What is oral surgery? Oral surgery, as the name indicates, includes the surgery of any part of the oral cavity. A more commonly used term is oral and maxillofacial surgeries which include the surgery of oral cavity structures as well as surrounding bony and soft tissue areas of the face.
People mostly have a fear of oral surgery, but in some conditions where the organ is damaged beyond repair, surgery is the ultimate resort to prevent any further damage and safeguard the life of the patient. At Conway House, Dentist High Wycombe, we have highly skilled oral surgeons with proficient knowledge of physiology and anatomy of the oral cavity along with all the surrounding structures. Oral surgeries may range from simple procedures like tooth extraction to more complex procedures such as maxillofacial surgery.
Types of oral surgeries
The classification of the common types of surgical processes in dental practice is under the following categories:
ENDODONTICS: It is a department of dentistry that manages and treats all the abnormalities of the dental pulp. The dental pulp is the central portion of your tooth in which nerves and blood vessels are present. It is, therefore, a neurovascular structure. It also contains various cells and connective tissue. The surgical interventions done in endodontics include:
- Root Canal Treatment: When your tooth catches an infection, and it spreads deep down to involve the root of the tooth, there is a risk of more extensive damage as this portion contains blood vessels. Infection can enter into the bloodstream and spread to other places. Root canal treatment is a highly efficient dental surgery in which the infection is removed completely. An access cavity is formed, it is irrigated with chemicals, filled with gutta-percha, and finally, a crown may be placed over it to secure the filling and restore the functions of the tooth.
An infected root canal can be a very painful condition, and emergency root canal treatment may have to be performed.
- Apicoectomy: (Apico- apex, ectomy- to excise) This is the procedure of choice when the infection spreads up to the apex of tooth and root canal treatment is not sufficient to clear the infection. In such a scenario, the apex of the tooth is reached by making an incision on the gums. The apex is incised, and the infection is removed altogether.
PROSTHODONTICS: All the dental prosthetics surgeries are included under Prosthodontics. There has been a progressive and significant rise in the use of dental prosthetics in recent years due to cosmetic as well as functional reasons. It is sometimes referred to as cosmetic surgery as it mainly deals with replenishing missing or broken teeth.
- Dental Implants: Dental implants are tiny metallic prostheses made up of titanium that are placed into the jaw bone to support an artificial tooth. These are a great option to fill the gap created due to missing teeth.
- Dental bridges: As the name indicates, dental bridges are used to bridge the gaps due to missing teeth. These can be placed either with the help of dental implants or your natural teeth.
ORTHODONTICS: Orthodontics deals with misplaced teeth and malocclusion. It is a condition where the size of the upper and lower jaw is disproportionate, and this leads to either an overbite (upper jaw more protruded as compared to the lower jaw) or an under its (lower jaw more protruded as compared to the upper jaw). This can lead to misaligned, crooked, crowded, or misplaced teeth. In some cases when all the bones fuse and stop growing, surgery is the only treatment of choice that can help in correcting these jaw bone-related issues. However, in children, the bones are softer and still undergoing growth; therefore, implants and other implant-supported prostheses can help in correction of the problem.
EXODONTICS: It deals with minor oral surgery that involves the tooth extraction. A very common and painful condition where the tooth needs to be removed is impacted wisdom tooth. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt. In some cases, the eruption of this tooth is associated with problems as the mouth does not have enough space to accommodate it. It gets impacted into the jaw bone or jaw tissue and causes pain. Surgery has to be performed as the treatment to remove it from the socket. It is done by making an incision on the jaw, and when the tooth is exposed, it is not pulled out as a whole, but broken into fragments to ensure less bleeding and discomfort. The fragments are removed, and the gum is sutured.
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY: This is a very broad term and includes a myriad of surgical interventions. It requires precise skills, and the surgery is performed on jaws, mouth and facial structures. It involves either corrective surgery, bone augmentation surgeries, and also the surgeries for some neoplastic conditions.
Are you one of those nervous patients who are afraid to go for dental treatments??
Relax! At Conway House Dental Practice we pride ourselves in caring for all our patients. We make sure that our patients receive the best possible care and attention.
What to expect?
You may become apprehensive when you hear that you have to undergo surgery. Here is a brief list of a few things that should be expected before, during and after the surgery.
PREOPERATIVE WORKUP: Before the surgery, your oral surgeon will perform a few radiological and lab investigations to confirm your diagnosis and plan the best option for you. He will recommend you the time of surgery and the preparation required for it. Some medications might be prescribed to make the area amenable to surgery. Vitamin supplements may be prescribed to boost your overall health before the surgery.
ON THE DAY OF SURGERY: The doctor might suggest you stay Nil per oral for 6-8 hours before the surgery. Those patients who have comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, should be observed more closely. During the surgery, you will be given anaesthesia as per the requirement. For small procedures, such as tooth extraction, a topical anaesthetic agent will be sufficient while if you are undergoing a major surgery a local or in some cases even general anaesthesia may be given. In other cases, IV sedation may also serve the purpose well.
POSTOPERATIVE CARE AND RECOVERY: The effect of anaesthesia gradually fades away. The duration of stay in the clinic is dependent on the procedure that you have undergone. After simple tooth extraction, you may be allowed to leave the clinic as early as an hour after the surgery. You should avoid brushing or eating any solid food item after any oral surgery. Analgesics and anti-inflammatory medicines might be prescribed if you face any discomfort or pain. Good nutrition and proper care will help you in recovering soon from the surgery.
When it comes to your health, you should always go for the best. If you are looking for ‘dental surgery near me?’ Conway House Dental Practice in High Wycombe is a dental service in town with highly skilled dentists and a friendly, and highly competent staff. You will be treated by the best High Wycombe Dentist and will be provided with amazing services in the domain of dentistry. For further details, you can call us and book an appointment today.
