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://corderoperiodontics.com or call Rafael E. Cordero, DDS PA at (561) 763-9221 for an appointment in our Palm Beach Gardens office.

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