What is Oral Surgery?

When someone says “surgery”, it is natural to immediately think of a hospital, surgeons, anesthesia, and recovery. But what about oral surgery in dayton ohio? Many Americans are not aware which dental procedures are actually considered oral surgeries. You may be surprised to learn that most oral surgery procedures are performed by a general dentist in a regular dental office. Here is more information about what procedures are considered oral surgery and what is involved in those procedures.

Oral Surgery Procedures

Here are a few common dental procedures that involve oral surgery:

  • Tooth Extraction: Needing to have a tooth removed or “extracted” is a common dental procedure. Did you know that having a tooth extracted is one of the most common oral surgeries performed by dentists? A tooth may need to be extracted if it is impacted, fractured due to trauma, or has decayed and is beyond repair.
  • Corrective Jaw Surgery: A less common oral surgery is a corrective jaw surgery. Jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, must be performed by an oral surgeon. A dentist may recommend corrective jaw surgery if a patient has severe jaw pain or jaw joint pain (TMJ), trauma to the jaw, incorrect jaw positioning or an incorrect bite. If one of these issues is left untreated it can lead to more pain or damage to the teeth overtime. If a dentist thinks corrective jaw surgery is needed, they will contact an oral surgeon and have their patient schedule a consultation. Choosing an oral surgeon for jaw surgery should involve evaluating the surgeons training and experience with jaw surgery.
  • Dental Implants: Dental implant surgery is another popular dental treatment used to replace one or more missing teeth. The surgical portion of the implant procedure involves permanently securing a metal post into the jawbone. The implant surgery can be completed by either a dentist or an oral surgeon.

Finding an Oral Surgeon

If the procedure you need will require an oral surgeon, it is important to do your research and consider many important factors. But, before starting your search for an oral surgeon, you should have a thorough discussion with your dentist about the procedure they are recommending and why you need it. Further, the surgery your dentist has suggested may be one that they have the training and experience to perform. Today, many oral surgeries are performed by a general dentist.

Pre and Post-Surgery Instructions

If you and your dentist decide that you need oral surgery, the next best step is to plan ahead for the surgery and recovery period. Patients who are well prepared for recovery end up having the easiest recoveries. Your dentist will help you with your preparation by providing you a list of recommended foods to stock your refrigerator with including soups, juices, yogurt, ice cream, mashed potatoes, and other soft foods that minimize chewing. Your dentist wants your surgery to be successful and smooth, so they will provide you important instructions to be followed for both pre-surgery preparation and post-surgery recovery.

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