4 Types of Dental Surgery Procedures

April 13, 2022 by christopher pupillo
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Dental surgery is any operation done on the gums, teeth, jaw, or other oral structures. A patient will normally undergo oral surgery if other dentistry procedures can’t resolve the patient’s dental issue. A specialized dentist called an oral surgeon performs oral surgery procedures.

Your dentist may recommend you undergo oral surgery due to several issues. Some cases that warrant dental surgery include a severely broken tooth, sleep apnea, jaw bone loss, severe tooth decay, sinus augmentation, oral cancer, or bone and gum grafting. A dental surgery procedure will help address the aesthetic and functional aspects of oral structures to deliver life-changing results.

If you qualify for oral surgery, you can have various procedures depending on your condition. Here are four types of oral surgery procedures you can undergo.

1. Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom tooth extraction is the most common type of dental surgery. This procedure involves the removal of the third molars — or wisdom teeth — located in the extreme corners of your mouth. Third molars are the last teeth to grow, but these teeth aren’t always removed.

In most cases, third molars don’t have adequate space to grow properly. Improper growth of wisdom teeth results in these teeth emerging partially, remaining hidden in the gums, or crowding surrounding teeth.

Wisdom teeth removal will happen if you experience pain, severe tooth decay, tumors, cysts, oral infections, or gum disease. The extraction is an outpatient procedure, and you’ll only take a few days to recover fully.

2. Reconstructive Surgery

If you’ve suffered a facial injury, reconstructive surgery can help to correct the damage. Facial trauma can result from auto accidents, sports accidents, or falls.

In facial trauma, the resulting injuries can be soft tissue injuries or fractures. Soft tissue injuries include cuts or lacerations to lips, cheeks, tongue, or gums. Soft tissue fractures involve trauma to bone tissue in your oral cavity and require forehead or nasal cavity surgery for restoration.

If you’ve suffered these injuries, you may need reconstructive surgery to restore the look and function of the jaw, face, and oral cavity. Also, the procedure can help reduce pain, restore lost tissues and improve speech and chewing. Depending on the severity of injuries, one may need to undergo multiple surgeries for months or even years.

3. Dental Implant

Dental implants are reliable and durable, hence the most popular option in missing teeth replacements. If you have a missing tooth and you’ve opted for the dental implant as a replacement, you’ll need to undergo oral surgery for installation.

The oral surgeon will insert metal posts that are similar to screws into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth roots during dental implantation. After the dental implant heals completely, the surgeon will attach a crown at the top.

The dental implant procedure will occur in stages, and you’ll need to undergo several surgeries for the procedure to complete. However, a successful dental implant will help restore the look and function of your natural teeth.

4. Bone Grafting

If you have inadequate jaw bone tissue, you will need to undergo dental bone grafting. A bone graft involves rebuilding or repairing bones through the transplantation of healthy bone tissue. An inadequate jaw bone can result from gum disease, missing teeth, facial trauma, or other jawbone tissue deteriorating conditions.

Bone grafting may also be necessary if your jaw bone is very thin or soft and you need a dental implant, in which case the bone graft must be complete before work can begin on your implants. A successful dental implant procedure needs healthy gums and sufficient jaw bone to support the implant.

If you have a severe dental issue unresolved by other procedures, oral surgery could be the solution. Consult us at Accent Dental to find the right dental surgery procedure for your dental problem. We offer comprehensive dental services to help you achieve the desired outcome.