Oral Surgery Procedures, Reason and After Care

Pain and discomfort are what most people experience when they have jaw or tooth related accidents. Patients might also feel helpless because of the pain cause by their dental problem. Whenever anyone has a dental problem it is important that they should seek immediate help. If the problem is remained untreated for long, it can often result in bone and tooth loss. There are different types of oral surgery that can help solve the problem. No one relishes the idea of surgery; however, there are some facts that will ensure that one is prepared for the upcoming procedure. Below are some of the most common types of dental surgeries and what you can expect when they visit the dental studio.

Types of Oral Surgery Procedures

DENTAL IMPLANT INSTALLATION

Implants are a famous way to replace missing teeth, and their installation needs oral surgery. The implant is a screw that is surgically inserted into the patient's jaw. A crown might be fixed to the implant once it is attached depending on the type of implant used and how healthy the patient's jaw is. Some will have to wait up to six months for surrounding bone tissue to fuse with the implant.

TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

Sometimes, a patient requires a tooth extracted and a simple extraction will not get the job done. In this case, a surgical extraction is performed. This process involves the oral surgeon making an incision into the patient's gums so the tooth can be reached and extracted. This surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia.

BONE GRAFTING

This surgical procedure is performed when a person lacks sufficient jaw bone tissue. This can be the result of a dental condition that deteriorates jawbone tissue or failing to replace a missing tooth. Bone grafting is also conducted when a patient wants implants but does not have the bone tissue needed to hold the oral prosthetic in position.

CORRECTIVE JAW SURGERY

This type of surgery is used to fix a variety of minor and major skeletal and dental irregularities, like a misaligned jaw. The procedure can majorly improve the patient's ability to speak, breathe and chew properly.

SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT

Surgery is also sometimes needed to address sleep apnea. Oral Surgery can be used to remove excess soft tissues that may be blocking a patient's airways. This surgery can turn out to be a permanent solution for some types of sleep apnea.

Reasons for Surgical Extractions

By taking an x-ray and examining the tooth, dentist can easily determine whether or not the extraction will be simple or surgical. But sometimes, a simple extraction turns into a surgical. If a tooth breaks off during the surgery, it may need to be taken out in pieces. Wisdom teeth mostly face surgical extraction because they're usually impacted, which means they are not completely erupted into the mouth. This condition requires cutting through tissue and bone. Other examples of surgical extractions are removing majorly broken-down teeth, teeth with long curved roots or root tips. There are times when the bone around a tooth has become thick, resulting in the need for surgical treatment.

Post-Extraction Tips

With surgical extractions, one is more likely to have one or more stitches at the extraction site. Whether the patient’s extraction is simple or surgical, it's always mandatory to closely follow their dentist's after-care instructions to speed recovery and avoid any kind of issues. These are few tips which can go a long way to ensure relief after surgery:

• One should bite the gauze pad for 30 minutes after the extraction to help stop the bleeding.
• Avoid unnecessary drinking, eating and talking for the first two hours after extraction
• One should avoid the surgical area while brushing, although they can gently rinse with a diluted mouthwash or some table salt in a glass of lukewarm water
• Don't brush or rinse the teeth for 12 hours.
• Drink plenty of cold or lukewarm liquids after the bleeding subsides.
• Maintain the diet, but always start with clear liquids and soft foods for the first day.
• Don't smoke, use straws or spit forcefully as long as there is bleeding.
• Immediately call the dentist if one has any persistent pain or bleeding.
• Follow the dentist's instructions on using any prescribed pain medicons.