Oral and maxillofacial surgery may include operations on the teeth, jaws, and other facial tissues. While tooth extraction is the most frequent kind of oral surgery, certain maxillofacial surgeons may also treat disorders such as the cleft palate and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These professionals get years of specialized training that extends well beyond conventional dentistry. Learn more about the most frequent forms of oral surgery, such as wisdom tooth extraction.
1. Extraction of tooth
Every year, millions of individuals have a tooth extracted for various reasons. Wear and tear or decay may often cause a tooth to shatter or get infected, necessitating extraction by a trained oral surgeon. You will be given a numbing drug to make the treatment painless during oral surgery for tooth extraction. The oral surgeon will remove the tooth, clean up the socket (the space in the jaw that the tooth previously occupied), and maybe stitch the incision to help it recover.
2. Wisdom teeth extraction
Your “wisdom teeth” are merely extra molars that don’t appear until you’re approximately 17 or 20. Often, these teeth fit well and provide you with extra chewing strength. However, they may occasionally erupt incorrectly, pressing against neighboring teeth or failing to completely emerge. In such instances, you may need oral surgery to remove your wisdom teeth. Light sedation may be used during this outpatient surgery to alleviate discomfort and anxiety. Most individuals recover from wisdom teeth extraction in a few days, with minimal pain.
Three dental implants
When a person loses a single tooth or a group of teeth in a conspicuous area, they often opt to replace the natural tooth (or teeth) with a dental implant (s). Dental implant surgery may be time-consuming and need many visits. For each replacement tooth, your surgeon will often insert a post through the gum into the jawbone (or two posts for a full lower or upper plate). People with low bone structure may additionally need oral surgery for a bone transplant to provide appropriate support for the post. Following these treatments, the dental implant is attached to the post to enhance your smile and restore appropriate jaw alignment and chewing ability.
4. Treatments for obstructive sleep apnea
Some individuals have disturbed breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA), which causes dangerously low oxygen levels. People with OSA may benefit from surgery to change the architecture of their jaw, palate, or upper airway in certain situations. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (upp), which is the removal of tissue from the soft palate and throat, tongue advancement, and soft palate implants are a few forms of OSA surgery. These operations may be performed by a maxillofacial surgeon with specific expertise to assist persons with OSA to breathe better and maintain their oxygenation while sleeping.
If you’re considering oral surgery, be sure to visit Santa Monica Center for Oral Surgery & Dental Implants. Our team of experienced and qualified surgeons can help you get the dental work you need and make your life easier. We offer a variety of procedures, including:
• Tooth restoration
• Dental implants
• Crowns and caps
• Invisalign
• Bonding and more!
