Oral Surgery
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 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 jaw 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.
Other Conditions Treated By Oral Surgery
Facial injury repair. Oral
surgery is often used to fix 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 in the opening in the roof of the mouth. Oral surgeons
work as part of a team of healthcare 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 methods 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. Depending on the surgical technique used, the laser
is used to either slowly scar the palate, which tightens it,
or to remove palate tissue.
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