If you started the dental implant process somewhere else and moved to the Huntersville, NC area, you may have difficulty finding an implant specialist willing to complete your treatment plan. Switching care providers in the midst of any procedure, particularly an invasive one that can take several months to complete, is stressful. Still, you do not want to skip any of the steps needed to ensure your dental implant treatment plan is successful.

1.   Find the Right Oral Surgeon

Oral surgeons should always be your first choice for dental implant placement, particularly if you have started the implant process. If bone grafts or tissue grafts are needed, an oral surgeon can provide the highest level of care due to their additional education, training, and experience. Dr. Rendulich has been placing implants successfully for over twenty years.

Every dental implant procedure is unique, as is every patient. Look for an oral surgeon who can provide care that meets or exceeds the standard of care provided by the dentist or surgeon who began your treatment. We offer a complete range of anesthesia options and have registered nurses on staff to ensure we can meet any unexpected circumstances professionally and safely.

2.   Request Your Records from Your Previous Surgeon or Dentist

If you are new to the area, be sure to bring your dental records, x-rays, and digital images from your current or previous dentist or oral surgeon. If you prefer, we can provide a release form in our office for you to fill out and sign. We will then request your records and notify you when we’ve received them.

3.   Arrange for a Consultation

Dr. Rendulich is available for an initial consultation to review the status of your dental implant placement and determine the best way to complete your care. Dr. Rendulich will do a thorough exam, review your medical records, and explain the steps needed to complete your dental implant placement safely. If you have any questions or concerns, this is the time to ask.

4.   Understand the Need for a Coordinated Transition of Care

After evaluating where you are in your dental implant journey, Dr. Rendulich will, with your permission, reach out to your previous dentist or surgeon to discuss the details of your care. This allows us to ensure there are no unexpected complications or unaddressed issues before we begin your new treatment plan. There may be minor delays in initiating or completing certain procedures, but this is for your safety and a successful implant procedure that will last for decades.

If you started the dental implant process somewhere else and moved to this area, we are ready and happy to help. Don’t let your relocation stop you from getting the dental restoration you deserve. Contact our office today to learn how we can help and schedule a consultation with Dr. Rendulich.

I am super anxious about my surgery. I am normal?

YES! No one comes into our office jumping for joy about having Oral Surgery, but we pride ourselves on making each patient’s unique experience a positive one. We do everything that we can to ease your worries and we take pride in the fact that our staff is very compassionate and caring. Dr. Rendulich always says “The patient in the chair is the most important” and we really take that to heart when it comes to your care.

How long will my surgery take?

The length of time you will be here in the office depends on the procedure and whether you are being sedated for the surgery. For most wisdom teeth surgeries, you are usually here for about 2 hours with the actual surgery lasting approximately 1 hour. If you are having multiple procedures such as dental implants with bone grafts, you may be in our office a little longer.

How much time off will I need after my surgery?

We recommend 2-3 days of downtime for most procedures and then a week off strenuous physical activity. So, nothing that gets your heart rate up for the week after which can delay the healing process.

Is rinsing after my surgery really that important?

YES! It is very important to follow the directions we give you for rinsing after surgery. You will not begin to rinse until 24 hour post-op. If you start before that time, you risk the chance of dislodging the clot that is trying to form in the extraction site. This can lead to a dry socket, which is when there is exposed bone in the extraction site, and it can be a very painful experience. Keeping up with your recommended rinsing will help keep the surgical sites clean and help flush out any food or debris that tend to collect there.

What’s the best way to deal with the pain after surgery?

Based on your surgery, Dr. Rendulich may send a prescription pain medication to your pharmacy. It is up to you whether you choose to use the prescription or stick to an over-the-counter method of pain management.  We find that Combo Therapy (the use of 2 alternating over the counter medications) works very well after Oral Surgery. Typically, day 3 or 4 post surgery may be your worst day for pain and swelling, so don’t be alarmed if that happens. It is a normal part of the recovery process.

Rest! Rest! Rest!

The most important part of a successful recovery is to make sure that you give your body the rest it needs. We find it best that you give yourself 3-4 days of downtime, and 1 week off strenuous physical activity after surgery. You may be feeling pretty good day 2 or 3, but don’t be tempted to go back to work or school just yet! Usually if you do too much too soon, it can set your recovery back a bit.

I’m so hungry & thirsty, when & what can I eat?

After you take your gauze out (which you need to have in for 1 hour) you can drink anything your heart desires (except alcohol)! Also, no straws for 1 week!!! The sucking motion used with a straw can dislodge the clot that is trying to form in your extraction site, and if that happens it can lead to a dry socket, something you will want to avoid! (PS: Smoking increases your chance of getting a dry socket as well) Remember, you will be on a soft food diet for 1-week post-surgery, and as tempting as it is to “cheat” you will only be taking a chance of delaying your healing. Nothing crunchy, hard or small like nuts or popcorn! They can get lodged in the extraction sites and cause issues!

The Proper Way To Rinse

No rinsing for the first 24 hours! Once you reach the 24-hour mark post-surgery, you can start rinsing. If you were given a prescription rinse, you will make that the first and last rinses of your day. In between the special rinse, you will rinse with salt water after every meal.  Helpful tip, if you have a gallon jug at home already, just go ahead and mix up a batch of salt water and then it will be ready to go whenever you need it! Keep up with your rinsing! We know it’s a lot, but a successful recovery depends on it.

