Are You In Need of Oral Surgery? Here's How to Know

For weeks, your tooth has been bothering. The pain is now unbearable. Perhaps your jaw is sore recently. You may have lost a tooth in the last few weeks.Are a few visits to the dentist sufficient? What if you have to visit an oral and maxillofacial specialist? How can you tell?

Talk to your Dentist First

See your dentist if you are experiencing pain in your jaw, teeth, gums or mouth.

If you have an emergency and a dentist cannot be reached, go to the urgent care clinic instead of the ER. If possible, avoid both. They may only prescribe medication to treat the symptoms, and then tell you to visit a dentist. They might charge you three to four times the cost of solving the problem. Your dentist can handle most oral problems. They will recommend an oral surgeon if they feel you are in need.

The Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeon

Maxillofacial surgery is a specialization of dentistry that deals with your jaws and face. This is surgery that treats diseases and injuries in the area around your mouth.

Oral and maxillofacial specialists have more education and training than is required for dentists. Along with their oral surgery diplomas, some get a medical degree (an MD). They complete at least four years of training with medical residents in hospital-based surgical programs. This includes IV sedation in various forms, such as “twilight” and general anesthesia. In this case, you are unconscious and don’t feel any pain. Local anesthesia can also be used, in which a small part of your body is numbed to assist with your procedure.

A variety of situations can be helped by an oral surgeon.

Immediate teeth. This is most common with wisdom teeth (also known as third molars). It can also happen elsewhere in your mouth.

Sometimes these teeth emerge from the gum line and the jaw is large enough to allow room for them, but most of the time, this is not the case. Sometimes the teeth may not come out fully or at all when they first come through the gums. This can cause sore gums and infections of the gum tissue surrounding the wisdom teeth. Additionally, impacted wisdom can cause severe damage to adjacent teeth, gums, bone, and bone. In some cases, cysts and tumors can form that can lead to complete jaw destruction.

A dentist or surgeon may recommend that you have your wisdom teeth removed before any complications arise. Sometimes wisdom teeth can become impacted and require to be extracted. The same problems can occur with other teeth such as the bicuspids or the cuspids.

Jaw-joint problems. Your jaw connects to your skull via the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). It is the little “hinge”, just in front of your ears. It can lead to problems such as pain in the jaw, jaw popping, stiffness, headaches, and jaw-popping. TMJ disorders can usually be treated using a combination of oral and surgical methods.MedikamentePhysical therapy, splints, and physical therapy are all options. Joint surgery can be an option in advanced cases or when a problem is specific to the joint.

You can get help with ice packs, pain medication, or oral devices. Oral surgery may be necessary for people who have recurring issues.

Overbite/underbite. Orthognathic surgery may be recommended if your jaw or teeth are not aligned correctly. This is an option for those with severe sleep apnea, excessive chewing or swallowing difficulties, and certain birth defects. Some people have their upper and lower jaws not growing properly. This can lead to difficulties in speech, eating, swallowing and breathing. Some of these problems, such as improper alignment of teeth, can be fixed with braces or other orthodontic appliances. However, more serious problems may require oral surgery to move the entire upper jaw, lower jaw or both into a more balanced, functional and healthy position. More information is available at teeth straightening surgeryExtreme overbites and subbites

If your teeth don’t align properly, an orthodontist will often be able to correct them. If the problem is caused by your jaw, an oral surgeon may be required. Learn more about ways to straighten teeth without braces.Implants. A dental implant can be used to replace a tooth that is missing. After the surgeon inserts a titanium screw into your jaw, your dentist attaches the crown.Dental implantsThey can be used to replace bridges or to treat tooth loss caused by an accident or infection.Dentures. Candidates for dental implants must have adequate bone density and quality, be willing to practice good oral hygiene and be free from infection.