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Regular dental visits are a great way to keep teeth healthy and deal with minor complications, but more serious oral issues may require advanced dental treatment. Oral maxillofacial surgery is a broad term that covers a variety of such procedures for your teeth, jaw and face.
Whether your dentist needs to perform a tooth extraction, correct your bite or help prevent pain in your jawbone, oral surgery procedures may be the answer. Specialists in oral and maxillofacial surgery can even aid accident victims with reconstruction and treat many types of oral cancer. With proper care, even advanced dental conditions can be effectively treated or relieved with one of a variety of oral surgery procedures.
Oral Exam
You might be wondering how you know if oral and maxillofacial surgery is right for you. If you see a dentist regularly, your dentist may detect dental problems during routine dental screenings. He or she may then recommend oral and maxillofacial surgery as a preventive treatment measure. In other cases, you may schedule an appointment to discuss cosmetic dentistry goals or recent discomfort in the head, neck or jaw area that might benefit from oral maxillofacial surgery.
Your teeth, gums and jaw need to be carefully examined by a dentist to determine if oral maxillofacial surgery is right for you, and if so, which type of treatment will best meet your needs.
Being open about your symptoms, preferences and concerns will help you and your dentist or oral surgeon determine the appropriate procedure.
Oral Surgery Procedures
When you hear the word "surgery," you may automatically imagine a complicated procedure, but oral and maxillofacial surgery refers to a wide range of treatments -- everything from a simple tooth extraction to dental implants.
Oral surgery wisdom teeth is probably the most well-known type of dental surgery. When third molars, or wisdom teeth, come in sideways, are too large, become misaligned or may cause damage to surrounding teeth, one or all four may be extracted. If your dentist recommends oral surgery wisdom teeth, be sure to discuss your sedation options so you'll be as comfortable as possible.
Some other common types of oral maxillofacial surgery include:
Dental Implants -- Instead of traditional dentures, patients who have lost one or more teeth may have natural-looking dental implants permanently attached.
Cleft Lip/Palate -- A series of cleft palate treatments can help repair a split in a patient's outer lip or roof of the mouth.
Jaw Correction -- Problems with chewing, breathing or grinding teeth can often be fixed by repairing the jaw. Difficulty sleeping, swallowing or breathing may also be jaw-related and can be treated with oral surgery procedures.
Know Your Options
Talk to your dentist about any condition that may relate to you teeth and mouth, including oral surgery wisdom teeth. There are also possible oral surgery procedures for sleep apnea, TMD, facial injuries and cosmetic preferences as well as any pain or discomfort you may be feeling.
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