Oral surgery procedures include diagnosis, treatment, medicines, and recovery. Many dental conditions require oral surgery to treat the problem and prevent further complications from arising. Oral surgery may seem intimidating to many patients, but advances in dental technology have made these procedures less invasive with reduced treatment and recovery time. They may be recommended or required for patients experiencing teeth, bone, or jaw irregularities due to an injury, defect, or condition.
Oral surgeries are available at Oak Tree Dental in Poway and the surrounding area. Our staff can help you learn more about the procedure and answer any questions you have. Call us at (858) 748-2101 to schedule a consultation appointment today.
Oral surgery
Oral surgeries are procedures performed inside or around the mouth, gums, or jaw to treat dental conditions that are not treatable through non-invasive treatments. Our team takes all precautionary measures into account to ensure each procedure is safe and effective. During the consultation appointment, patients may ask questions or address concerns they have regarding the surgery. We will discuss the procedure in detail so that the patient has a good understanding and feels well-prepared before their surgery appointment.
The American Dental Association describes oral and maxillofacial surgery as "the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region." The term ‘oral' refers to the mouth, and ‘maxillofacial' refers to the jaw and face. Oral surgeries can also describe any procedure involving the mouth, teeth, gums, and jaw. The location and treatment will determine the type of surgery required.
“Oral surgeries are surgical procedures performed inside or around the mouth, gums, or jaw to treat dental conditions that cannot be treated through non-invasive treatments.”
Reasons for oral surgery
Oral surgery may help with several conditions. Some of the most common include:
- Tooth Loss. Losing natural teeth can erode the jawbone over time, making deterioration an inevitability. Dental implants can prevent this from happening by anchoring the false teeth to the jawbone and stabilizing them.
- Impacted Teeth. Teeth are "impacted" when they become trapped between the jawbone and the gum tissue. Usually, this happens because the tooth has not emerged in proper alignment or entirely through the gumline. Generally, dentists will recommend patients have these removed.
- Orthodontics. Oral surgery is sometimes necessary when braces are not enough to correct malocclusion (a misaligned bite). In such cases, a dental professional works with a surgeon to build a personalized treatment plan for the patient's orthognathic surgery (corrective jaw surgery).
It is important to remember that the above list is not exhaustive. Patients should consult with a professional to ensure which treatment option is right for them.
“Oral surgery may help with several conditions.”
Preparing for oral surgery
We highly encourage patients to address all questions and concerns they have about their surgery during the consultation. It is important to understand all of the implications that go into any surgery and be prepared well ahead of time. No matter the type of surgery, we will inform the patient of their procedure type, discuss instructions prior to and during the procedure, and relay any crucial information they need to know before the surgery.
In general, surgical procedures involve a form of sedation, which will require the patient to fast from midnight the night before their surgery. Fasting prevents aspiration, a rare complication in which contents of the stomach fill the lungs. Patients receiving sedation will also need a ride to and from our office as the anesthetic can impair their consciousness. We also recommend that patients wear a short-sleeved shirt to allow for easy access to the veins and to help us monitor their blood pressure during surgery. Any additional instructions will be given on a case-by-case basis.
“In general, surgical procedures involve a form of sedation, which will require the patient to fast from midnight the night before their surgery.”
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On the day of surgery, we advise patients to arrive early to complete any necessary paperwork. It also allows them to stay calm and relaxed before their surgery, keeping their heart rate and blood pressure steady. The duration of surgery depends largely on the condition, severity, and current oral health status. We will discuss the length of time before the surgery.
Once the patient has checked in and is ready for treatment, we will inject the anesthetic, which will be local or general anesthesia or nitrous oxide. An IV may be required for some patients to keep their vitals up during surgery. Once the patient is numb, we will begin the procedure. Each procedure varies, but the patient will have a good understanding of what their procedure will entail before coming in on the big day.
“The duration of surgery depends largely on the condition, severity, and current oral health status, but the estimated length of time will be discussed with the patient before the day of surgery.”
