When to Hit Pause: Important Reasons to Postpone Your Oral Surgery

You’ve scheduled your oral surgery with Dr. Benjamin Yagoubian at Torrance Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center, blocked off time for recovery, and mentally prepared yourself for the procedure. But sometimes, life throws unexpected curveballs that make postponing your surgery not just advisable, but necessary for your safety and optimal outcome. Understanding when to reschedule can protect your health and ensure the best possible results when you do proceed with treatment.

While it’s natural to want to get your oral surgery over with as planned, proceeding under less-than-ideal circumstances can increase complications, slow healing, and compromise your results. Let’s explore the key situations where postponing your procedure is the smartest decision you can make.

Active Illness or Infection

If you’re fighting off a cold, flu, or any other illness in the days leading up to your scheduled oral surgery, it’s time to pick up the phone and reschedule. Your immune system plays a critical role in healing after surgery, and when it’s already battling an infection, it can’t devote its full resources to surgical recovery.

Even seemingly minor illnesses can create significant complications during and after oral surgery. A stuffy nose or congestion can interfere with breathing during procedures performed under sedation or general anesthesia. A persistent cough can disrupt healing at surgical sites and increase the risk of complications like dry socket after tooth extractions. Fever indicates your body is fighting an infection, which means your healing capacity is already compromised.

Beyond the healing concerns, there’s also the risk of spreading illness to the surgical team and other patients. The compassionate staff at Torrance Oral Surgery Center prioritizes everyone’s health and wellbeing, and they’d much rather reschedule than put anyone at risk.

Uncontrolled Chronic Health Conditions

Chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease don’t automatically disqualify you from oral surgery, but they do need to be well-managed before you proceed. If your blood sugar levels have been erratic, your blood pressure readings are consistently elevated, or you’re experiencing symptoms related to any chronic condition, postponing allows you to get these issues under control first.

Uncontrolled diabetes significantly increases infection risk and can severely impair wound healing after oral surgery. High blood pressure raises the risk of excessive bleeding during and after procedures. Heart conditions that aren’t properly managed can create serious complications when combined with the stress of surgery and certain anesthesia medications.

Dr. Yagoubian’s extensive training at Columbia University and his dual degrees in both dental surgery and medicine give him deep understanding of how systemic health affects surgical outcomes. He may recommend postponing until you’ve worked with your primary care physician to stabilize your condition, ensuring you can heal properly and safely.

Recent Medication Changes

Starting a new medication or changing dosages of existing prescriptions shortly before oral surgery can be problematic. Many medications interact with anesthesia, pain medications, or antibiotics commonly prescribed for oral surgery. Others affect blood clotting, blood pressure, or immune function in ways that impact surgical safety and healing.

Blood thinners deserve special attention. If you’re on medications like warfarin, Plavix, or newer anticoagulants, Dr. Yagoubian needs to coordinate with your prescribing physician about whether and when to adjust your dosage before surgery. Stopping these medications without proper medical guidance can be dangerous, but continuing them at full strength can lead to excessive bleeding during procedures.

Even over-the-counter supplements and herbal remedies can interfere with surgery. Products like fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, and garlic supplements all have blood-thinning properties. If you’ve recently started taking any new supplements, inform the team at Torrance Oral Surgery Center so they can advise whether postponing is necessary.

Pregnancy Considerations

If you discover you’re pregnant after scheduling oral surgery, or if you suspect you might be, contact Dr. Yagoubian’s office immediately. While some urgent dental procedures can’t wait and can be safely performed during pregnancy with proper precautions, elective oral surgery is typically best postponed until after delivery.

The second trimester is generally considered the safest window for necessary dental procedures during pregnancy, but even then, elective surgeries are usually deferred. Anesthesia, pain medications, and antibiotics all need careful consideration during pregnancy. The stress of surgery and recovery, positioning difficulties as pregnancy progresses, and the body’s already-taxed healing resources all make postponement the wisest choice for most elective oral surgeries.

Dr. Yagoubian’s medical training and his compassionate approach to patient care mean he’ll work with you and your obstetrician to determine the safest timing for your procedure, whether that means a brief postponement to a better trimester or waiting until after your baby arrives.

Smoking and Nicotine Use

If you’re currently smoking or using other nicotine products, your oral surgeon may strongly recommend postponing your procedure until you’ve quit or at least taken a significant break. This isn’t about judgment – it’s about your safety and success. Nicotine dramatically constricts blood vessels, severely limiting blood flow to healing tissues. This restriction increases infection risk, delays healing, and significantly raises the chances of complications like dry socket after tooth extractions or implant failure after dental implant placement.

For procedures like dental implants or bone grafting, smoking can be the difference between success and failure. The reduced blood flow prevents proper integration of implants with bone and interferes with graft healing. Many oral surgeons, including Dr. Yagoubian, recommend patients quit smoking at least two weeks before surgery and continue abstaining throughout the healing period for optimal outcomes.

