There are many different types of oral surgery dealing with the various components of the oral cavity and jaw structure. When a patient needs oral surgery, he will visit with an oral surgeon to discuss his options. Some of the different types of oral surgery include the removal of impacted teeth, extraction of teeth, root canals, and surgeries for jaw related problems.
Leading up to surgery, the oral surgeon will thoroughly review the procedure and requirements for a successful surgery. This will include taking x-rays and reminding the patient of some surgery basics. Directions can also include not eating or drinking anything for a specified time period proceeding surgery and making sure a ride is available, should the patient be having a surgery that requires anesthesia.
The removal of impacted teeth, which commonly is done to the wisdom teeth, is one of the many types of oral surgery. Wisdom teeth are also considered the third set of molars. They often come in misaligned and become impacted. This can lead to pain and swelling at the site of the affected wisdom tooth. These teeth need to be surgically removed to prevent damage to surrounding teeth.
Extraction of infected or damaged teeth represents another type of oral surgery. During extraction, the affected tooth is removed. Depending on the location of the tooth, a dental implant may be recommended to replace the tooth to prevent future problems with alignment.
For those teeth with infections caused by cracks or cavities in the tooth, a root canal may be recommended in place of a total extraction. With a root canal, the decayed nerve and any infection is removed from the tooth. Restoration of the surface of the tooth is often necessary and is done by using a crown to cover the large hole or decayed portion of the tooth.
Surgeries related to fixing jaw related problems are another example of the different types of oral surgery. Examples include surgery to improve the fit of dentures and surgeries to correct temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems. This type of oral surgery can often improve the ability to eat, swallow, and speak for patients experiencing jaw problems and conditions.
Other types of oral surgeries exist to help solve problems related to teeth and jaw health. This includes surgeries to reconstruct facial bones after injury. Other examples include repairing cleft lip or cleft palate and surgery to remove infection in the teeth or jaw areas.