Patient Information

OFFICE HOURS:
Office hours are by appointment: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM. Please call 740.687.0551 to schedule an appointment.

MAP:  (Click to view)
Our office is located at 550 East Main Street. (between Maple Street and Mt. Pleasant.

CONSULTATION:
Your initial appointment will consist of a consultation explaining your diagnosis and treatment options. Simple procedures for patients who elect local anesthesia may be performed the same day.

Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your consultation:

• Your surgical referral slip and any X-rays if applicable

• A list of medications you are presently taking

• If you have medical or dental insurance, bring the necessary information to complete your insurance forms. This will save time and allow us to help you process any claims.

NOTE: All patients under the age of 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at each appointment.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
At the time of your initial visit, your treatment plan may be established and an estimate of fees can be given to you. We will file your insurance paperwork to help you receive all entitled reimbursements. Please bring all of the necessary information that is required to fill out your forms properly. We will work hand-in-hand with you to maximize your insurance reimbursement for the covered procedures. If you have any problems or questions, please ask our staff. They are well informed, up-to-date and can easily be reached by telephone. Please call if you have any questions or concerns regarding your initial visit. Finally, bringing your insurance information with you will help us expedite your insurance reimbursement.

Insurance Information

As a courtesy, we will file your insurance claims for you. Upon receipt of an insurance payment, any balance due will be billed to you. If you have deposited an excessive co-payment, it will be refunded to you. Our office deals with many different insurance companies. Some companies offer as many as six different dental and medical plans. Some companies combine dental and medical coverage. This insurance alphabet soup changes policies and guidelines weekly. At times, it is almost impossible to accurately estimate our patient's insurance co-payment. Many insurance companies will not give out fees until after the treatment is completed. Dealing with these companies can be difficult and  time consuming. As a courtesy, we ask that you keep us informed of any change to your insurance. It is important that all information about you and your insurance be current.

Patient Billing Arrangements
Treatment Financing with CareCredit

Payment for all procedures is expected at the time of service unless payment arrangements have been made. Financing for treatment is available. An application is available in our office, or view financing information from CareCredit.

Our financial administrator will be happy to discuss payment arrangements with you that hopefully will meet your needs. We accept cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, and Discover for the payment of our fees in order to contain billing costs.

Important Information Before Oral Surgery
(Pre-Op Instructions)
 

1. Patients receiving anesthesia in addition to local anesthesia should not eat or drink anything (except medications) for eight hours prior to appointment.

2. A responsible adult who will stay throughout the appointment and can drive home must accompany patients receiving anesthesia in addition to local anesthesia.

3. Take all of your regular medications with minimal amount of water unless you are instructed to do otherwise by a doctor of this office.

4. Patients receiving IV/General Anesthesia in addition to local anesthesia cannot drive, operate hazardous machinery, or make important decisions for 24 hours.

5. On the day of surgery, wear loose-fitting comfortable clothing with short sleeves or sleeves that roll up easily.

6. On the day of surgery, please do not wear contact lenses, or please remove them prior to surgery.

7. If for some reason you are unable to keep your surgery appointment, you must call this office 24 hours in advance. Failure to cancel your appointment 24 hours in advance will cause you to incur a missed appointment charge.

Female patients who are sexually active and taking antibiotics should use an alternative method of birth control during the course of the antibiotic therapy. This should be continued until the beginning of your next menstrual cycle. Birth control pills may not provide the same level of protection during this period.

Please consult the doctor or nurse if you have any questions concerning this matter.

POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
Frequently, the after affects of oral surgery are minimal so that not all of these instructions may apply. Common sense will often dictate what you should do; however when in doubt, follow these guidelines or call our office at any time for clarification.

In case of extreme pain, uncontrollable bleeding, or any unusual disturbances, patients who have seen Dr. Cutright, please telephone the office immediately at 740.687.0551 (during office hours) 866.327.6056 (after office hours). Our interest in your care does not cease with the completion of the operation. If difficulty arises at any time, please call or return for treatment.

The first hour after surgery bite down firmly but gently on the gauze packs that have been placed over the surgical areas, making sure that they remain in place undisturbed. Do not change them the first hour unless the bleeding is not being controlled.

