Posted on 6/15/2024 by Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform various surgical procedures involving the mouth, face, and jaw. Some common oral surgeries that patients undergo include:
Tooth Extractions
One of the most prevalent oral surgeries is a tooth extraction or tooth removal. Reasons for extractions include severe tooth decay, impacted wisdom teeth, or orthodontic treatment planning. Extractions can range from a simple single tooth to more complex multiple extractions.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a popular tooth replacement option. They involve oral surgery to place the implant into the jawbone. This artificial tooth root integrates with the bone to hold the implant crown. Implant placement is done under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.
Biopsies
An oral biopsy involves removing a small tissue sample from the mouth for laboratory testing and diagnosis. This is done to evaluate mouth lesions, ulcers, growths, and other abnormalities that appear to be concerning. The biopsy area is numbed before a small piece of tissue is precisely excised.
Exposure of Impacted Teeth
When adult teeth fail to emerge through the gums properly, they are considered impacted. Oral surgeons may perform exposure surgery to uncover the impacted tooth and attach an orthodontic bracket to guide its eruption, preventing the need for extraction.
Jaw Surgeries
Surgeries to correct jaw alignment issues include orthognathic surgery on the upper or lower jaw and TMJ surgery on the joint connecting the jaws. These require precise realignment of the jawbones to establish proper bite function and facial proportions.
Cleft Lip and Palate Repair
Oral surgeons reconstruct the separation in the upper lip and roof of the mouth present in cleft lip and palate patients. This is done through complex surgical repairs beginning in infancy and completing in late adolescence.
Tumor Removal
An oral surgeon may need to excise benign or malignant tumors of the mouth, face, and jaw. The tumor is eliminated along with a surrounding margin of healthy tissue to prevent recurrence. Reconstruction may be required after tumor removal surgery.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have specialized skills for performing surgery on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. Their surgical expertise provides optimal treatment for patients with a wide range of oral health conditions.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform various surgical procedures involving the mouth, face, and jaw. Some common oral surgeries that patients undergo include: