Hospital surgery Care
Certain procedures require the additional resources and support available in a hospital setting. When hospital-based surgery is recommended, Dr. Wu continues to provide your surgical care, ensuring continuity throughout treatment.
What is hospital surgical care?
Most oral and maxillofacial procedures can be performed safely and comfortably in an office setting. However, extensive reconstruction, significant facial trauma, certain complex medical conditions, and procedures requiring hospital-based general anesthesia may be more appropriately treated in an operating room. This setting provides access to a comprehensive anesthesia team, additional medical resources, and overnight observation when necessary.
Dr. Brendan Wu holds degrees in both dentistry and medicine and completed a six-year oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at NYU Langone Health and Bellevue Hospital Center, a major urban trauma center. His extensive hospital-based training provides the experience necessary to manage complex surgical cases within the operating room environment.
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01
Evaluation
Dr. Wu reviews your history in detail and coordinates with your physician where your medical situation requires it. Some cases need clearance from another specialist before surgery can be scheduled.
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02
Scheduling and pre-op
Our team handles the hospital coordination and walks you through what has to happen first: lab work, pre-operative assessments, and anything your medical team requests. You get clear instructions rather than a list of forms.
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03
Day of surgery
You check in at the hospital and see Dr. Wu before the procedure. Surgery is performed under general anesthesia with the hospital's anesthesia and recovery staff. Most patients go home the same day, though some stay overnight depending on what was done.
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04
Follow-up
All follow-up happens at our offices, with Dr. Wu, not with the hospital. He is your surgeon throughout, and recovery is monitored here.
FAQ's
Will my insurance cover this differently than office-based treatment?
1
Often, yes. Hospital-based surgery is more likely to involve medical insurance in addition to or instead of dental insurance, especially when it's tied to trauma, a medical condition, or general anesthesia. Coverage depends on your specific plan.
How do I know if I need hospital-based surgery instead of in-office treatment?
2
It comes down to the complexity of the procedure and your overall health. Extensive reconstruction, significant trauma, or a medical condition that needs a full anesthesia team and monitoring are the kinds of things that point toward a hospital setting. Dr. Wu will tell you plainly which one your case calls for.
Will I need someone to help me afterward, the way I would with in-office sedation?
3
Yes. General anesthesia means you'll need a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you, whether you go home the same day or after an overnight stay. Our team will go over exactly what to arrange before your surgery date.
Advanced Training in Dentistry and Medicine
Dr. Wu earned his dental degree from Harvard, his medical degree from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and a master's degree in immunology from Harvard Medical School. His extensive training in both dentistry and medicine provides a comprehensive foundation for implant surgery, bone grafting, anesthesia, and the management of complex surgical cases.