An oral surgeon performs various surgical procedures to treat various dental diseases and restore your smile. Listed below are some of the common oral surgery procedures performed at the dental practice.
What Is Oral Surgery?
Dental surgeons may perform a number of different types of oral surgeries depending on a patient’s specific needs. Some common oral surgeries include tooth extractions, dental implants, and wisdom teeth removal.
- Tooth extraction is one of the most commonly performed oral surgery procedures. This treatment is done when a tooth is too damaged or decayed to be repaired through restorative treatments. Wisdom teeth are also often extracted before they become a problem later on. Other cases of tooth damage, such as broken or fractured teeth, may also require extraction.
- Dental implants are another common oral surgery procedure. These titanium posts are inserted into a patient’s jawbone to take the place of missing teeth roots. They are used to anchor prosthetic crowns, bridges, or dentures in place. After an implant is placed, patients need to wait for several months for the implant to heal and for the jaw bone to fuse to the post. Once it has healed, the replacement tooth will be securely held in place.
- Finally, many adults need to have their wisdom teeth removed before they erupt. This is typically done as a preventative measure to avoid issues like impacted teeth, infection, and pain. Sometimes wisdom teeth become impacted when they are still under the gums, which can cause discomfort and swelling. In other cases, the molars may not even breakthrough at all, causing issues with crowding and other complications. In these cases, it may be best to have the teeth removed to prevent future problems.
- Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone to promote proper healing of the surrounding tissues. The graft material can come from a variety of different sources depending on the patient’s needs and preferences. Some of the most common sources are synthetic materials, including allografts and xenografts, as well as natural bone from the patient’s body. Bone grafting may be used to help repair a number of issues in the mouth, including dental implants, teeth extractions, or trauma to the face. This can help promote proper wound healing and restore function to the affected area.
- A sinus lift procedure is performed when there is a lack of sufficient bone tissue in the upper jaw, particularly in the maxillary sinuses. This prevents implants from being properly supported in the bone, which can result in implant failure. During a sinus lift, the sinus membrane is lifted upward into the correct position allowing for the development of a thicker layer of bone to support an implant. This procedure also helps to provide additional support for facial soft tissues in this area that may be affected by aging and other changes.
- Gum recession is a common oral health problem that affects a large number of patients. Gum grafting may be necessary in cases where there is severe damage to gum tissue or where a significant amount of the underlying jawbone is exposed. Grafting is often used when there is a need to restore normal tooth alignment as well.
To learn more about our dental services or to schedule your consultation, call us at (970) 947-1717 or visit our dental office located at 120 Midland Avenue, Unit 230, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.
