Oral surgery is a specialized branch of dentistry focused on surgical procedures involving the mouth, jaws, and facial structures. It encompasses many procedures, including tooth extractions, dental implant placement, corrective jaw surgery, removal of impacted wisdom teeth, treatment of oral pathologies such as cysts or tumors, and management of facial trauma.
Oral surgeons, also known as oral and maxillofacial surgeons, are highly trained professionals who perform these procedures with expertise and precision, often in collaboration with other dental and medical specialists. Through oral surgery, patients can achieve improved oral health, function, and aesthetics, restoring their ability to eat, speak, and smile confidently.
Common Oral Surgery Procedures
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extraction is one of the most common oral surgery procedures and it involves the removal of one or more teeth. This procedure may be necessary in cases of severe decay, advanced periodontal disease, impacted wisdom teeth, or for orthodontic treatment.
Benefits:
- Alleviation of Pain and Discomfort: Extracting severely damaged teeth can provide immediate relief from pain and discomfort.
- Prevention of Infection: Removing infected teeth helps prevent the spread of infection to surrounding teeth and tissues.
- Preparation for Orthodontic Treatment:Tooth extractions may be necessary to create space for orthodontic treatment, such as braces or Invisalign.
Dental Implant Placement
Dental implants are titanium posts surgically implanted into the jawbone to replace missing teeth. Oral surgery, including bone grafting and sinus lifts, is often required for implant placement to ensure adequate bone support.
Benefits:
- Restoration of Function: Dental implants restore the ability to chew, speak, and smile with confidence, mimicking the function of natural teeth.
- Preservation of Bone Health: Implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing bone loss and preserving facial structure and aesthetics.
- Longevity: With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime, offering a permanent tooth replacement option.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, often become impacted or cause oral health issues due to lack of space in the jaw. Oral surgery removes impacted wisdom teeth and prevents complications such as infection, crowding, and damage to adjacent teeth.
Benefits:
- Prevention of Complications: Removing impacted wisdom teeth helps prevent complications such as infection, crowding, and damage to adjacent teeth.
- Relief from Pain and Discomfort:Wisdom teeth removal can relieve pain, swelling, and discomfort associated with impacted teeth.
- Protection of Oral Health: Extracting problematic wisdom teeth promotes oral health and reduces the risk of future dental problems.
Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery)
Corrective jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, is performed to correct irregularities of the jawbone and improve bite alignment. This procedure can address underbite, overbite, open bite, and facial asymmetry, enhancing function and aesthetics.
Benefits:
- Correction of Bite Irregularities: Jaw surgery can correct underbites, overbites, open bites, and other bite alignment issues, improving chewing function and facial aesthetics.
- Resolution of Breathing Problems: In some cases, jaw surgery can alleviate breathing difficulties caused by obstructive sleep apnea or other airway obstructions.
- Enhancement of Facial Harmony: Correcting jaw discrepancies can enhance facial symmetry and harmony, improving overall facial aesthetics.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting procedures involve adding bone tissue to jawbone areas with insufficient bone volume. This is often necessary to support dental implants or restore bone loss caused by trauma, infection, or resorption.
Benefits:
- Bone grafting restores bone volume and density in areas of bone deficiency, providing a stable foundation for dental implants and preserving facial aesthetics.
- Bone grafting enhances the success and longevity of dental implants by providing adequate bone support for implant placement and osseointegration.
- Bone grafting helps preserve the jawbone's natural contours and structure, preventing bone loss and maintaining facial aesthetics. Call us to learn more.
The Benefits of Oral Surgery
Improved Oral Health
Oral surgery procedures such as tooth extractions, dental implant placement, and gum disease treatment can help restore and maintain optimal oral health, reducing the risk of dental infections, decay, and other oral health problems.
Enhanced Facial Aesthetics
Corrective jaw surgery, bone grafting, and other facial procedures performed by oral surgeons can improve facial symmetry, balance, and aesthetics, enhancing the face's overall appearance.
Restored Functionality
Oral surgery can improve bite alignment, chewing function, and speech clarity, allowing patients to eat, speak, and smile confidently and comfortably.
Permanent Solutions
Dental implant placement, orthognathic surgery, and other oral surgery procedures provide permanent solutions for tooth loss, jaw misalignment, and other dental and facial issues, offering long-term benefits and stability.
Prevention of Complications
Oral surgery can prevent or minimize the risk of complications associated with dental problems, such as impacted wisdom teeth, oral infections, and jaw misalignment, reducing the need for future interventions and treatments.
Pain Relief
Oral surgery procedures such as tooth extractions and wisdom teeth removal can alleviate pain, discomfort, and swelling associated with dental problems, improving the patient's quality of life.
Improved Self-Esteem
Addressing dental and facial issues through oral surgery can boost self-confidence and self-esteem, making patients feel more comfortable and confident in their appearance and improving their oral function.
Recovery From Oral Surgery
- It's essential to follow our surgeon's post-operative instructions carefully, including recommendations for pain management, oral hygiene, diet, and activity restrictions.
- Pain, swelling, and discomfort are common after oral surgery. Over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications can help alleviate discomfort as our surgeon directs.
- Keeping the surgical site clean is crucial for preventing infection and promoting healing. Our surgeon may provide specific instructions for oral hygiene practices during recovery.
- Initially, stick to a soft diet consisting of easy-to-chew and swallow foods. Avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that could irritate the surgical site.
- Follow-up appointments with our oral surgeon are essential for monitoring the healing process and addressing any concerns or complications that may arise.
Oral surgery is critical in improving oral health, function, aesthetics, and overall well-being for patients of all ages. Visit Ali Haeri D.M.D., M.H.S. at 1297 W Main St., Suite A, El Cajon, CA 92020-4135, or call (619) 579-0505 to learn more.