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Information on Oral Surgery

Oral surgery is the branch of dentistry that specifically deals with surgical procedures that are dentally based. There are a variety of procedures oral surgeons perform, and they receive special education in order to do so. Oral surgery can involve a wide variety of issues, including misalignment, facial reconstruction and dental implants.

  1. Oral Surgeons

    • Oral surgeons are dentists specially trained to perform surgery of the mouth and jaw. Their focus is often on reconstruction of the jaw and performing procedures that are not performed in most dental offices, including wisdom tooth extraction, reconstruction, injuries to the jaw and face and implants. Following dental school, oral surgeons must complete a four-year education program in oral surgery, receiving. a master's degree or certificate in oral surgery. Depending on their career path, some oral surgeons will obtain an additional medical degree or become maxillofacial surgeons.

    Dental

    • Dental procedures are among the most common performed by oral surgeons. The work is primarily with the teeth, gums and the jawbone to correct gross misalignments, extreme tooth decay or attempt to improve the success of dental implants. Dental implants are designed to replace a tooth missing because of an injury, accident, decay or infection in a tooth that is unsalvageable by common procedures. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69 percent of adults between the ages of 35 and 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth for reasons including gum disease, excessive tooth decay or injury. Oral surgeons have recently discovered that implants can be better in the long run than other dental procedures--they tend to last longer and are less likely to cause additional problems in the future.

    Facial

    • Oral and maxillofacial surgeons also work with facial reconstruction and jaw realignment. These procedures often follow an accident, although they also treat conditions that are the result of genetics or other abnormal conditions. The Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons says many facial reconstruction procedures are necessary because of a vehicle accident, sports injury, domestic violence or other home mishaps. These procedures are often lengthy and may require hospitalization; in some cases, several surgeries are needed are needed to correct the problem.

    Cosmetic

    • Oral surgeons also perform cosmetic procedures that cannot be corrected through regular dental practice: realignment, jaw reconstruction, veneers, wiring and others. Cosmetic procedures are typically done with little or no medical necessity and are proposed to improve looks rather than functionality. They can make teeth whiter, straighter or different sizes to make them more uniform.

    Risks

    • As with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with oral surgery. But trained oral surgeons and their staffs do everything possible to keep the risks low by preparing and following specific procedure guidelines. Risks can include excessive bleeding, anesthesia risks and complications from the surgery itself. Your oral surgeon go over the risks with you before surgery and help you decide the best course of action to minimize the chance of complications.

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