Dear Customer (name blocked for privacy),
An alveoloplasty is a re-contouring of the so-called "alveolar process"-- the specialized bone that normally surrounds the roots of the teeth. The kind of surgical session you describe typically occurs before the placement of a denture prosthesis. The removal of the teeth normally leaves sockets in the jaw bone that have sharp edges; in addition, the shape and size of the alveolar bone is sometimes not as optimal as it could be to serve the purpose of supporting the denture-- there is sometimes too much bone in the wrong place, which can complicate the task of inserting and removing the denture later. In an alveoloplasty, the edges of the sockets are smoothed by use of a file, and the shape of the bone is modified to serve the functional requirements of denture support.
There is little to be anxious about here; if you've ever had dental extractions before, this visit will be no more daunting. The peri-operative sedation will manage your anxiety going into the procedure. As for what you can expect postoperatively, it sometimes presents even less of a challenge than normal extractions, since the gums will be sutured over the surgical site, as opposed to leaving raw sockets open as would happen during a routine extraction. By covering the surgical site with the gums, the amount of discomfort is usually greatly reduced. Additional symptomatic relief will be provided by supplying you with a prescription for pain relieving medication if indicated. So, although this might not turn out to be your favorite activity, you probably have already experienced worse, and will no doubt survive the visit well.
Good luck!
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Mark Bornfeld DDS