What are the top reasons to go to an oral surgeon? Dental surgery requires a specialized professional. This means your regular dentist isn't always the best choice for oral surgery. If you're not sure which pro to choose, take a look at what you need to know about some of the most common dental surgery procedures.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
This popular procedure is the removal of the top, bottom, or top and bottom back molars. Some people may not have wisdom teeth (back permanent molars) that come in. Extraction of these teeth above or below the gum line can prevent overcrowding.
Dental crowding can cause the nearby teeth to grow at an odd angle, pain, or damage to the other teeth in your mouth. Impacted wisdom teeth that are under the gum line can also cause pain or lead to an infection. This makes it important to remove the teeth before problems arise.
This dental procedure is an outpatient surgery that is done either at the surgeon's office or a similar dental clinic. Some patients choose to stay awake during the extraction—but many sleep through the surgery. Instead of general anesthesia, this procedure will only require twilight sedation. This type of sedation makes it possible for the surgeon to wake you when needed.
Even though you won't need general anesthesia, the sedation will cause sleepiness or grogginess. This means you will need a responsible adult to drive you home from the extraction procedure and stay with you for the rest of the day. You will need to take the rest of the day off from work or school to recover from the anesthesia. The total recovery time depends on how quickly you heal, the complexity of the procedure, your general health, and how well you follow the surgeon's post-op directions.
Other Tooth Extractions
Wisdom teeth aren't the only teeth that may require oral surgery. While a general dentist can perform a simple extraction, some removals are more complex procedures that require additional skills. If your regular general or family practice dentist feels that the extraction requires an invasive, beyond-the-norm approach, they can refer you to a surgeon for the tooth removal.
Cosmetic Oral Surgery
Cosmetic dentistry goes beyond whitening. If you want to change the size, shape, alignment, or placement of your teeth, you will need the skills of an oral surgeon. Before you choose a surgeon for an aesthetic procedure, make sure that the professional has extensive experience and training in cosmetic practices. Ask them for before/after photos to get a better understanding of their skill level.
Speak to an oral surgeon in your area to find out more.
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