Oral Surgery

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Oral Surgery
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A number of conditions may require oral surgery, including:

Impacted Teeth
Wisdom teeth, otherwise known as third molars, are the last set of teeth to develop.
Sometimes these teeth emerge from the gum line and the jaw is large enough to allow
room for them, but most of the time, this is not the case. More often, one or more of
these third molars fails to emerge in proper alignment or fails to fully emerge through
the gum line and becomes entrapped or "impacted" between the jawbone and the gum
tissue. Impacted wisdom teeth can result in swelling, pain, and infection of the gum
tissue surrounding the wisdom teeth. In addition, impacted wisdom teeth can cause
permanent damage to nearby teeth, gums, and bone and can sometimes lead to the
formation of cysts or tumors that can destroy sections of the jaw. Therefore, dentists
recommend people with impacted wisdom teeth have them surgically removed.
It's not just wisdom teeth that sometimes become impacted and need to be removed.
Other teeth, such as the cuspids and the bicuspids can become impacted and can
cause the same types of problems described with impacted wisdom teeth.

Tooth Loss
Dental implants are an option for tooth loss due to an accident or infection or as an
alternative to bridges and dentures. The implants are tooth root substitutes that are
surgically anchored in place in the jawbone and act to stabilize the artificial teeth to
which they are attached. Suitable candidates for dental implants need to have an
adequate bone level and density, must not be prone to infection, and must be willing to
maintain good oral hygiene practices.

Jaw-Related Problems






Unequal jaw growth. In some individuals, the upper and lower jaws fail to grow
properly. This can cause difficulty in speaking, eating, swallowing, and breathing. While
some of these problems -- like improper teeth alignment -- can be corrected with braces
and other orthodontic appliances, more serious problems require oral surgery to move
all or part of the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both, into a new position that is more balanced,
functional, and healthy.
Improve fit of dentures. For first-time denture wearers, oral surgery can be done to
correct any irregularities of the jaws prior to creating the dentures to ensure a better fit.
Oral surgery can also help long-term denture wearers. Supporting bone often
deteriorates over time, resulting in dentures that no longer fit properly. In severe cases,
an oral surgeon can add a bone graft to areas where little bone remains.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Dysfunction of the TMJ, the small joint in
front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet, is a common source of headache
and facial pain. Most patients with TMJ disorders can be successfully treated with a
combination of oral medications, physical therapy, and splints. However, joint surgery is
an option for advanced cases and when the diagnosis indicates a specific problem in
the joint.

Oral Surgery
(continued)


Impacted TeethTooth LossJaw-Related ProblemsOther Conditions Treated By Oral
SurgeryListen

Other Conditions Treated By Oral Surgery


Facial injury repair. Oral surgery is often used to repair fractured jaws and broken facial bones.



Lesion removal and biopsy. Oral surgeons can take a small sample of abnormal growth or
tissue and then send it for laboratory testing for identification. Some lesions can be managed
medically or can be removed by the oral surgeon.



Cleft lip and cleft palate repair. Cleft lip and cleft palate result when all or portions of the
mouth and nasal cavity do not grow together properly during fetal development. The result is a
gap in the lip and/or a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. Oral surgeons work as part of a
team of health care specialists to correct these problems through a series of treatments and
surgical procedures over many years.



Facial infections. Pain and swelling in the face, neck, or jaws may indicate an infection.
Infections in this area of the body can sometimes develop into life-threatening emergencies if
not treated promptly and effectively. An oral surgeon can assist in diagnosing and treating this
problem. Surgical treatment, if needed, may include cutting into and draining the infected area,
as well as extracting any teeth that might be involved.



Snoring/sleep apnea. When conservative nonsurgical methods such as positive pressure air
machines and dental splint appliances fail to alleviate this problem, surgery can be tried.
Surgical procedures involve removing the soft tissues of the oropharynx (an area in the back
portion of the mouth) or the lower jaw. Laser surgery is a newer treatment option.

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