Oral surgery denotes any surgical procedure performed in or around your mouth and jaw, usually by a dental specialist who is trained to perform them.

One might need oral surgery for tooth and jaw procedures that go beyond the expertise of a general dentist. For instance, if your wisdom teeth are impacted, removing them may require an oral surgeon. If you suffer from gum disease and need to have a gum graft, you would be referred to a periodontist who carries out those types of oral surgeries. In case you require oral surgery, your general dentist will talk to you about it and refer you to a specific professional.

What are the various types of Oral Surgeries?

  • Root Canal:They are widely considered the most common type of dental surgery. Root canals help save millions of teeth from extractions and give relief from pain and sensitivity. Below a tooth’s enamel is a soft-core called dental pulp, which contains blood vessels, nerve endings, and tissue. When a tooth is decayed, bacteria enter the tooth and damage the pulp. The infected pulp causes pain and swelling in the gums. A surgeon treats this by removing the decayed portion of the tooth and extracting the infected pulp.
  • Wisdom Tooth Extraction: It includes removing four adult teeth located in the inside corners of your mouth. When wisdom teeth don’t have enough space to grow, they can become impacted and cause pain and oral infections. The procedure is performed by removing the wisdom teeth through surgical incisions and suturing them up to help in the healing. It is imperative to follow your doctor’s instructions regarding the healing process to avoid excessive bleeding or blood clots.
  • Reconstructive Surgery: When accidents happen, and there is damage to the face, it can be pretty frightening and stressful. In such situations, seeing an oral surgeon is the best course of action. The dental surgery for facial reconstruction breaks down into two categories: soft tissue injuries and fractures. Soft tissue injuries consist of trauma to the skin or gums, such as cuts on the inside of the cheek, lips, or tongue. Fractures relate to the tiny bone tissue in your mouth and include reconstruction of the jawbone and teeth.
  • Dental Implants: They have changed the way dentistry has advanced over the last 25 years. An implant is a replacement for the root or roots of a tooth. They are surgically inserted into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone. After a few months of the healing period, they are secured with a dental restoration such as a crown. Dental implants replace teeth lost due to decay, disease, oral cancer, or any other causes.

Oral surgery is quite common in dental treatments and requires only a local anesthetic. Many people don’t realize that simply having a tooth extracted is a form of oral surgery. However, there is no need to get scared or feel apprehensive about them.

Call us at Myers or schedule an online appointment to know more about Oral Surgery