When is Oral Surgery Necessary?

Your mouth has been killing you. When you brush your teeth, you spit blood in the sink. These are both signs that you’ve developed gum disease to some degree.

The good news is that your dentist can reverse the problem using oral surgery. In fact, your dentist can handle a lot of health issues using a minor procedure.

A simple tooth extraction can get you back on your feet. If you have wisdom teeth that are bothering you, your dentist can take care of them.

Want to learn more about the different types of dental oral surgery? Check out this guide to find out what your dentist can do to improve your smile and ease your aching gums.

Extraction

The most common type of oral and maxillofacial surgery is tooth extraction. Most of the time, your dentist will perform this procedure if you have a tooth that’s infected. They’ll extract it to prevent the disease from spreading to all of your other teeth.

If you have a tooth that’s too damaged for a dentist to salvage, they’ll remove it. Taking out a tooth can also provide space for other teeth to erupt.

Teeth that are visible can be taken out without surgery, but if it’s embedded deep within your gums, the dentist will have no choice but to cut it out.

Impacted Teeth

Another common reason why your dentist will perform surgery is if you have impacted teeth. You see, your molars often sprout up later than all your other teeth.

Since they come up so late, there’s often not enough room for them to squeeze into your mouth. They end up becoming impacted between your gum tissue and jawbone.

If left unchecked, this problem can lead to disease and infection. If you’re experiencing fever, pain where your molars are, swelling, or an annoying pressure in the back of your mouth, talk to your dentist right away. They may need to remove your wisdom teeth.

Implants

Missing teeth can cause your self-esteem to plummet. Your dentist can help you feel better about your smile using dentures and implants. Out of the two, only implants involve cosmetic oral surgery.

The surgeon will have to cut into the gums to fuse the implant to your jaw bone. After the area heals, the dentist will attach the crown to the top of the implant to finish out the job.

Going this route instead of getting traditional dentures will help stimulate jawbone growth. It also mimics the look and feel of your natural a lot better than dentures, and having them won’t force you to change up your diet.

Jaw Problems

Having dentures can cause your jaw bone to deteriorate. Certain conditions such as TMJ can also impact the formation of your jaw. In some cases, your orthodontist can correct your jaw alignment using braces.

That doesn’t always do the trick, however. Your dentist may have to go in and relocate the bone to balance things out.

Bone Grafting

Not everyone is a good candidate for implants. If you don’t have enough bone density to hold the metal rod in place, you’ll have to go with dentures instead.

Well, you’ll have to opt for dentures or go in for a bone graft. The surgeon will take some of the bone that you have in another part of your body to add some density to your jaw bone.

Facial Injury

You’re playing a sport when all of a sudden, someone slams into you. You fall to the ground and get right back up. You don’t realize that anything’s wrong until after the game is over.

Your teeth are a wreck. Your dentist can correct the problem with maxillofacial surgery. The surgeon will work tirelessly to get your appearance back to the way it was before your injury.

Horrible teeth-related accidents aren’t the only thing that maxillofacial surgery is good for. Your dentist will suggest it for a cleft lip, chronic oral pain, bite abnormalities, and complicated tooth extractions.

Infection and Gum Disease

There are times when the gum disease is too far along for a simple tooth extraction to stop the infection from spreading. It’s already made it into your soft jaw tissue, gums, face, neck, and throat.

It can be life-threatening unless you undergo treatment. Antibiotics can help, but your dentist will also probably operate. It’s not too involved.

Your surgeon will have to drain the area surgically. You’ll notice the difference as soon as you get out of the dental chair.

Sleep Apnea

Does your partner complain about your snoring? It’s a possibility that you’re suffering from sleep apnea. If your problem is minor, you might be able to manage it with a simple CPAP machine.

It’s a device that provides continuous air pressure to help you breathe easier at night and put a stop to the snoring. In more major cases of sleep apnea, your dentist may suggest oral surgery. They can use a laser to remove a little bit of the soft tissue from your lower jaw.

Do You Need Oral Surgery?

Are you tired of your chronic oral pain? Is it impossible for you to enjoy the foods that you love? Is your loud nightly snoring disrupting your partner?

Your dentist may be able to ease your tooth-related woes with oral surgery. It’s amazing how a simple procedure can improve the appearance of your smile and give you a boost of confidence. Schedule your appointment today!

Most oral health conditions can be controlled through the power of a regular care routine. For tips on keeping your pearly whites in tip-top shape, visit the Health section of our blog.