Oral Surgery
Oral Surgery: Enhancing Oral Health and Function
Oral surgery includes a variety of procedures designed to treat different conditions affecting the mouth, jaw, and facial structures. These surgeries are essential for restoring oral health and improving overall well-being. Here’s an overview of some common oral surgery procedures:
- Tooth Extractions: When teeth are too damaged or decayed to save, or if they are impacted (not properly erupted through the gums), removing them may be necessary. This includes wisdom teeth, which are often extracted to prevent overcrowding and other complications.
- Dental Implants: These are titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone to act as replacements for natural tooth roots. They provide a stable base for attaching crowns, bridges, or dentures, helping to restore the look and function of missing teeth.
- Bone Grafting: If the jawbone has weakened or shrunk due to tooth loss, injury, or disease, bone grafting might be needed to rebuild it. This procedure helps ensure that dental implants have a solid foundation and increases the success of future implant surgeries.
- Orthognathic Surgery: Also known as corrective jaw surgery, this procedure corrects significant misalignments of the jaws and teeth. It can improve the ability to chew, speak, and breathe more comfortably and can also enhance facial appearance.
- TMJ Disorders Treatment: For those suffering from TMJ disorders, which affect the jaw joint and cause symptoms like pain, clicking sounds, or difficulty chewing, surgery may be necessary to relieve discomfort and restore normal function.
- Soft Tissue Procedures: Oral surgeons also handle soft tissue issues in the mouth. This includes gum grafting to treat gum recession, frenectomy to cut an unusually connected frenulum (the fold of skin under the tongue or lip), and biopsies to examine suspicious oral lesions.
Oral surgery plays a critical role in not only maintaining dental health but also in improving the quality of life for those with significant oral health issues. If you have concerns about your oral health, these surgical options might provide the solution you need.
