What Is Considered Oral Surgery?
Commonly, dental patients are faced with an issue where they elect for oral surgery. Though this may seem like a scary situation, our team is trained to make every approach seamless and comfortable. Any surgical treatment performed in or around your mouth and jaw by a trained dental specialist is considered oral surgery. While each case is unique, many of these operations can be conducted as an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to return to work or normal activities in a matter of days.
Oral surgery refers to a variety of operations that involve the teeth and jaw. Some procedures require the removal of teeth while others may call for repositioning or reconstructing of the jaw. Endodontists, periodontists, and prosthodontists are among the dental professionals who can undertake this level of dental care. Our inviting Markham dentist location is dedicated to delivering high-quality care.
Typical Procedures in Oral Surgery
- Dental implant installation – Dental Implants are a common option to replace lost teeth and will always require oral surgery to be installed as the implant is a rod or screw that is surgically inserted into the patient’s jaw.
- Tooth extractions – Decay, damage, and/or infection may be the culprit for needing a tooth extraction. The surgeon makes an incision in the patient’s gums to reach and extract the tooth. It is possible to have it done under local or total anesthesia.
- Root canal – An endodontist who specializes in root canal treatment meticulously removes the pulp inside the tooth, cleans, disinfects, and forms the root canals, and seals the gap with a filling.
- Jaw surgery – Orthognathic surgery, commonly known as jaw surgery, corrects abnormalities in the jaw bones and realigns the jaws and teeth to improve their function. These adjustments may also help to improve your facial appearance.
- Bone grafting – Bone grafting is utilized when a patient wants implants but doesn’t have enough bone tissue to keep the device in place. This can happen as a result of not replacing a missing tooth or a dental problem that causes jawbone tissue to degrade.
The Healing Process
Your surgeon will probably tell you to refrain from driving if given sedatives, relax, avoid physical activity, and stay home from school or work for the first 24 hours after surgery. To help ease bleeding and swelling, it is recommended to bite down on a damp sterile gauze for thirty minutes to an hour and keep your head propped up while icing. Depending on the severity of the procedure, recovery time varies. While some operations allow patients to return to normal activities in two to three days, others may take a week.
Swelling is normally gone by the seventh to tenth postoperative day. If this is not the case, or if you have any concerns, contact your surgeon right away. You may experience little bruising, especially if the surgery was performed on your lower wisdom teeth.
Most oral surgeons would prescribe a two-week follow-up consultation. It is critical that you attend this appointment, regardless of how well you are feeling. Your surgeon will inspect your incision and look for any symptoms of infection as well as other problems during this visit. Even if your dentist is already on the watch, it’s a good idea to ask for a more thorough oral cancer screening.
It is essential to maintain basic oral hygiene throughout your recovery, such as lightly washing your mouth with saltwater between meals and using the mouthwash your surgeon prescribed on a regular basis.
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