What is Oral Surgery?
Oral surgery refers to a broad range of surgical procedures performed in the mouth and jaw area. These procedures are often used to treat conditions that cannot be addressed with non-surgical treatments, such as fillings or root canals.
In this blog post we'll take a closer look at what oral surgery is, what it's used for and what you can expect if you need to undergo this type of procedure.
What is Oral Surgery?
Oral surgery is a type of surgery that is performed in the mouth and jaw area. It can include a wide range of procedures from simple tooth extractions to complex surgeries to repair or reconstruct the jawbone. Some of the most common types of oral surgery include:
Tooth extractions: This involves removing one or more teeth, often due to severe decay, injury or overcrowding.
Wisdom teeth removal: This is a common type of tooth extraction that is done to remove the third molars at the back of the mouth.
Dental implant placement: This involves surgically placing a small post or screw into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth or bridge.
Jaw surgery: This can involve repositioning the jawbone to correct a bite problem, or reconstructing the jaw after an injury or disease.
Biopsies: This involves removing a small piece of tissue from the mouth or jaw area for examination and diagnosis.
What is Oral Surgery Used For?
Oral surgery can be used to treat a wide range of conditions that affect the mouth and jaw area. Some of the most common reasons for oral surgery include:
Severe tooth decay or injury: When a tooth is severely damaged or decayed it may need to be extracted to prevent further damage or infection.
Wisdom teeth: Wisdom teeth often need to be removed because they can cause pain, infection or damage to neighboring teeth.
Jaw problems: If a person's bite is misaligned or if there is a problem with the jawbone, oral surgery may be needed to correct the issue.
Oral cancer: If a person has a suspicious lump or lesion in the mouth, a biopsy may be needed to determine if it is cancerous.
Dental implants: Oral surgery may be needed to place dental implants in the jawbone to replace missing teeth.
What to Expect During Oral Surgery
The specific details of an oral surgery procedure will depend on the type of surgery being performed. In general oral surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia, which means that the patient will be awake but will not feel any pain in the affected area. For more complex procedures, general anesthesia may be used, which will put the patient to sleep for the duration of the procedure.
After the surgery patients may experience some pain, swelling and bleeding in the affected area. Pain medications and ice packs can be used to manage these symptoms and patients will be given specific instructions on how to care for their mouth and teeth in the days and weeks following the surgery.
If you're experiencing oral health issues it's important to speak with your dentist about whether oral surgery is a viable option for your situation. With proper care and follow-up, oral surgery can help improve your oral health and overall quality of life.
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-Your Distinctive Dental Implant Team