What is Oral Surgery?
If you hear someone say “oral surgery”, you may immediately think of a hospital, of surgeons, and of anesthesia, and recovery. But what actually constitutes cary oral surgery? You may be surprised what dental procedures are actually considered an oral surgery. Today, thanks to technology and medical advancements, most oral surgeries are procedures that are performed in a general dental office.
Oral Surgery Procedures
Not all dental procedures are considered oral surgeries, here are a few that are:
- Tooth Extraction: There are many reasons why a person may need to have a tooth extracted. Having a tooth pulled is one of the most common oral surgeries performed by dentists. Having a tooth that is impacted, a fractured tooth due to trauma, or having a tooth that has decayed and is beyond repair are all reasons why someone may need to have a tooth extracted.
- Corrective Jaw Surgery: A less common oral surgery is a corrective jaw surgery, also called orthognathic surgery. Corrective jaw surgery must be performed by an oral surgeon with training and experience. Reasons why jaw surgery may become necessary include: severe jaw pain or jaw joint pain (TMJ), trauma to the jaw, incorrect jaw positioning or incorrect bite. Any of these issues if left uncorrected can lead to more pain or damage to the teeth overtime. If your dentist determines that corrective jaw surgical procedure may be necessary, they will refer you to an oral surgeon for a consultation.
- Dental Implants: Just as popular as extraction, implant surgery used to replace missing teeth is becoming a common dental procedure. The implant procedure allows for a stable and durable replacement tooth to be permanently secured in the mouth. The dental implant procedure can be completed by either a dentist or an oral surgeon. What type of implant is used, the technique, and the amount of recovery and healing time necessary is all dependent on the dentist or surgeon performing the procedure.
Finding an Oral Surgeon
Before you worry about finding an oral surgeon that is a good fit for you, you should have an in-depth discussion with your dentist. The surgery they may have suggested you need may be one that they have the training and experience to perform. Today, many of the more common oral surgeries are performed in the regular dental office.
Pre and Post-Surgery Instructions
If oral surgery is definitively in your future the best thing you can do is plan ahead for the surgery and for the recovery period. Individuals who are well prepared end up having the smoothest recoveries. Most dentists will recommend soft food after oral surgery. One way to be prepared is to stock up your refrigerator with items from the recommended list of foods that includes soups, juices, yogurt, ice cream, mashed potatoes, and similar soft foods that require minimal chewing prior to swallowing. If you are scheduled for oral surgery, your dentist will give you important instructions to be followed for pre-surgery preparation as well as post-surgery recovery.
Learn More About Oral Surgery : Oral Surgery vs Dentistry