Oral surgery encompasses a broad spectrum of surgical procedures performed in the oral and maxillofacial region, which includes the mouth, jaws, face, and neck. These procedures range from routine tooth extractions and dental implants to more complex surgeries such as corrective jaw surgery, post-traumatic facial reconstruction, and treatment of oral pathology like cysts or tumors.
Oral surgery plays a crucial role in addressing various issues, including impacted teeth, dental trauma, congenital deformities, and oral infections. Additionally, it is integral in restoring oral function, alleviating pain, enhancing facial aesthetics, and improving overall oral health and quality of life for patients. It is a multidisciplinary approach that involves collaboration between oral surgeons, dentists, orthodontists, and other medical professionals to provide comprehensive care tailored to individual patient needs.
Oral Surgery Procedures
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions involve removing one or more teeth from the mouth. This procedure is commonly performed to address severe tooth decay, advanced gum disease, impacted wisdom teeth, or to create space for orthodontic treatment. While simple extractions involve removing visible teeth above the gumline, surgical extractions may be required for impacted or severely damaged teeth that cannot be easily accessed.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are titanium posts surgically inserted into the jawbone to serve as artificial tooth roots. This procedure replaces missing teeth and restores oral function, aesthetics, and jawbone health. Dental implants serve as a stable foundation for dental prosthetics such as crowns, bridges, or dentures, providing patients with a long-term solution for tooth loss.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth, known as third molars, often erupt during late adolescence or early adulthood. However, due to limited space in the jaw or improper alignment, wisdom teeth may become impacted, leading to pain, infection, and other complications. Wisdom teeth removal involves the surgical extraction of impacted or problematic wisdom teeth to prevent further dental issues and preserve oral health.
Jaw Surgery
Orthognathic surgery corrects structural abnormalities of the jaws and facial skeleton. Common conditions addressed through jaw surgery include overbites, underbites, crossbites, and facial asymmetry. By realigning the jaws and improving bite function, orthognathic surgery enhances facial aesthetics and improves speech, chewing, and overall oral health.
Oral Pathology
Oral pathology involves diagnosing and managing diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial region. This may include oral cancer, cysts, tumors, infections, and other pathological conditions. Oral surgeons utilize diagnostic techniques such as biopsies, imaging studies, and laboratory tests to identify and treat oral diseases, often collaborating with oncologists, radiologists, and other specialists for comprehensive care.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Surgery
TMJ surgery may be recommended for patients with severe or persistent temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) that do not respond to conservative treatments. Surgical interventions such as arthroscopy, joint repositioning, or joint replacement may alleviate pain, restore jaw function, and improve the overall quality of life for individuals suffering from TMJ-related symptoms. Call us to learn more.
Post-Traumatic Facial Repair
Oral surgeons are trained to manage and reconstruct facial structures damaged by injuries resulting from accidents, falls, sports-related trauma, or interpersonal violence. Post-traumatic facial repair may involve the stabilization of fractured bones, soft tissue repair, dental reimplantation, and other surgical interventions to restore both function and aesthetics to the affected area.
Sleep Apnea Surgery
Surgical treatment options are available for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who do not respond to conservative therapies such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or oral appliances. Surgical procedures such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), genioglossus advancement, or maxillomandibular advancement aim to address anatomical obstructions in the upper airway, improving airflow and reducing apnea episodes during sleep.
Emergency Oral Surgery
Emergency oral surgery involves the immediate intervention by dental professionals to address urgent dental issues that require immediate attention to alleviate pain, prevent further complications, or save teeth and surrounding structures. Common reasons for emergency oral surgery include severe toothaches due to advanced decay or infection, traumatic injuries to the mouth or jaw resulting from accidents or falls, abscesses or swelling indicating an acute infection, impacted wisdom teeth causing pain or swelling, and broken or fractured teeth requiring immediate repair to restore function and prevent infection.
Emergency oral surgery procedures may include tooth extraction, root canal therapy, treatment of oral infections, repair of fractured or dislocated teeth, and surgical procedures to address soft tissue injuries. Prompt diagnosis and treatment by skilled dental professionals are essential to ensure successful outcomes and alleviate patients' discomfort and distress.
The Benefits of Oral Surgery
- Oral surgery procedures such as tooth extractions and root canal therapy can effectively relieve dental pain caused by severe decay, infection, or trauma.
- Timely oral surgery can safeguard overall oral health by preventing the spread of infection, abscess formation, and other complications associated with untreated dental issues.
- Oral surgery, including dental implants and jaw realignment surgeries, restores chewing, speaking, and biting abilities compromised by tooth loss, jaw misalignment, or TMJ disorders.
- Tooth extractions and other oral surgeries help preserve the health and integrity of surrounding teeth, gums, and jawbone, preventing further damage and deterioration.
- Oral surgery procedures such as dental implants, soft tissue grafting, and orthognathic surgery improve facial aesthetics, smile appearance, and overall facial harmony, boosting self-esteem and confidence.
- Oral surgery is crucial in diagnosing and treating oral diseases such as oral cancer, cysts, tumors, and lesions, improving prognosis accuracy and survival rates.
- Orthognathic surgery corrects jaw discrepancies and bite irregularities, improving occlusion, facial symmetry, and oral function.
- Surgical interventions for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders alleviate pain, dysfunction, and jaw movement limitations, improving affected individuals' quality of life.
- Oral surgery restores missing teeth enhances gum contours, and rejuvenates smiles affected by tooth loss, gum recession, or facial trauma, promoting a youthful and attractive appearance.
Oral surgery can provide many benefits, from improved oral health and enhanced aesthetics to increased self-confidence and better quality of life. To learn more, visit Wilson Oral Surgery at 2151 S College Dr Ste 104, Santa Maria, CA 93455 or 207 Station Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. You an also call our Santa Maria dental office at (805) 925-1440 or Arroyo Grande dental office at (805) 574-1200 to schedule an appointment with us.