Knowing that they need oral surgery can be very unsettling for a patient. But knowing why you need the surgery, what to expect, and when you can resume your daily life, can really help put your mind at ease and banish any fears that you may have.
Here are a few common types of oral surgery, why you may need it, and what is involved.
Root Canal Procedure
A root canal procedure becomes necessary when the dental pulp of a tooth becomes seriously inflamed or infected, threatening the loss of the affected tooth.
The procedure involves cleaning out the root canal chamber thoroughly and filling the empty space with a biologically inert material. This special filling helps to protect the tooth from further damage. In most cases, a patient receiving a root canal will also have a dental crown placed to provide further strength for the tooth, since it will have been significantly weakened by the treatment.
Dental Implant
A dental implant serves as a replacement tooth for the patient. First, the patient has a titanium metal screw inserted into the jawbone. After their jawbone has fused around this screw, an abutment can be placed. After placement of the abutment, a dental crown can be attached onto it to serve as a chewing and biting surface for the patient.
Some benefits of dental implants include:
- Long-lasting restoration
- Mimics both the function and appearance of a natural tooth
- Prevents bone resorption, or bone loss
- Keeps surrounding teeth from shifting into the empty space left by the missing teeth
If you care for your dental implant properly, it can be expected to last for a lifetime. Even though the material itself is almost indestructible, keep in mind that your gum tissue and bone are not. So keep up with your regular brushing and flossing, as well as routine dental exams and cleanings.
Tooth Extraction
Having a tooth extracted is probably the most common form of oral surgery. A tooth can become so damaged that it cannot survive. You may have experienced tooth trauma during a sports or vehicle accident. Whatever the case may be, a tooth extraction, while undesirable, is a very common type of oral surgery that normally has a very good outcome. Around the time of your extraction, you will be presented with your treatment options for replacing the missing tooth.
Impacted Tooth
An impacted tooth is caused by a tooth being trapped between gum tissue and jawbone. This often leads to significant pain, swelling and infection. This is a common situation for anyone who has impacted wisdom teeth. Oral surgery provides a remedy.
Dentists and oral surgeons remove impacted teeth the same as with any other teeth. The only significant difference is that impacted teeth are more likely to require general anesthesia and surgery because of issues involving surrounding tissues and nerves.
Learn More
Speak to our team about oral surgery today. New patients are welcome!