Oral Surgery
Oral surgery is a subspecialty within dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of a wide range of diseases, injuries, and defects related to the mouth, jaws, and face. Oral surgeons perform complex procedures to improve the function and appearance of the mouth and face, and to address problems that cannot be resolved with non-surgical treatments.
What does oral surgery involve?
Oral surgery covers a wide range of procedures, including:
Complex Surgical Tooth Extractions:
Including impacted or crooked wisdom teeth that cannot be removed with conventional methods.
Extraction of severely damaged or broken teeth.
Dental Implants:
Replacing missing tooth roots with small metal implants (often titanium) that are implanted in the jawbone to serve as the basis for crowns, bridges, or dentures.
Adjunctive procedures such as bone grafting may be used to increase bone density to support implants.
Orthognathic Surgery:
Correcting major jaw deformities that affect biting, speech, or facial appearance.
This includes adjusting the position of the upper or lower jaw, or both.
Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders:
Diagnosing and treating problems with the joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull, which can cause pain and difficulty chewing or opening the mouth.
Surgical treatments may be required in advanced cases.
Cyst and Tumor Removal:
Removing benign or malignant cysts and masses that may form in the jaws or soft tissues of the mouth and face.
Facial Trauma Treatment:
Repairing fractures of the facial bones and jaws, and reconstructing damaged soft tissues resulting from accidents.
Pre-Prosthetic Surgery:
Modifying the shape of the bone and gums to provide a suitable and stable base for full or partial dentures.
This includes removing bone spurs or smoothing the edges of the bone.
Oral Biopsies:
Taking a sample of suspicious tissue from the mouth for examination under a microscope to diagnose conditions such as oral cancer.
When do you need an oral surgeon?
An oral surgeon is consulted when a condition of the teeth, jaws, or face requires surgical intervention beyond the scope of general dentistry, or when specialized expertise is needed for complex surgical procedures.
The Importance of Oral Surgery:
Oral surgery is vital to maintaining the health and function of the mouth and face, and plays a significant role in:
Restoring the ability to chew and speak effectively.
Improving the aesthetic appearance of the face and smile.
Treating chronic pain or health-threatening conditions.
Preventing the progression of oral and facial diseases.
