An oral surgeon has the skills needed to perform surgical dental treatments like installing implants. These oral professionals have additional education after dental school learning about how to perform surgical treatments.
An oral surgeon can perform all the treatments done by a general dentist, and they can also perform treatments general dentists are not qualified to do. Here are some of the ways an oral surgeon might opt to replace a patient's lost teeth.
The placement of implants is one of the most common procedures an oral surgeon performs. Implants are artificial teeth roots, and they are surgically placed into the jaw. The dentist does this by making a small hole into the jawbone. The implant is pushed into this hole until it is held in place by the friction generated by the bone tissues around it. At times, the dentist might need to make an incision into the patient's gum to reach the patient's jawbone.
Implants can take up to six months to fuse with the bone tissues holding them in place via osseointegration. The implant can then be fitted with a restoration like a crown.
Oral surgeons also replace missing teeth with oral prosthetics that do not typically require surgery. Dentures are often the most cost-effective way to replace missing teeth when a person has lost most of their natural teeth. The cost of a full set of dentures can be lower than the cost of a single implant.
Dentures are often customized for each patient. The dentist takes an impression of the patient's mouth and sends it to a lab that makes dentures. It can take as little as two weeks for the patient to get their restoration back.
One of the most obvious drawbacks associated with dentures is the constant shifting that occurs when worn. Dentures are held in place via suction generated by the framework, and that is often not enough to prevent the restoration from moving in the mouth. The poor stability of dentures can lead to embarrassing moments like the restoration falling out of the mouth while speaking.
Oral surgeons can improve the stability of dentures by combining them with implants. The implant serves as a base that prevents the prosthetic from moving, leading to a better experience for the wearer.
Bridges are another popular way to replace missing teeth. These oral prosthetics do exactly what their name implies; they bridge spaces created by missing teeth. Bridges are typically anchored to the teeth nearest to the space, and they can be anchored to implants if the patient has already lost those teeth. The abutments are then used to secure the artificial teeth that bridge the gap. The prosthetic is fixed in place once installed.
Ready to close up the space in your smile? Call or visit our Lee's Summit clinic to learn more about how our oral surgeon can replace your missing teeth.
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.
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