You should limit your activities as much as possible on the day of surgery to reduce bleeding and permit formation of a clot in the wound, which is necessary for healing. Surgical wounds of the mouth usually heal quickly and without complications if you take the simple precautions prescribed below.

Pain may persist for about a week following even the most simple oral surgery. You may also experience discomfort in the ears, the throat, the side of the head and under the lower jaw.

Swelling

Some swelling should be expected and should not be cause for concern. The greatest swelling usually occurs during the first 36 hours. A cold pack applied,  20 minute on-20 minutes off, during the first several hours may decrease the swelling.

Discomfort

The pain medicine prescriptions should be filled if needed and taken as directed. DO NOT TAKE ANY OTHER PAIN MEDICINE OR SEDATIVES with these drugs unless the doctor has specifically directed you to do so. It is also dangerous to consume alcohol while taking these pain medications. Since many of these drugs cause drowsiness. DO NOT take them if you are driving, operating machinery or doing anything that requires alertness.

Pain increasing in severity on the third to fifth day after tooth extraction may indicate a problem with healing. You should call the office for an appointment.

Smoking

No smoking is permitted for at least three days, as it will delay healing and may cause excessive pain or infection.

Sutures

Sutures (stitches) may have been used. Most stitches will dissolve in 7-10 days. You will be told if it is necessary to return for suture removal.

Bleeding

Some mild bleeding may continue for about 24 hours. If there is more than just mild oozing the following will help to control it:

1. Place a slightly moistened, clean gauze pad directly over the surgical area.

2. Close the mouth tightly over the gauze pad to apply direct, firm pressure.

3. Maintain the pressure for 30 minutes before checking or replacing the gauze.

4. Avoid spitting or rinsing that will cause the bleeding to start again.

Antibiotics

When antibiotics are prescribed for you, they must be taken as directed. If you experience a rash, hives or itching, you may be having an allergic reaction. Stop taking the medicine and call the office for instructions. BIRTH CONTROL PILLS USERS: Please take extra precautions, as the taking of antibiotics can cause your birth control pills not to work!

Infection

As with any surgical procedure, the risk of developing an infection is possible. This is usually due to the trapping of food in the surgical area. By following the post-operative instructions, very few patients develop this problem. The most common time for an infection to develop is one to three weeks after the surgery. Treatment may require only an antibiotic. Some infections will require cleansing of the site by the doctor.

Diet

Do not let yourself get dehydrated. Drink several glasses of water each day. Start with clear fluids and slowly advance to regular foods. Foods that are soft and cold or warm are best for the first several days. To prevent burning or excessive bleeding, avoid anything hot until the numbing medicine has worn off. Avoid sticky or crunchy foods for several days. Do not drink through a straw for at least a week after your surgery, this may dislodge the clot.

Oral Hygiene

It is important to start oral care on the day following surgery. Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt to one glass warm water) at least six times a day. Gently brush your teeth normally at least twice a day. Do not use any type of mouthwash until healed unless prescribed.

Impacted Teeth

If you have had impacted teeth removed, your postoperative care will be the same as that of other surgical patients. The following conditions may occur, none of which are unusual:

1. The operated side will swell considerably.

2. Tightness of the jaw muscles may occur causing difficulty in opening.

3. You may have an earache or sore throat.

4. You may feel numbness or tingling of the lip, chin or tongue. This is rarely permanent, but it may persist for several weeks or months.

5. Adjacent teeth may ache temporarily.

6. There may be an opening where the tooth was removed. This will gradually heal.

7. There may be a slight fever for 24 to 48 hours. If fever persists, please call the office.

Unusual Conditions

If any of the following conditions should occur please call the office for further instructions.

1. Fever greater than 101 degrees orally.

2. Severe, hard swelling after the fourth postoperative day.

3. Severe, bright red bleeding that you cannot control by following the directions given.

4. Rash, difficulty in breathing, severe vomiting, or any other suspected reaction to your medication.

Discomfort
Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. You should have the most discomfort after the anesthetics wear off. You should take the first dose of pain medicine before you start to feel the beginning of discomfort. This will help you manage the discomfort better. Try not to take the pain medicine on an empty stomach. Bland foods like yogurt, cool soups, etc., will help settle your stomach.