What is Oral Surgery
Oral Surgeons specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck.
Often seen as the bridge between medicine and dentistry oral surgery is a broad term for any operation performed on your teeth, gums, jaw or surrounding oral and facial structures. As oral surgery deals with the treatment and ongoing management of irregularities and pathology of the jaw and mouth, there are a range of reasons why you may need to see an oral surgeon. These include the need to extract teeth and manage associated complications or to manage oral infections which could be teeth related. Additionally, you may be missing a tooth and needing an implant for replacement, you may have gum disease or you might require surgery to facilitate orthodontic (braces) treatment. As the scope of the specialty is extensive it also covers dental bone grafts for bone loss in your jaw, periodontal (gum) grafts, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), corrective jaw surgery, as well as numerous problems affecting the oral mucosa such as mouth ulcers, infections and oral cancer or benign oral pathology.
If you need an oral surgeon it does not necessarily mean a complicated dental issue has developed, it just indicates a surgeon is better equipped to deal with whatever problem the patient is having and the problems that they have with their teeth, mouth or jaw cannot be fixed with other dentistry procedures. We also collaborate with colleagues from all dental and medical specialties to ensure that holistic care for patients is provided.
Oral surgery can sound intimidating, but we are here to guide you through the entire process. Our role is to alleviate anxiety, pain and suffering you are experiencing. You will initially have a consultation to discuss your specific diagnosis and treatment needs, as well as answer any questions or concerns you may have. Your medical and dental history will be reviewed, and you will be informed of what your procedure entails along with any potential risks involved.
Before the surgery, we will perform a comprehensive evaluation to check your teeth, gums, jaw joints and surrounding structures. We will also take dental X-rays and scans to get a clear view of your teeth roots, jawbone, nerves and other important oral landmarks. Using this information, we will tailor a personalized treatment plan. Healing times will vary from person to person, but most people feel like themselves again in about one week.
The overarching goal of oral surgery is to address any issue that interferes with your health or quality of life. Your teeth, gums and jaw joints all work together harmoniously for optimal oral health and function and oral surgery is here to help maintain that health.