Oral Surgery

What is oral surgery?

Oral surgery is a broad term for any operation performed on your teeth, gums, jaw or surrounding oral and facial structures. It includes a wide range of procedures, including teeth extractions, dental bone grafts, periodontal (gum) grafts and corrective jaw surgery.

Why is oral surgery performed?

You could need oral surgery for a number of reasons. Your dentist might recommend it if you have:

• Extensive tooth decay.
• Badly broken teeth.
• Gum disease.
• Impacted teeth.
• Missing teeth.
• Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD).
• Bone loss in your jaw.
• Sleep apnea.
• Oral cancer.
• Benign oral pathology (noncancerous lumps or bumps).

What are the different types of oral surgery?

There are several types of oral surgery procedures performed. Some of the most common include tooth extraction, dental bone grafts, dental implants, corrective jaw surgery, sleep apnea surgery and cleft lip and palate repair.

• Tooth extraction

  The most common type of oral surgery is tooth extraction (tooth removal). An extraction might be recommended if you have severe tooth decay, dental trauma or wisdom teeth complications. Sometimes tooth extractions are performed to prepare you for dentures or other prosthetic devices.

  Most dentists prefer to save natural teeth when possible, but sometimes extractions are necessary to preserve your overall oral health. Additionally, many dentists recommend wisdom tooth extraction as a preventative measure to reduce your risk for cavities, bone loss and other problems.

• bone graft

  A dental bone graft is necessary when bone loss has occurred in your jaw. There are a couple of reasons why this may occur. When your natural teeth are present, the roots stimulate the nerves in your jaw. This signals your brain to send nutrients to your jaw, keeping it strong and healthy. If a tooth has been missing for some time, bone deterioration can occur in that area because there are no roots to stimulate the nerves. A dental bone graft restores volume and density in your jawbone so that dental implants can be placed later on.

• Dental implants

  Dental implants are widely considered the most reliable and longest-lasting teeth replacement option available. These small threaded posts — made of medical-grade titanium or zirconia — are embedded into your jaw to replace missing teeth roots. Once the implants are healed, they can be restored with dental crowns, dental bridges or dentures.

• Corrective jaw surgery

  Also called orthognathic surgery — addresses skeletal abnormalities of your jaw bones. This procedure may be recommended to improve chewing function, correct misalignment or address facial imbalances. Corrective jaw surgery is also used to ease pain caused by TMJ dysfunction (TMD).

• apnea surgery

  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the tissues in the back of your throat fall back and block your airway during sleep. Sometimes OSA is successfully treated with conservative methods, such as oral appliance therapy or using a CPAP machine. However, severe cases may require surgical intervention.

• Cleft lip and palate repair

  A baby born with cleft lip has an opening in their upper lip, while a baby born with cleft palate has an opening in the roof of their mouth. Some babies are born with both conditions. Cleft lip and palate occur when the facial structures don’t fully develop in the uterus (womb). Oral and maxillofacial surgeons commonly perform cleft lip and palate repair to restore normal eating function and help a child develop proper speech patterns later on in life.

Who performs oral surgery?

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs surgery on the mouth, jaw and face. oral surgeons must undergo three to four years of additional training after they graduate from dental school.

What happens before oral surgery?

Your surgeon will perform a comprehensive evaluation to check your teeth, gums, jaw joints and surrounding structures. They will also take dental X-rays and scans to get a clear view of your teeth roots, jawbone, nerves and other important oral landmarks. Using this information, they’ll tailor a personalized treatment plan. He/She might ask for additional medical reports which are relevant for the procedure.

What happens during oral surgery?

Sometimes, oral surgery is performed in a dental office as an outpatient procedure under sedation (LA). In other cases, oral surgery may be completed in a hospital under general anesthesia.

How long does oral surgery take?style="color:#f7bb10">

The length of your procedure will depend on several factors, including what type of oral surgery you’re having, how many teeth are being treated and whether or not you choose sedation. A one-tooth extraction usually takes about 30 minutes, while a more involved procedure — such as corrective jaw surgery — typically takes at least two to three hours.

What happens after oral surgery?

Following your oral surgery procedure, you’ll be given detailed post-operative instructions. It’s important that you follow these guidelines closely to reduce your risk of bleeding, infection and other complications.

What are the advantages of oral surgery?

Your teeth, gums and jaw joints all work together harmoniously for optimal oral health and function. The overarching goal of oral surgery is to address any issue that interferes with your health or quality of life.

What are the risks or complications of oral surgery?

As with any procedure, you should be aware of any risks or complications associated with oral surgery. These may include:

• Infection.
• Injury to adjacent teeth.
• Dry socket (a condition that can occur following extractions, when the blood clotting process is disturbed).
• Numbness.
• Tooth root fragments.
• Sinus problems.