Oral surgery is a broad term for any operation performed on the teeth, gums, jaw, or surrounding oral and facial structures. It includes a wide range of procedures, from dental repair to jaw realignment and reconstructive surgery after an accident. Any type of surgery done on or around the jaw or mouth is considered oral surgery and is performed by a specialist in dental surgery. If you're looking for an oral surgeon, it's important to find someone who is a board-certified oral surgeon.
The most common dental procedures include tooth extractions to remove severely decayed, damaged, or infected teeth. These procedures involve removing the teeth using simple or more complex methods, depending on different factors, such as the amount of tooth that is above the gum line. Extractions to remove wisdom teeth are also common. These teeth can cause problems when they are impacted or when they cause overcrowding.
Other surgical dental procedures include root canals, surgery to place dental implants in the jaw, and surgery to correct problems in the jaw. Surgical procedures are used to treat severe or advanced cases of periodontal disease. Dental surgery is any of a series of medical procedures that involve the artificial modification of the dentition; in other words, the surgery of the teeth, gums, and jaw bones. Oral care is a vital part of your overall health, not only because a great smile makes you feel more confident, but also because many dental problems can significantly affect your health if left untreated and cause major complications.
If you want to explore dental sedation as an option, your dentist will review your medical history to make sure you're a good candidate. During dental surgery, you shouldn't feel any pain, just the pressure and movement of the instruments, depending on the level of sedation you choose. We offer sedation dentistry to make your experience during routine exams and dental surgery as comfortable as possible. The bad thing about having your wisdom tooth removed is that dental insurance companies don't usually cover it and you may have to pay for the procedure out of pocket.
The American Dental Association (ADA) highlights that the frequency of necessary dental visits depends on the needs of each person, since some may go once or twice a year and others need to go more frequently. The amount of time you need to stay in the dentist's office depends on the complexity of the procedure and the type of dental anesthesia or sedation being used. If you get regular dental checkups (the American Dental Association recommends professional cleanings and exams every six months), your dentist is likely to detect small problems before they get serious. Most patients can be safely sedated for dental procedures, except for those with certain medical conditions.
As you can see above, the process of removing wisdom teeth and recovering from them is a painful dental surgery procedure.