How Painful Is Mouth Widening Surgery Afterwards?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am currently considering getting a mouth widening surgery but would like to know more information about it. My main question is about the pain of it. I’m assuming you are not awake when you get the surgery, however what is the pain like afterwards?

A: While one can have a sedation or general anesthesia for an isolated mouth widening procedure, that has never been needed in my experience. This is a procedure that can be done fairly comfortably under local anesthesia in all cases I have ever done for any isolated corner of the mouth surgery. But that being said it is all about making the patient feel most comfortable and if some sedation will help in the regard then that approach would also be appropriate. Pain after the procedure is not something that I have heard patients say much about.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana