Question: What Is Oral Surgery?
Oral surgery is the area of medicine concerned with correcting problems or damage to the mouth, teeth and jaw. It is often referred to as "Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery" which combines oral surgery with surgery on the structures of the face, sinuses and neck. Oral surgery is commonly performed to remove wisdom teeth, prepare the mouth for dentures, repair jaw problems and perform root canals. Oral surgeons may also perform more advanced procedures as required after trauma or severe disease damages the structures of the mouth.
When you hear the words oral surgery, you may think of a hospital setting, general anaesthesia, and one or more days in recovery from this type of dental procedure; but you might be surprised to know what is actually considered oral surgery in dentistry. Many procedures done in a general dental office are considered oral surgery and patients that require such procedures are booked for the procedure without the inconvenience of being put on a waiting list for treatment.
Answer:
Tooth Extractions
The most recognized form of oral surgery is tooth extraction. Reasons for tooth extraction can range from:
- Impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth.
- Teeth beyond repair either from tooth decay, root fracture, or trauma.
- Primary teeth that have failed to fall out, preventing the eruption of permanent teeth.
- Orthodontic treatment plans may require the removal of some teeth to achieve the optimum result.
Corrective Jaw Surgery
Orthognathic surgery, known as jaw surgery to most, is preformed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Common reasons for jaw surgery include:
- TMJ or temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction caused by trauma or deformation
- Major or minor trauma
- Malocclusion or incorrect bite
- Clenching, or grinding of the teeth causing excessive tooth wear
- Difficulty chewing, eating, opening and closing the mouth, or talking
- Incorrect jaw position and un-proportioned facial appearance
Your dentist will refer you to see the surgeon if he/she feels your situation will benefit from a surgical treatment option.