Oral surgeons are dentists with specialized expertise. They can perform complex surgical procedures on gum and bone tissue. Hence, oral surgeons are essential for addressing advanced conditions that are beyond the scope of general dentistry.
Dental Conditions Treated by an Oral Surgeon
Let’s talk about some of the main conditions that an oral surgeon can address if you ever need to seek their expertise:
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
The molars that are the farthest back in the mouth, known as the wisdom teeth, tend to erupt during the late teen years. The wisdom teeth usually erupt normally, but the eruption process is imperfect in many cases. Because this happens so frequently, parents are encouraged to have their children’s wisdom teeth extracted before problems can occur.
Sometimes, the affected wisdom tooth grows sideways, pushing on adjacent teeth. In other cases, the eruption is incomplete, creating a space for food particles to get trapped, harbor bacterial growth, and eventually cause tooth decay.
A wisdom tooth that is growing incorrectly is considered impacted, and a dentist who performs oral surgery can remove these teeth. This dentist can also remove any surrounding infection.
Tooth Decay
Dentists can perform tooth fillings and root canals to treat tooth decay and cavities. However, severe cases may require them to pull your tooth. You may need the expertise of an oral surgeon if the tooth is too fragile to extract via normal procedures.
Tooth Loss
There are several options for addressing the loss of a tooth, such as dentures. However, some people might prefer to have dental implants, which are sturdier and more secure than other options. Dental implants are embedded (implanted) directly into the jawbone, providing superior support.
Installing dental implants falls within the specialty of an oral surgeon. This type of dental surgery involves securing the titanium implant into the jawbone, waiting several months while the implant heals into the bone, checking its veracity, and finally installing the tooth-like crown on top.
Oral Cancer
Cancerous growths can occur anywhere in the body, and the oral cavity is no exception. Oral cancers are dangerous because they can easily spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream. These tumors can also cause deformities and compromise chewing or breathing.
Signs of oral cancer include non-healing mouth sores or any persistently growing mass of tissue in the mouth. There might also be persistent pain and bleeding from the tumor. You might even have a sore throat and swelling that doesn’t go away.
Your dentist will check your mouth at every regular checkup for any signs of oral cancer. If your dentist is also an oral surgeon, the dentist will likely be able to remove the cancer.
Oral Surgeon in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Oral surgeons are capable of treating many severe dental conditions, from an impacted tooth to tooth decay, and from tooth loss to oral cancer. Our team at Hagerman Dental Care provides general, restorative, pediatric, and cosmetic dentistry, including oral surgery.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hagerman, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (651) 646-2392, or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to serving you and your family.