What do you think of when you think of the word “surgery?” Perhaps, going under anesthesia, staying overnight in the hospital, and being cut open – plus of course, recovering afterward. If this ordeal is your usual understand of surgery, you will be glad to know that oral surgery is 100% different. Often, oral surgery is performed right here in our cozy office instead of a large and uncomfortable hospital environment. We use local anesthesia which has you recovering more quickly than unconscious sedation. Oral surgery can include a variety of procedures from a mere tooth extraction or placement of implant to much more complicated maxillofacial reconstructions or emergency care after trauma to the face or jaw. Learn more about the procedures your oral surgeon would offer:
Oral Surgeon Procedures
Oral surgery is often the prognosis after a patient presents with oral pain, infections, trauma, malfunctions, or even a distaste for his or her facial/oral appearance.
- Tooth Extraction: There can be a lot of reasons why a person may need to have one ore more of your teeth removed, and it’s okay! Whether you have wisdom teeth impacting your mouth or a disease-infected tooth which needs removed , these things can be done with ease. Sometimes a patient would need a tooth removed to allow for orthodontic procedures to be completed successfully.
- Dental Implantation: To replace missing teeth, the best possible and most recommended procedure would be dental implants. These are placed beneath the gum line and into the bone. It is really a much more minor procedure than it might seem. We create a crown which is completely realistic looking and which is attached to the implant.
- Oral Biopsy: Sometimes during a routine cleaning or procedure, we find a lesion or spot in the mouth which causes concern. It is important to rule out oral cancers by performing a biopsy. This is basically just the draw of a sample from your tissue which can be sent to the lab to be looked at.
- Jaw Reconstruction: In the event that a person’s jaw doesn’t fit together properly or is knocked out of position, it can affect his or her ability to speak, chew, and smile as he or she once would. We can correct this.
- Facial Trauma Rehab: A facial injury or trauma to the face affects the patient’s ability to go on with his or her normal life behaviors of eating, speaking, and so forth. This problem can also affect a person’s appearance and confidence.
- Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate: These birth defects are among the most common. 700 – 800 American babies are born yearly with this trouble. We can perform a surgery which allows most children in this case to allow the children to lead a better life.
What should you expect?
Usually, before a surgery has even begun, your dentist will take many xrays which will inform him or her in the processes of diagnosis and planning of your course of care. After this, he or she will discuss anesthesia options and the step-by-step process of your procedure so that you know what will happen. At this time – or any time – you should feel encouraged to ask questions. The experience of recovery following the surgery will depend greatly upon your general health and the procedure(s) you have done.