Paine Management

We realize that one of the biggest concerns of anyone having surgery is, how will I manage the pain? After your surgery is done, Dr. Rendulich may choose to give you a prescription medication for the pain. We know that with the current opioid epidemic, many people will choose not to use their prescription and we are big proponents of Combo Therapy. It is when you use a combination of over-the-counter medications to address your discomfort. We find that this approach works well for many of our patients.

Remember we are always available for any questions or concerns

After your surgery we will send you home with very detailed Post Operative Instructions. Typically, if you follow these, they will help you on the road to a speedy recovery! Of course, sometimes things will come up that you just might need some guidance with, and we are always here to help. We want your recovery to go just as smoothly as you do!

 

1. Try to limit or avoid sticky, or sugary food and drinks. These tend to take longer to break down and will leave more sugar in your mouth, which can lead to cavities and decay.
2. If you do partake in holiday treats, brush your teeth if you can after. This is in addition to your regular twice a day routine.
3. Don’t crack nuts or open packages with your teeth! We’ve all done it, but don’t be tempted. You may break or damage a tooth, so make sure to use the proper tools for your holiday jobs!
4. Stay hydrated! Drinking water throughout the day and after sweets will help flush some of the sugar away from your teeth and keep decay at bay!
5. Don’t forget to floss! Especially during the holidays when most of us are indulging on all the sweet treats that seem to be in abundance at this time of year.
6. Holiday stress can be hard to control but if you can find ways to do so, it may help with something that goes along with stress, nail biting! Nail biting can cause damage or erosion to the enamel of your teeth.
7. MODERATION! We all want to enjoy and celebrate the holidays and the most important thing is to do so in moderation. You can still enjoy all the festive treats that the holidays have to offer, just make sure to take care of your smile while doing it!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

In today’s blog we want to talk about why our office is still closely following COVID guidelines and why. The main reason is Dr. Rendulich takes his responsibility to keep his patients and staff as safe as possible very seriously.

We know that just about everyone want things to be back to “normal” (trust us, so do we!), but our office must follow more stringent guidelines from the CDC because we do aerosolized procedures. What is an aerosolized procedure? It is when tiny particles can go into the air while using a dental drill, or any kind of aerosol, which we often do during surgeries.

Of course, we use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and HEEPA filters in our surgery rooms. We also follow strict sterilization standards to continue our commitment to everyone’s safety. So, rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to keep you and your family safe!

That is why when you make an appointment with our office, we will go through a COVID screening, take your temperature, and make sure that you have a mask to enter our office. I promise, we are not trying to be difficult, we just want to protect everyone to the best of our ability!

Learn More About How To Prepare For Your Appointment

The “Pink Sheet”

When it comes to giving our patients after care instructions, we have got you covered! We always verbally go over how to take care of you or your loved one after surgery and send you home with what we call our “Pink Sheet”. Think of it as a step-by- step guide for what you need to do immediately after your surgery and in the days to follow for the best outcome. Our “Pink Sheet” has been years in the making and we have fine-tuned it so that the most important things to remember are all condensed in one place. Some of the highlights include:

1. A soft food Diet. Typically for extractions like wisdom teeth or Dental Implants you will want to stick with soft foods for 5-7 days after If you’re not sure what to eat, please check out our handy list of soft foods under the Parents Corner on our website. Remember, DO NOT use a straw for 1 week! We know it’s not fun, but it really will make a difference in your recovery. If you start to eat things you shouldn’t too soon, your body (mainly your jaws) will let you know!
2. Peak Pain and Swelling. This typically occurs on day 3 or 4. We like to let our patients know to anticipate this because sometimes they don’t have any pain or swelling at When it shows up days later, it may cause some people anxiety, but don1t be alarmed. This is normal!
3. Expect to take 3-4 days of downtime to let your body rest and recover. Also, 1 week off of strenuous physical activity is needed for you to give yourself time to heal. A nice, slow walk is fine, just don’t do anything to get your heart rate up!
4. Don’t forget your rinsing! We don’t want you to start until 24 hours after surgery, and make sure to do the “Special Rinse” if Dr. Rendulich prescribed it for you!
5. Most Important. Follow the “Pink Sheet”!

Of course, we are always happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have, and no question is too “strange or weird” to ask us! Trust us, we have heard just about everything!

Hello from Becky at the Front Desk at Dr. Rendulich‘s office! Welcome to our practice! Today, I want to talk about how beneficial it is to both us and you to fill out your New Patient Paperwork online prior to your appointment. I thought I would go over why it is something we ask of all our new patients:

• Since we are a healthcare office, we are still following the CDC guidelines that ask us to keep our distance and mask up. We find that doing all the necessary paperwork online helps us to keep our contact with each other to a minimum.
• When you send in your completed forms, it allows us to update your electronic chart with the information provided to us prior to your visit. This translates to less time waiting to be seen when you get here.
• When people have indicated in their paperwork that they may have an allergy or important medical information, we already have a “heads up” about things that are important to your care and wellbeing.
• It just helps things run smoothly for everyone!

Of course, we know sometimes people may need assistance or have trouble filling out the forms. We are always happy to help. Feel free to call us at Huntersville Office (Lake Norman) Phone Number 704-875-8833 and we can guide you through the process.

We look forward to meeting you in person and taking care of you!

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