Dental surgery is a specialized area within dentistry that involves surgical procedures to address complex oral health issues. These interventions aim to restore the proper function of the teeth, gums, and jaws, while also enhancing their appearance. It encompasses treatments designed to resolve conditions that routine dental care cannot adequately manage, significantly improving oral well-being and quality of life.
Understanding Dental Surgery
Dental surgery involves invasive procedures that require specialized tools, advanced techniques, and various forms of anesthesia beyond local numbing. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specialists who perform these complex procedures, having completed extensive training beyond dental school. This rigorous surgical training includes rotations in anesthesiology, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and general surgery. This broad medical background prepares them to handle diverse conditions affecting the mouth, jaws, and face. Their offices are equipped with more extensive and specialized instrumentation compared to a general dental practice, enabling them to perform procedures with precision and patient comfort.
Common Dental Surgical Procedures
Several procedures are commonly categorized as dental surgery due to their invasive nature and specialized skills required.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom tooth extraction is a frequent surgical procedure, involving the removal of third molars that may be impacted or causing crowding. The surgeon may open gum tissue, remove bone covering the tooth, and sometimes divide the tooth for easier removal.
Dental Implant Placement
Dental implant placement involves surgically inserting a titanium post into the jawbone as an artificial tooth root. This post provides a stable foundation for a dental crown, offering a natural-looking and durable replacement for missing teeth. Bone grafting often precedes implant placement when there is insufficient jawbone to support the implant.
Apicoectomy
An apicoectomy, also known as root-end surgery, is performed when a traditional root canal does not fully resolve an infection at the tip of a tooth’s root. During this procedure, the endodontist incises the gum tissue to access the root, removes the infected tissue and a small portion of the root tip, then seals the root with a filling to prevent reinfection.
Gum Grafting
Gum grafting addresses gum recession, a condition where gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, exposing the roots. A periodontist performs this surgery by taking a small piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth or nearby healthy gum and attaching it to the receding area. This helps to cover exposed roots and improve gum line volume.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting involves adding powdered bone grafting material, which can be natural or lab-made, to areas of the jaw where bone has been lost or is thinning. This material acts as a scaffold, encouraging the body’s own bone tissue to grow and regenerate. The procedure is often performed to create a strong foundation for dental implants or to repair bone damage.
Corrective Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery)
Corrective jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, repositions misaligned jawbones to improve bite function and facial balance. This complex process often involves making precise cuts in the jawbone and then securing the jaw in its new position with surgical screws, wires, or plates. It is a collaborative effort between an oral surgeon and an orthodontist.
Reasons for Dental Surgery
Dental surgery becomes necessary for various conditions that cannot be adequately treated with non-surgical methods.
Impacted Teeth
Impacted teeth, particularly wisdom teeth, often require surgical extraction if they cause pain, infection, or damage to adjacent teeth due to insufficient space for eruption.
Severe Decay or Infection
Severe tooth decay or infection, when extensive and beyond what fillings or crowns can address, may necessitate tooth extraction to prevent the spread of infection and preserve overall oral health. Persistent infection after a root canal may lead to an apicoectomy to save the tooth.
Significant Bone Loss
Significant bone loss in the jaw, often resulting from missing teeth or advanced gum disease, can require bone grafting to rebuild bone volume and density. This is frequently done to prepare the jaw for dental implants or to stabilize loose teeth.
Advanced Gum Disease (Periodontitis)
Advanced gum disease, known as periodontitis, can lead to deep pockets of infection around teeth and gums, making surgical intervention necessary to remove diseased tissue and promote healing.
Trauma
Trauma to the face or mouth, such as fractured facial bones or dental injuries, often requires oral surgery for repair and reconstruction.
Congenital Deformities
Congenital deformities like cleft lip and palate, or severe jaw misalignment, are often corrected through extensive surgical procedures. Additionally, dental surgery can be performed as preparation for prosthetics like dentures, ensuring a stable foundation and proper fit.