sore lately, you might be growing wisdom teeth. These third molars typically arrive years after all your other adult teeth have grown in, usually between the ages of 17 to 25. Unfortunately, they tend to cause issues like aches, overcrowding, infections, or become impacted when they erupt, so they’re often extracted before they can become problematic.

It’s normal to have questions about these chompers, like how many you have and why they’re there. Continue reading to learn more about it!

Many people experience anxiety around having a troublesome wisdom tooth extracted, even when they know it’s necessary to preserve their oral health. These late-to-arrive molars are notorious for causing various issues, so they’re removed more often than not. However, you might worry that the procedure will hurt, or have questions about what recovery is like.

If you’re unsure what healing looks like following your wisdom tooth extraction, continue reading to learn more about what to expect and what a typical timeline might look like!

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last set of teeth to develop, usually appearing between the ages of 17 and 25. While some people’s wisdom teeth grow in without issue, others find that theirs come in at odd angles—including sideways, pushing toward neighboring teeth. This is known as horizontal impaction, and it’s a common dental concern that often requires removal. Understanding why this happens can help you better prepare for treatment and avoid complications.

Gaps in your teeth can make your everyday living a little harder, from affecting your smile to having trouble speaking or eating. A reliable way to fill these spaces is with the help of dental implants. They are placed into your jawbone and can give you higher self-confidence.

This process involves oral surgery, and finding the right provider for you is crucial to a successful treatment. If you want to figure out how you can find the right person for the job, keep reading to learn three things that can help you decide.