Questions, answered plainly

No. You can book directly with any of our offices, and most consultations are available within 48 hours. Referrals from dentists and orthodontists are always welcome, and if your dentist has recent X-rays, we'll request them so you may not need new ones. Some HMO or medical plans require a referral for coverage, and we'll tell you if yours does.

You meet the surgeon who would do your procedure. We take any imaging you need, usually a panoramic X-ray and, for implants or teeth near a nerve, a 3D CBCT scan. Your surgeon examines you, explains what they see on the screen, talks through your options and anesthesia choices, and answers your questions. You leave with one written quote and no pressure to schedule on the spot.

Most consultations are booked within 48 hours, and many offices can see you the same or next day. If you have swelling, severe pain or an injury, call your nearest office and we'll fit you in the same day whenever possible.

Please bring a photo ID, your dental and medical insurance cards, a list of the medications and supplements you take, and any recent X-rays or your referral slip if you have one. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian needs to come with you. Completing the online forms before your visit saves time in the office.

Yes. At Molly you meet your surgeon at your consultation, not for the first time on the day of surgery. They review your scans with you, explain the plan and answer your questions, and the same surgeon performs your procedure.

Most people need three to five days before they feel ready for school, desk work and normal routines. Plan on resting for the first day or two, when swelling is building. Physical jobs, sports and strenuous exercise usually wait about a week, and deeply impacted teeth can take a little longer. Many students schedule surgery at the start of a school break.

Dry socket happens when the blood clot in a tooth socket, most often a lower wisdom tooth, breaks down or dislodges too early, exposing the bone. It usually shows up as a throbbing ache two to four days after surgery, sometimes spreading toward the ear. It is uncomfortable but treatable: a soothing medicated dressing at a short visit usually brings relief within hours. Not smoking or vaping, avoiding straws and following your aftercare instructions lower the risk.

Most teens are evaluated between about 15 and 17, when an X-ray can show where the teeth are heading. When removal is needed, it is usually simpler in the late teens or early twenties, before the roots are fully formed. Adults can have wisdom teeth assessed and removed at any age.

Not always. Your surgeon recommends removing only the teeth that are causing problems or are likely to. In practice, many patients have all four removed at once, because it means one recovery instead of several, but some teeth can be left and monitored.

For the first few days, choose cool, soft foods: yogurt, applesauce, smoothies eaten with a spoon, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, pasta and lukewarm soup. Avoid straws, crunchy or spicy foods, and anything with small seeds or grains that can lodge in the sockets. Most people are back to a normal diet within one to two weeks.

That depends on the procedure and on what you prefer. With IV sedation, the most common choice, you are deeply relaxed and most people remember little or nothing, though you keep breathing on your own. General anesthesia, where you are fully asleep, is available for longer or more complex procedures at offices with a dedicated dentist anesthesiologist or CRNA. Local anesthetic, with or without nitrous oxide, lets you stay awake and comfortable. Your surgeon will help you choose at your consultation.

You're far from alone, and it's worth telling us. Your surgeon will explain exactly what will happen at your consultation, so nothing is a surprise. Many anxious patients choose IV sedation, and general anesthesia is available for longer cases. On the day, the team talks you through each step, and you can ask to pause at any time. Most patients tell us afterward that it was much easier than they expected.

Not after IV sedation or general anesthesia. You need an adult escort who stays at the office, drives you home and stays with you for the rest of the day, and you shouldn't drive, operate machinery or drink alcohol for 24 hours. After local anesthetic alone, or with nitrous oxide, most adults can drive themselves home.

Throughout sedation or general anesthesia, you are monitored continuously with ECG for heart rhythm, pulse oximetry for oxygen and capnography for breathing, with regular blood pressure checks and supplemental oxygen. Every Molly office is AAAHC-accredited and equipped for emergencies, and our surgeons hold California anesthesia permits. Longer cases have a dedicated dentist anesthesiologist or CRNA whose only job is your anesthesia.

An empty stomach lowers the risk of stomach contents entering the lungs while you are sedated, a rare but serious complication. Your written instructions will usually ask for nothing to eat or drink for about 8 hours before your appointment, with approved medications taken with a small sip of water. Please follow them exactly, or your procedure may need to be rescheduled for your safety.

Referring offices can send a referral through the online form on our Referrals page, by email or by calling the referral line. Include the reason for referral and any recent X-rays or scans. We contact the patient to schedule, usually within one business day, and let your office know when they are booked.

After the consultation, we send a written report with our findings, imaging and the treatment plan. After surgery, you receive an operative summary and, for implants, the implant system, size and position, plus a note when the patient is ready to be restored. Reports go out by secure email or through your preferred method.

Yes. We see oral surgery as part of your overall dental care, not a replacement for it. Your dentist receives reports at each stage, and for implants many patients have their own dentist make the final crown. After treatment, you return to your dentist for ongoing care.

Yes. If you have been given a plan for implants, wisdom teeth, jaw surgery or another procedure and want another view, a Molly surgeon will review your records and imaging, examine you, and explain what they would recommend and why. Bring any scans or quotes you have. Second-opinion consultations are complimentary.

Yes, and we encourage it. If your dentist has taken recent, good-quality X-rays, we'll request them before your visit. Your surgeon may still need a panoramic X-ray or 3D CBCT scan for surgical planning, but we won't repeat imaging that isn't needed.