Many people will need oral surgery at some point in their lives. It can be done for a wide variety of reasons, but some procedures are more common than others. Surgery may be recommended to help with a dental health condition or to restructure the jaw or teeth when there is a spacing issue. These popular and common oral surgery procedures can greatly reduce people’s discomfort and improve quality of life.
Oral procedures
Oral surgery can be done to help people who are struggling to eat or talk properly due to dental issues or simply suffering from pain due to jaw or teeth problems.
Wisdom tooth removal
Having wisdom teeth removed is one of the most common surgical dental procedures. Wisdom teeth are the final molars that come in. According to the American Dental Association, these molars typically erupt in the late teenage years or early 20s. However, many people do not have enough room for these final molars, which can cause the teeth to get stuck, or impacted.
When the teeth are not fully erupted, it can be difficult to get the deep grooves clean with regular brushing. Impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to pain, shifting of teeth and infection. When there is no room for the final molars to come in fully, wisdom tooth removal is typically recommended.
For most patients, wisdom tooth removal is a simple outpatient procedure. Depending on the positioning and condition of the teeth, they may be removed by standard extraction procedures or more complex surgery may be required. Healing after wisdom teeth removal generally is fairly quick and simple as long as the patient follows the dentist’s instructions for aftercare.
Dental implants
Another common form of oral surgery is dental implant surgery. This can be done to replace missing teeth, for the right candidate. It can be a good substitute for dentures, which can be a hassle to deal with. However, this can be a lengthy process from start to finish, so it takes a commitment from the patient. Those who smoke or have unhealthy oral hygiene may not be a good candidate for this surgery.
Bone grafting
According to Mayo Clinic, when a jaw cannot support a dental implant but the patient is an otherwise good candidate, bone grafting may be done. Using bone from another location, the jaw is strengthened enough to make a dental implant possible. Sometimes, a few months will need to pass between the bone grafting and the dental implant surgery, to give the jaw time to strengthen.
Conclusion
Having oral surgery can improve oral health and convenience for people with spacing problems or missing teeth. These procedures are typically outpatient and have a relatively short recovery period. They can make eating and speaking easier, as well as reducing pain or discomfort in the mouth or jaw area. Anyone experiencing such dental issues should consider speaking with a dentist to see if one of these procedures can benefit them.
Request an appointment here: or call Impressions Dental at (480) 814-8888 for an appointment in our Chandler office to discuss these popular and common oral surgery procedures.
