Why You Might Need Oral Surgery

Dentists usually handle many dental ailments without resorting to invasive procedures such as dental surgery. However, some dental complications are best handled via surgery. Below are a few examples of dental problems that might require a surgical intervention.

Tooth Replacement

Some forms of tooth replacement treatments involve oral surgery. For example, you should prepare for surgery if you want a dental implant, which is one of the best ways to replace teeth. Getting the dental implant itself is a form of surgery, but you may also need related treatment such as a bone graft, which is another form of surgery. A jawbone graft is necessary if you don't adequate jawbone density for the implant.

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction doesn't always involve surgery. The dentist just uses a pair of forceps to pull out the tooth. However, an extraction might require surgery if the tooth is impacted (meaning that it failed to erupt fully above the gums), if the tooth is broken into pieces under the gums, or if the tooth is weak and is in danger of disintegrating during extraction. 

TMJ Disorder Treatment

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jawbone to the skull on either side of your face. TMJ disorders are a group of ailments that afflict the joint and trigger pain, headaches, and eating difficulties, among others. A TMJ disorder can be treated in different ways that don't involve surgery. However, you might need surgical intervention if the other noninvasive interventions fail.

Smile Makeover

You may also need oral surgery as part of your smile makeover treatment. A smile makeover is a major cosmetic intervention that involves multiple treatments aimed at improving a person's smile. A smile makeover can involve different treatments such as orthodontic treatment, dental implant, gum contouring, and other treatments that may include surgery.

Facial Trauma Treatment

Lastly, you might also need oral surgery if you have suffered trauma to your face and you need corrective surgery. For example, an auto accident might leave you with a damaged face that cannot heal via any means other than surgery. Say you have a fractured tooth, a broken jawbone, or a split tongue. You might need a multidisciplinary team to reconstruct your face, and an oral surgeon is likely to be part of the team.

Your dentist will give you precise instructions on what you should or shouldn't do after your surgery. Make sure you follow the instructions to the letter if you want your treatment to succeed without complications. Reach out to dental services for more information.