If you’re struggling to quit, postponing your surgery gives you time to work with your doctor on cessation strategies. The investment in quitting pays dividends not just for your oral surgery outcome, but for your overall health.

Inadequate Pre-Operative Preparation

Sometimes the reason to postpone has nothing to do with your health status and everything to do with preparation. If you haven’t arranged for someone to drive you home after procedures requiring sedation or general anesthesia, you need to reschedule. California law prohibits patients from driving themselves home after receiving these types of anesthesia, and it’s genuinely unsafe to do so.

Similarly, if you haven’t been able to fill your prescriptions for post-operative pain medication and antibiotics, or if you haven’t arranged for someone to help you during the crucial first 24-48 hours after major procedures, postponing may be necessary. Proper preparation significantly impacts your comfort and recovery success.

The pre-operative fasting instructions Dr. Yagoubian provides aren’t suggestions – they’re critical safety requirements. If you’ve accidentally eaten or had something to drink within the restricted timeframe before surgery requiring sedation or general anesthesia, you must inform the office immediately. Proceeding with surgery when you haven’t properly fasted increases the risk of serious anesthesia complications. The surgery will need to be rescheduled, but this protects you from potentially life-threatening risks.

Mental Health and Anxiety Concerns

Severe anxiety about your upcoming procedure isn’t just unpleasant – it can actually affect your surgical experience and recovery. If you’re experiencing overwhelming anxiety or panic about your scheduled surgery, it’s worth discussing with Dr. Yagoubian’s team. They may be able to address your concerns with additional information, adjust the sedation plan, or in some cases, recommend postponing until you’ve had time to work with a mental health professional on anxiety management strategies.

The team at Torrance Oral Surgery Center is known for their compassionate approach and their commitment to making patients feel comfortable throughout their experience. Many patients have noted Dr. Yagoubian’s warm, reassuring demeanor and the staff’s genuine concern for patient wellbeing. However, if your anxiety is so severe that you’re unable to sleep, having panic attacks, or considering canceling entirely, a brief postponement to address these concerns may lead to a much better experience when you do proceed.

Recent Dental Work or Complications

If you’ve had dental work performed by your general dentist shortly before your scheduled oral surgery, and you’re experiencing complications like persistent pain, swelling, or signs of infection, postponing allows these issues to be resolved first. Similarly, if you’ve developed a new dental emergency – a broken tooth, abscess, or severe toothache – the treatment plan may need to be adjusted before proceeding with your originally scheduled surgery.

Dr. Yagoubian’s practice serves patients throughout the South Bay area, including Torrance, Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and El Segundo. He works collaboratively with referring dentists to ensure optimal timing and coordination of care. If complications arise, he’ll work with your general dentist to determine the best course of action.

Financial and Insurance Considerations

While less medically urgent than other reasons, significant unexpected changes to your insurance coverage or financial situation may warrant postponing until you can properly prepare. Major oral surgery procedures like dental implants, bone grafting, or jaw surgery represent significant investments. If your insurance coverage has changed unexpectedly, or if you’re exploring financing options through CareCredit or Wells Fargo, taking time to ensure you understand your financial responsibility can reduce stress and allow you to focus fully on recovery when you do proceed.

The billing staff at Torrance Oral Surgery Center is known for clearly explaining financial aspects of care. If you have questions or concerns about coverage or costs, addressing them before your procedure date can provide peace of mind.

Trust Your Instincts and Communicate Openly

Sometimes, you simply know something isn’t right, even if you can’t pinpoint exactly what it is. Maybe you’re not bouncing back from an illness as quickly as expected, or you’re noticing unusual symptoms that concern you. Trust those instincts and communicate with Dr. Yagoubian’s office.

The practice built its excellent reputation on patient-centered care, with Dr. Yagoubian personally calling patients after procedures to check on their recovery. This same commitment to patient wellbeing extends to pre-operative care. The team would rather reschedule and ensure you’re in optimal condition for surgery than proceed when circumstances aren’t ideal.

Schedule Your Oral Surgery in Torrance When the Time Is Right

Postponing oral surgery isn’t failure or weakness – it’s smart healthcare decision-making. Whether you’re facing wisdom teeth removal, dental implant placement, tooth extraction, jaw surgery, or any other oral surgical procedure, optimal timing matters for your safety, comfort, and results.

Dr. Benjamin Yagoubian and the team at Torrance Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center are committed to providing exceptional care to patients throughout the South Bay area. With Dr. Yagoubian’s extensive training from Columbia University, his board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and his compassionate approach to patient care, you can trust that your safety and optimal outcome are the top priorities.

If you’re uncertain whether you should proceed with your scheduled oral surgery or if you need to postpone for any of the reasons discussed, contact Torrance Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center today. The friendly, professional staff will work with you to determine the best timing for your procedure, ensuring you receive the highest quality care when you’re truly ready. Call the office to discuss your concerns and reschedule if necessary – your health and safety are always worth the wait.