There is not a person in the world who enjoys hearing the words oral surgery – but there are some oral surgeries that are quite commonplace. These include dealing with impacted wisdom teeth, surgery to install dental implants, and more.
Here are five types of oral surgery you may not be familiar with, but you can bet your dentist is:
· Impacted Wisdom Teeth. The final molars to form in the mouth, wisdom teeth like to show up underneath of the teeth in front of them. But most people do not have space in their mouths for wisdom teeth. If these teeth do not have enough room to emerge and get stuck in your jaw, it is called an impaction. Oral surgery may be necessary to remove impacted wisdom teeth. Oftentimes, wisdom teeth are extracted before they can become impacted.
· Dental Implants. If you’ve lost a tooth, you may opt to replace it with a dental implant, which involves surgically installing the dental implant into your jaw. A dental implant is a titanium screw that is anchored into the jawbone where the tooth was. After the implant and jaw have a chance to fuse together, usually about 4-6 months, the final crown is affixed to the implant. The result is a tooth that looks, feels, and functions like your natural teeth.
· Tooth Extraction. If a tooth is significantly cracked, decayed, or infected, it may be necessary to pull it. Tooth extraction is relatively straightforward, although it may become a more complex type of oral surgery if the tooth is impacted or too fragile to remove whole.
· Signs of Oral Cancer. A biopsy is required to confirm a diagnosis of oral cancer. This involves cutting a sample of the suspect tissue from the gums, lips, or inside of the cheeks. Your dentist may perform the biopsy, but if cancer is confirmed, you may require the services of an oral surgeon to ensure removal of all cancerous cells.
· Root Canals. When tooth decay involves the innermost core of the tooth – the pulp – it may require a root canal. Oral surgery may be a part of a root canal procedure if the tooth root or nearby bone are damaged and require treatment, or to remove calcium deposits in the root itself.
If you or someone in your family needs oral surgery or you are just looking for a new dentist, contact Hagerman Dental Care by calling (651) 646-2392 or request an appointment now and treat your teeth to the best care possible in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota.
