What Types of Procedures Does an Oral Surgeon Perform?
In some cases, dental issues need to be handled by an oral surgeon. Before proceeding with oral surgery, the dental professional will examine your condition and decide the best approach to the problem. In most cases, the procedures are handled on an outpatient basis, and patients can get back to their routine within a few days.
Common oral surgery procedures
The following are common procedures performed by an oral surgeon.
Dental implant placement
Implants are a popular option to replace lost teeth, and their placement requires a surgical procedure. The implant is a titanium rod or screw that is inserted surgically into the patient’s jawbone. A form of tooth restoration, such as crown or denture, will be attached to the head of the implant via an abutment. This process occurs months after the implant placement, when the implant has fused with bone tissues.
Tooth extractions
Sometimes, a patient might need to have a tooth removed, and a simple extraction might not be effective. If this is the case, the oral surgeon will perform a surgical extraction. This entails making an incision into the gums to access the tooth and extract it. The procedure may be performed under local or general anesthesia. Common reasons for surgical tooth extraction include impacted wisdom teeth, severely broken teeth or extensive decay and infection.
Bone grafting
This surgical procedure is needed when a patient does not have adequate jawbone tissue. This could be due to a delay in replacing a missing tooth or an oral condition that causes the deterioration of the bone tissue. The dental professional may also perform bone grafting when a patient desires implants but does not have adequate bone tissue to hold the tooth prosthesis in place.
Corrective jaw surgery
Also known as orthognathic surgery, this procedure is done to correct a number of minor or major dental and skeletal anomalies, such as misaligned jaw. The treatment can improve the person’s ability to perform functions such as speaking, eating and breathing.
Facial reconstruction
Accidents are sometimes inevitable, and when damages occur to the face due to falls, sports injuries or work accidents, seeing an oral surgeon is usually the best option. They can perform surgery for facial reconstruction to correct the damages and improve appearance and function. Facial reconstruction from the dentist can be for soft tissue injuries and fractures.
Sleep apnea treatment
Surgery is sometimes a necessary intervention for sleep apnea. The condition can cause blockage in a person’s air passages while sleeping. This may cause disruptions to one’s sleep cycle because the body will stir recurrently out of sleep to restore breathing. Surgery can be done to remove excess soft tissues that are blocking the airways and may serve as a permanent treatment for some cases of sleep apnea.
In conclusion
The oral surgeon will provide instructions regarding the surgical procedure, including what to do before the procedure and what to expect. Book an appointment with the dental office to know if surgery is the right solution to your dental issue.
Request an appointment here: https://spectrumsurgical.net or call Facial Spectrum at (816) 524-4334 for an appointment in our Lee's Summit office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Oral Surgery in Lee's Summit, MO.
Recent Posts
The jawbone is the part of the face that holds many essential elements together, such as the teeth, ligaments, and muscles; however, bone grafting may sometimes be necessary if the jawbone is too weak to perform these tasks. A person’s jawbone can deteriorate over time, whether due to age, genetics, poor oral health, cancer, or…
Finding lasting relief from issues such as misalignment and facial asymmetry can involve specialized procedures. Fortunately, corrective jaw surgery is a reliable option for addressing these concerns. A dental specialist realigns the upper or lower jaw during this process to promote better function and comfort. Although the procedure can benefit health and appearance significantly, a…
Many individuals seek rhinoplasty to enhance facial harmony, improve nasal function, or correct structural abnormalities. As a surgical procedure that reshapes the nose, rhinoplasty can address aesthetic concerns as well as breathing difficulties caused by structural defects such as a deviated septum. Understanding the consultation process, surgical techniques, and what to expect from the recovery…
The facelift is one of the oldest and most well-known cosmetic surgeries for restoring a youthful appearance to the face. If you are considering this procedure, it is important to understand the steps of the process and the time commitment involved. The specifics of the process can vary depending on the patient; however, here is…