Questions answered on this page
Q. How can I speed up my recovery from oral surgery?
Q. How can I prepare for oral surgery?
Q. What happens during the surgery procedure?
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Recovering from oral surgery
Patients should plan to spend the day resting after oral surgery. The drowsiness of the sedative will likely last all day, making it important for patients to avoid doing anything that requires concentration. Patients should also refrain from straining to avoid dislodging any blood clots and causing bleeding. They should also keep their heads elevated whenever they are lying down.
Above all, it is crucial to follow the dentist's instructions for your individualized treatment plan. If you contract a fever, develop pus, or notice your swelling and bruising getting worse after three days, call our office right away.
“Patients should plan to spend the rest of the day resting after oral surgery.”
Frequently asked questions
Oral surgery is included in many dental insurance plans. It is important to talk to your provider prior to booking the surgery in order to understand your benefits and what you may owe. Open enrollment for oral surgery differs from state to state, and the deadlines are posted on state government websites.
Dry sockets are blood clots that often appear after extraction surgeries and usually go away on their own. In most cases, dry sockets result from inadequate hygiene practices, smoking, and overexertion during recovery. Symptoms include bad breath, foul odor and taste, and increased pain. Patients who experience dry socket for longer than three days should contact their doctor as soon as possible to schedule a follow-up.
Any type of oral surgery involves the use of anesthesia to keep patients comfortable and pain-free during the procedure. In most cases, the numbing agent lasts for at least an hour after the surgery and may last the remainder of the day, depending on the type of surgery and anesthetic used. However, after the numbing agent wears off, patients will likely feel pain in or around the surgical site and will be given pain relief medication and antibiotics to help with swelling and inflammation.
The single most common oral surgery is wisdom tooth extraction, with an estimated 10 million wisdom teeth extracted from approximately five million people in the United States each year. Other common oral surgeries include dental implants, bone grafting, corrective jaw surgery, and facial trauma surgery.
In most cases, patients may resume eating as normal as soon as a week after surgery. Since each type of surgery is different, we may recommend patients eat certain foods and beverages for a shorter or longer period. Medications may also alter eating habits. This will all be discussed during the consultation appointment and reiterated after the surgery.
Oral surgery terminology
Crown lengthening is the procedure in which a professional removes an overgrowth of gum tissue from the teeth to make the teeth appear longer.
Dental implant surgery involves inserting metal posts, usually consisting of titanium, into the jaw bone to attach abutments to and give patients the full functionality and visually-pleasing teeth.
Facial trauma can occur when someone is hit in the face by a ball or accidental elbow, along with smashing the face into objects such as a wall or steering wheel.
Functional dentistry involves a strong focus on identifying the root cause of oral health issues and not just treating the symptoms.
Removing an impacted wisdom tooth is crucial for the patient’s health and well-being since an impacted wisdom tooth will continue to grow in a crooked direction, causing pain. Impacted wisdom teeth will need to be pulled more often than not.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery involves the diagnosis and surgical treatment of conditions that result in functional and esthetic aspects of the hard tissues in the maxillofacial region.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the individual has difficulty breathing during sleep and experiences a variety of symptoms due to it, including loud snoring.
Orthognathic surgery is also known as corrective jaw surgery that can help to correct any issues with the jaw including conditions such as sleep apnea and TMJ.
Reconstructive surgery involves multiple procedures to rebuild or correct the structure of the mouth, teeth and jaw.
Regeneration is a procedure in which a professional will fold back the gums to remove bacteria that can cause diseases and inserts bone grafts, membranes or other stimulating tools to promote tissue regeneration.
A rubber dam is a dental tool that separates the individual tooth from the rest of the mouth during the surgery to prevent anything from spilling into the mouth.
A soft tissue graft involves removing tissue from somewhere else on the patient’s body and attaches it to the gums to replace missing or damaged gum tissue.
Learn more today
Sometimes, only oral surgery can adequately address your dental issues. We at Oak Tree Dental may be able to help. Call us today at 858-748-2101 to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Individual results vary. How long a treatment lasts, and how it looks and feels, depends on each patient.