An oral surgeon has four years of additional training that focuses on performing surgical dental procedures. Oral surgery refers to any operation performed in the areas inside and around the oral cavity and facial structures. It covers a wide range of dental procedures, from corrective jaw surgery to tooth extractions.
Dental surgeons perform all sorts of procedures regularly, and the goal of these treatments is always to improve the patient’s dental and overall health. Surgical dental treatments are typically performed as a last resort when less-invasive options have been exhausted. Some of the surgical procedures an oral surgeon performs often include:
Tooth extractions are the most common type of surgical treatment performed by oral surgeons. The procedure can be used to remove teeth that have been loosened by gum disease or teeth that have been severely damaged from tooth decay or trauma. Extractions are also performed to stop teeth infections from spreading to other parts of the body where their effects can be life-threatening.
Simple and complex extractions are the two main techniques used by dentists. Simple extractions are performed when the visible part of the tooth can be grabbed with forceps and pulled out, while complex extractions are required for teeth that are stuck inside gum or bone tissues. It can take up to two weeks to recover from extractions, and painkillers are often prescribed to help with recovery.
Bone grafts are performed to address bone loss in a person's jaw. Dental issues like periodontal disease destroy bone structures in the mouth, and grafts might be needed to rebuild these structures. Bone tissues in the jaw can also deteriorate due to not getting enough stimulation due to missing teeth. Bone grafts involve suturing donor material to the area being treated to promote the growth of new bone tissues.
Oral surgeons also spend a fair amount of time placing implants in their patient’s jaws. Implants are one of the most popular ways to replace missing teeth, and they prevent the jawbone breakdown associated with missing teeth.
Implants are inserted into the jawbone and left there to fuse with surrounding bone tissues. Once successfully placed, these restorations typically last the rest of the patient's life.
Also known as orthognathic surgery, this procedure is performed to treat skeletal abnormalities in a patient's jaw. The procedure can help to restore the proper function of misaligned teeth, to ease the discomfort caused by temporomandibular joint disorders, and to address facial imbalances.
Some cases of obstructive sleep apnea are caused by tissues in the back of the throat blocking a person’s airway while they sleep, stopping their breathing and forcing them to wake up momentarily to restore it. An oral surgeon can surgically remove any tissues obstructing a patient's airway during sleep, providing a permanent solution for some types of sleep apnea.
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