Oral surgeons, formally known as oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMS), are specialized professionals in dental and medical fields. They complete a hospital-based residency program, typically four to six years beyond dental school. This extensive training provides expertise in diagnosing and surgically treating complex conditions of the mouth, jaws, face, and neck, involving both bone and soft tissues of the maxillofacial region.
Tooth Extractions and Impaction
Oral surgeons frequently perform tooth extractions for severely damaged, decayed, or impacted teeth. Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are a common reason people seek removal. These teeth often emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood, and due to limited space in the jaw, they can become impacted. Impaction occurs when a tooth is unable to fully erupt, remaining partially or completely submerged within the jawbone or gums.
Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to various problems, including pain, swelling, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth. They can also cause crowding of other teeth, or the formation of cysts and tumors around the impacted tooth. The surgical removal of these teeth involves making an incision in the gum tissue, and sometimes removing a small amount of bone to extract the tooth. Recovery typically involves managing swelling and discomfort with prescribed medication and following dietary recommendations.
Beyond wisdom teeth, oral surgeons also extract other impacted teeth, such as canines, stuck in the jaw and preventing proper alignment. They also remove teeth that are fractured, severely diseased, or have extensive infection that cannot be treated by a general dentist. These extractions can be more complex than routine removals and often require an oral surgeon’s specialized skills and advanced anesthesia.
Restoring Missing Teeth and Jawbone
Oral surgeons play a significant role in restoring oral function and aesthetics. Dental implant placement is a primary procedure they perform, offering a long-term solution for missing teeth. The process begins with a thorough evaluation, including imaging, to assess bone density and plan implant placement. During the surgical procedure, a small, biocompatible titanium post is inserted into the jawbone, serving as an artificial tooth root.
Over several months, a process called osseointegration occurs, where the jawbone fuses with the titanium implant, providing a stable foundation. Once the implant has fully integrated, an abutment is attached, and a custom-made crown is placed by a restorative dentist. This multi-stage process results in a replacement tooth that looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth.
Bone grafting procedures are often necessary before dental implant placement when jawbone volume is insufficient. Bone loss can occur due to tooth extractions, periodontal disease, or trauma. Oral surgeons use various grafting techniques to augment the jawbone, creating a stable base for implants. Graft materials can come from the patient’s own body, a donor, or synthetic sources. These grafts promote new bone growth, ensuring implant success and maintaining facial structure.
Correcting Jaw and Facial Conditions
Oral surgeons address a wide range of complex jaw and facial conditions, often requiring intricate surgical interventions. Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery, is performed to correct jawbone misalignments and bite problems. This type of surgery can address issues such as an underbite, overbite, open bite, or facial asymmetry, which may impact chewing, speech, and facial appearance. The surgeon precisely repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both, often in conjunction with orthodontic treatment.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, affecting the jaw joints and surrounding muscles, are another area of expertise for oral surgeons. Treatment options can range from conservative approaches like splints and physical therapy to surgical interventions for severe cases. Surgical procedures for TMJ disorders may include arthrocentesis, flushing the joint, or more complex open-joint surgery to repair or replace damaged joint structures. These interventions aim to alleviate pain, improve jaw movement, and restore function.
Facial trauma surgery is a significant aspect of an oral surgeon’s practice, managing injuries to the face, mouth, and jaws. This includes treating fractures of the jaw (mandible), cheekbones (zygoma), and eye sockets (orbit), as well as repairing soft tissue lacerations. Oral surgeons are often part of emergency medical teams, providing immediate surgical care to stabilize facial fractures and restore facial aesthetics and function following accidents or injuries.
Oral surgeons also diagnose and surgically remove oral pathology, including various lesions, cysts, and tumors of the mouth and jaw. This involves performing biopsies to determine the nature of a lesion, followed by surgical excision. Early detection and removal of these growths are important to prevent further complications or disease progression. The scope of their practice extends to managing conditions such as salivary gland diseases and certain types of oral cancer, often requiring complex reconstructive procedures after tumor removal.