ORAL SURGERY PROCEDURES

As suggested by the name, an oral surgeon treats surgical problems affecting the mouth – usually in a hospital.

These problems can include benign or malignant tumours and cysts as well as infections.

Oral surgeon tasks

Most oral surgeons are also responsible for surgically treating teeth.

This can include dental implants and complex tooth extractions as well as bone and gum reconstruction procedures.

Some implants patients do not have enough bone for an implant to be placed – for example as a result of lost bone due to an infection or an accident.

Other causes of bone loss include pressure on the gums and bone from long-term denture use.

ORAL SURGERY PROCEDURES

In these cases, an oral surgeon maybe able to rebuild bone ahead of a subsequent implant placement.

A lack of bone usually comes with a lack of gum – so the gum on top of the bone will also need to be rebuilt.

Depending on the case, the bone can be grafted before the gum procedure – or both can be performed at the same time.

Then comes the placement of the implant – in the rebuilt gum – which acts as a root for the bespoke brand new crown… effectively the new tooth.

Do you have to be referred to an oral surgeon?

Dentists will often refer cases so the oral surgeon can perform the entire treatment.

Oral surgeons can also restore implants – in other words replace a crown on an existing implant.

Why would you see a maxillofacial surgeon?

While oral surgeons look after the mouth, maxillofacial surgeons additionally take care of the other parts of the face.

For example, a maxillofacial surgeon would be responsible for treating a fracture around the eye/nose area.