Oral surgery is one of the nine widely recognized dental specialities. Oral surgeons, or sometimes referred to as maxillofacial surgeons, have to undergo a few extra years of specialization after completing dental school. They conduct surgeries of the mouth and surrounding tissues, such as during external oral trauma, dental implantation, bone graft, gum graft, or even a simple tooth extraction.
Commonly performed oral surgeries by your dentist in Santee
- Oral trauma: Oral trauma can occur when an individual is part of an automobile accident, has a sports-related injury, etc. It can lead to damaged or broken teeth, injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth, or even a broken jawbone. We will take x-rays of the mouth to understand the severity of the trauma and carry out the suitable treatment.
- Facial fracture: A hard fall or a sudden blow to the face can result in a fractured or slightly cracked jaw. Irrespective of the severity, the condition can be extremely painful and has to be treated immediately.
- Implant placement:Dental implants are one of the most trusted and widely used tooth restorations. They are placed directly in the jawbone in place of the extracted tooth, making them quite similar to natural teeth. The dentist will conduct surgery to place the implant in the jawbone, and a suitable healing period will be suggested to allow optimum healing.
- Bone graft:When a natural tooth is extracted from the mouth, the underlying bone may shrink or deteriorate. This could be a direct result of bone loss. We will have to perform a bone graft in such instances if you wish to get a dental implant, as the restoration would require optimum bone volume to stay stably in position.
- Gum graft: Gum graft is a surgical procedure where the dentist extracts healthy soft tissues from a different part of the mouth (preferably the palate) and graft them to the receded area of the gums. It would be required in the case of gum disease, such as periodontitis, as the existing gum tissues could decay or recede below the ideal gum line.
What are dental extractions?
A dental extraction is the process of entirely removing a tooth from its socket in the mouth. It would be required when the patient has developed severe tooth decay, root canal infection, damaged teeth due to external trauma, impacted teeth, or during orthodontic treatment. The dentist in Santeewill administer local anesthesia before commencing the treatment to numb the tissues around the tooth. Using dental forceps, the tooth will be gripped firmly and removed in one firm motion. After the extraction, suitable aftercare instructions will be suggested by the dentist to facilitate optimum healing of the wound.
Please reach out to us to schedule a consultation with our dentist, and we’ll guide you further. Please call us at (619) 596-1128 or reach us through online consultation.
