Oral surgery is a surgical procedure performed in or around your mouth and jaw, head, or face.
Most patients immediately assume the worst when a dentist mentions oral surgery. After all, they’re talking about cutting into your mouth! But in reality, it’s not as bad or scary as that sounds and sometimes even saves you money by preventing future problems and expensive treatments down the line.
Dental surgery is an integral part of dental health and should be performed by qualified professionals. Dental conditions like extraction of teeth, sleep apnea, and tooth loss requires some level of surgical procedure. Most of these procedures are done on an outpatient basis, so you can resume your normal activities after a few days.
Today’s article discusses the procedure types and what you can expect from the surgery.
The Most Common Types of Oral Surgery
General dentists need the help more tips here of oral surgeons to perform complex surgery in the oral and maxillofacial areas or provide consultations based on the situation.
Here are some types of oral surgery that surgeons perform:
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Problems in wisdom teeth are rare, but they do exist. They can become impacted or trapped due to misaligned or underdeveloped teeth. With time, an impacted wisdom tooth can start to hurt and eventually lead to further misalignment of the teeth. In addition, food can easily get trapped in these defective teeth, contributing to gum diseases or tooth decay.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea can be a severe condition. It is often misunderstood, and people are unaware that sleep apnea exists until they suffer from it firsthand. Several treatment options are available, including using mouthguards or special machines that help keep your airways open at night. Still, surgical intervention with an oral surgery dentist might be necessary for some individuals if other methods do not work as expected after time passes because symptoms diminished significantly through natural healing.
Maxillofacial surgery
Maxillofacial surgeons can detect and diagnose jaw alignment problems and surgical operations to improve the jaw and teeth. The maxillo-facial surgery field covers both reconstructive and jaw surgery which not only improves a patient’s appearance but relieves pain and restores the ability to chew normally.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a stellar option for replacing your missing tooth. It is capable of replacing one or more missing teeth. During the process, small metal screw-like posts are inserted inside the mouth and on the gums.
Next, artificial teeth, known as crowns or caps, are placed onto the screws. The overall procedure gives the gums stability as it restores chewing ability while helping patients maintain the aesthetics of natural teeth. However, putting the posts will require stitching, especially if a tooth needs to be extracted first.
What To Expect From A Surgery
Your dentist will provide the information you need before the surgery, including arrangements before and after surgery. In most cases, the dentist may use general anesthesia before operating and instruct you to avoid food and beverages before or after surgery. You may be advised to bring along someone to drive you home from the office for safety purposes.
After the surgery, your dentist may prescribe medications/painkillers to soothe any recurring pain from the inclusion site. The dentist will also caution you against chewing hard solid food and suggest following a soft food diet.
Final Word
That’s everything about oral surgery and the outcomes you can expect. Hope this post has helped you understand when you may require oral surgery. Speaking of surgery, if you need a dental implants dentist in Charlotte, NC, call us on 704-776-4278 or visit our website to book an appointment.
Our Dental Practice in Monroe, NC
Monroe Family Dentistry is there for you and your children from day one and we are happy to work with you and your child to start habits from birth. If you live near Monroe, NC call us to schedule an appointment today at 704.776.4278.
These are just some of the services we provide. To learn more about our dental practice in Monroe NC and the services we provide, call us or submit an appointment request.
