Oral surgery deals with the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions affecting the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face. There are different types of oral surgery, depending on the specific problem and the patient's needs.

Here are a few of the most common types of oral surgery.

Tooth Extractions

An extraction is the removal of a tooth that is damaged, decayed, infected, or impacted (not fully erupted). Tooth extractions can be simple or surgical, depending on how much of the tooth is visible and how easy it is to access.

Simple extractions are done with local anesthesia and forceps, while surgical extractions require an incision in the gum tissue and sometimes bone removal. Extractions can help prevent further complications such as pain, infections, abscesses, cysts, or damage to adjacent teeth.

Dental Implant

An implantation procedure is the placement of a manmade tooth root in the bone of the jaw to support a tooth-replacement device. Dental implants are made of titanium or ceramic and are surgically inserted into the jawbone through a small hole in the gum. Implants can restore the function and appearance of missing teeth and prevent bone loss and shifting of other teeth.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth removal is the extraction of the third molars, also known as wisdom teeth. These teeth usually erupt during a person's teen years or early twenties.

Wisdom teeth can cause problems such as pain, infection, inflammation, crowding, and damage to adjacent teeth or cysts if they are impacted, partially erupted, or misaligned. Their removal can be done under local or general anesthesia, depending on the number and position of the teeth, and the patient's preferences.

Jaw Surgery

During jaw surgery, the oral surgeon corrects various abnormalities or defects of the jawbone and its joints. Jaw surgery can be done for cosmetic reasons, such as the improvement of facial symmetry, or functional reasons, such as improving the bite, alignment, facial symmetry, speech, breathing, or chewing abilities.

Jaw surgery can involve cutting, moving, reshaping, or grafting bone and tissue from different parts of the body. The procedure can be performed from inside or outside the mouth, depending on the type and extent of the procedure.

Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

Surgically repairing a cleft lip and palate involves the reconstruction of the split in the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth. A cleft lip and palate can affect the appearance, speech, feeding, hearing, and dental development of a child.

Oral surgeons can complete cleft lip and palate repairs in stages, based on the severity and complexity of the defect. The repair can involve closing the gap in the lip and/or palate, reshaping the nose and lip, and grafting bone and tissue from other parts of the body. and aligning the teeth.

If you have any questions or concerns about oral surgery, consult an oral surgeon in your local area.