The main types of oral surgery are tooth extraction and dental implants. There is bone grafting and biopsies. Wisdom tooth extraction is the most common procedure by far.
Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to grow. The jaw is not big enough to grant them sufficient space. A wisdom tooth doesn’t emerge through the gum line. It can emerge misaligned, getting trapped between the gum tissue and jawbone. This leads to pain and swelling. An infection of surrounding tissue is possible.
In rarer cases, impacted wisdom teeth can inflict damage on gums. Other teeth and bone can suffer. It’s best to have impacted wisdom teeth extracted.
Oral Surgery for Uneven Jaw Growth
Upper and lower jaws don’t grow property for some people. This causes difficulty in eating, speaking, and even breathing. Braces can correct smaller problems like misalignment. Bigger problems require surgery to change the position of a jaw. This can be the lower or upper jaw. The upper jaw or both jaws can have problems. The new position is more functional, more balanced, and healthier.
Surgery for Lesion Removal
A dental
surgeon can remove or manage lesions. They can perform a biopsy. This is where they take a sample of abnormal tissue. They send it for lab testing.
Surgery for Facial Injury or Infection
Why do dental surgeons perform oral surgery? To fix broken facial bones or fractured jaws. This can occur if someone falls on their face, for example.
Swelling and pain in the neck, face, or jaws may be signs of infection. You have to treat infections in this part of the body fast and well. Surgery may include an excision. There might be draining of the infected zone. The dentist may remove any affected teeth.
Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip Repair
Improper fetal development causes cleft palate and lip. Parts of the mouth and nasal cavity do not grow as they should. As a result, there is an opening or split in the roof of the mouth. There can be a gap in the lip.
Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Surgery can help with sleep apnea and snoring. It’s worth trying if conservative methods like dental splints have failed. Oral surgery may involve removing the soft tissues of the lower jaw. Laser surgery may help as well.
Problems with Dentist-Patient Talks
There is often a misunderstanding between dentists and patients because dentists use certain terms. Patients do not understand the
terms clinicians tend to use. This leads to anxiety and uninformed decisions.
A team of researchers studied patients’ grasp in an outpatient setting using a question-based study. They recorded the patients’ gender, age, and native language. Their study included multiple choice questions. They asked participants to define terms like benign and cancer. Other terms were ulcer, malignant, and blister. They also studied patients’ general grasp of terms.
The researchers found that the majority of patients were unable to comprehend or explain commonly used terms. Grasp of ‘benign’ and ‘lesion’ was most limited. Almost 40% of patients thought tumor and malignancy were synonyms. As expected, native English speakers had better grasp of terms than non-natives.
Conclusion
We at Meadows Dental Care make an effort to clarify terms and concepts, especially. When it comes to something as significant as oral surgery. Whether you’re looking for an
oral surgeon in Palatine, IL, or if you need an extraction, we are here to educate our patients on their condition, allowing them to make better and more informed decisions about their oral health. Give us a call if you have any questions. We’d love to hear from you if you would like to make an appointment.