What is Dental Oral Surgery?
Any surgical procedure that is performed on the mouth and orofacial structures such as your teeth, jaws, gums, palate, and tongue, is referred to as dental oral surgery. In this treatment, some minor oral surgery procedures can be performed by your general dentist such as a simple tooth extraction. And there are also major oral surgery cases that need the expertise of a surgeon.
Determine If You Need Oral Surgery
Your dentist or surgeon may recommend dental oral surgery if you have:
- Extensive tooth decay
- Severely fractured teeth
- Severe gum disease
- Dental infection
- Trauma to the mouth, jaws, or face
- Impacted teeth – teeth embedded within the jaw
- Missing teeth
- Oral cancer
- Oral lumps or bumps
Dental Oral Surgery Treatments
Oral surgery is a very broad term that implies several dental procedures. In summary, here are 5 of the most common oral surgery treatments:
1. Tooth extraction
While some tooth removals can be done simply by loosening the tooth from its socket, then pulling it out. Others would need extensive planning for a safe and efficient tooth removal. These are especially for impacted teeth and commonly, these are for your wisdom teeth.
2. Gum augmentation
If you have receding gums due to periodontal disease or gingivitis, then gum augmentation may be a treatment for you. For this, a flap will be made from the tissue on the roof of your mouth and it will be placed on the gum area of the receded teeth. When healed, this can renew the appearance of the teeth and improve chewing and biting.
3. Bone grafting
This oral surgery treatment helps to restore the health of the jawbone before the placement of dental implants. With proper bone grafting, a stable foundation for the implant is created. A bone graft may be sourced from another bone in your body or through artificial bone substitutes.
4. Dental implants
This is an alternative for teeth replacement and the process involves surgically placing a titanium screw into the jawbone. With the implant in place, this becomes a permanent solution to missing teeth. Then, an artificial tooth or denture can be attached to the implants to complete your smile.
5. Sinus opening
An opening to the sinus or the nasal cavity may happen with the extraction of the upper tooth. This opening must be closed to prevent infection. And to do that, a flap can be placed over the hole. This is stitched in place and allowed to heal for proper and permanent closure.
There are many other dental surgery cases such as cleft lip and palate surgery, jaw joint disorder treatment, and even jaw surgery during dental trauma.
How long does it take to recover from an oral surgery?
This depends on the surgery that was performed. With simple tooth extractions, you only need at least a week to recover. While complex oral surgery cases such as treatment for dental or facial trauma can take up to several months.
Do they put you to sleep for oral surgery?
Local or general anesthetics or even sedative techniques can be administered depending on what procedure you need. This is to keep you comfortable during the entire process. And to provide you with a safe environment as we work on your treatment.
Discover Comprehensive Dental Services with Orange Park
At Orange Park Smiles, we put you and your oral health as our priority. To do that, we have made available a wide range of treatments. And we take the time to explain the procedures and steps for our procedures such as oral surgery. So you can trust our reliable team to keep you comfortable and informed throughout.
To book your appointment, call us today at (904) 264-9911.
