What is oral surgery?
Oral surgery involves any surgery performed on your teeth, gums, jaws, or other oral structures. It includes extractions, implants, gum grafts, and jaw procedures. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon often performs oral surgery.
Oral surgeons vs. general dentists
Patients may need to choose from a range of dental practitioners, and it can be confusing to figure out which type of dental expert is ideal for your present needs. Understanding how their roles differ in dental care can help you make the right choice.
General dentists are primary oral healthcare providers. They offer services like teeth cleaning, X-rays, and full screening for dental concerns. They also provide recommendations on how to avoid common dental diseases. Although a general dentist can perform routine dental procedures, complex surgeries may be beyond their scope of practice. Oral surgeons can carry out simple and complex dental procedures, such as tooth extractions, reconstructive dental surgery, and soft tissue biopsies.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have more training and education than dentists. Some obtain a medical degree (an M.D.) in addition to their qualifications in oral surgery. They complete at least four years of training in a hospital-based surgical program alongside medical residents from various disciplines.
When should you opt for oral surgery?
You may require oral surgery if you experience or need any of the following:
- Impacted teeth: This is most common with wisdom teeth, although it can happen in other areas of your mouth. Sometimes, these teeth grow from the gum line, and the jaw is large enough to accommodate them, but this is not always true. When teeth emerge through the gums for the first time, they may be crowded, so they may not develop partially or not at all. This might result in aching gums and gum tissue infections. Your dentist or surgeon may recommend getting your wisdom teeth extracted to avoid complications.
- Implants: These structures enable the replacement of a missing tooth. The surgeon places a titanium implant in your jaw, and the dentist places a crown on top. Dental implants help replace missing teeth after an accident or infection. They also serve as an alternative to bridges and dentures. Individuals going for dental implants must have enough bone level and density, be immune to disease, and follow proper oral hygiene practices.
- Improving the fit of your dentures: For first-time denture users, oral surgery can be performed to rectify jaw anomalies before creating the dentures, ensuring a better fit. Long-term denture wearers may also benefit from oral surgery. Over time, supporting bone often deteriorates, resulting in dentures that no longer fit properly. In severe instances, a dental surgeon can add a bone graft to regions where little bone remains..
Some other conditions that may require oral surgery include:
- Badly broken teeth
- Bone loss in your jaw
- Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD)
- Oral cancer
- Sleep apnea
- Benign oral pathology
- Gum disease
Common surgical procedures
Here are some common surgical procedures performed by oral surgeons near you:
- Tooth extraction - The most frequent oral surgery is tooth extraction, often needed due to severe tooth decay, gum disease (periodontitis), dental trauma, or complications from wisdom teeth. Tooth extractions may also be necessary to prepare for dentures or other prosthetic devices. Although dentists aim to preserve natural teeth, extractions are sometimes important for maintaining oral health. Wisdom tooth extractions are often recommended to prevent future dental issues such as bone loss and cavities.
- Dental bone graft - A bone graft is required when there is bone loss in the jaw. This bone loss can occur for several reasons. Usually, the roots of natural teeth stimulate the nerves in the jaw, prompting the brain to send nutrients that keep the jawbone strong and healthy. However, if a tooth has been missing for an extended period, this stimulation stops, leading to bone deterioration in that area. A dental bone graft helps restore the jawbone's volume and density, making it possible to place dental implants later. Additionally, a bone graft may be performed during periodontal surgery. Advanced gum disease can erode the bone around your teeth. In this context, a bone graft helps stabilize the teeth by reducing their mobility and providing a stronger foundation.
- Periodontal surgery - A specialist might recommend periodontal surgery for moderate to severe gum disease. This involves making incisions along the gum line to clean the roots of the teeth, removing plaque and bacteria. The gums are then repositioned and sutured back in place. In cases of gum recession due to periodontitis, a gum graft may be necessary, using donor tissue from the patient or a tissue bank.
- Corrective jaw surgery - Also called orthognathic surgery, corrective jaw surgery addresses skeletal issues in the jaw bones, improving chewing function, correcting misalignment, or addressing facial imbalances. It can also alleviate pain caused by TMJ dysfunction (TMD).
- Sleep apnea surgery - For severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the throat tissues block the airway during sleep, surgical intervention by an oral surgeon near you may be required if conservative treatments like oral appliances or CPAP machines are ineffective.
What does an oral surgery procedure generally entail?
Before the surgery, your oral surgeon will thoroughly examine your teeth, jaw joints, gums, and surrounding mouth structures. They will take dental scans and X-rays to observe the roots of your teeth, nerves, jawbone, etc. Based on this information, they will create a personalized treatment plan.
Oral surgery also happens as an outpatient procedure in a dental office. Your provider may suggest sedative options like nitrous oxide, oral medicines, or intravenous (IV) moderate or intense sedation. Occasionally, surgeons may perform the procedure in a hospital under general anesthesia.
Once your surgery is complete, the surgeon will give you some specific post-operative instructions. You must strictly adhere to these guidelines to limit your risk of bleeding, infection, and other problems.
How long does the oral surgical procedure last?
The time frame of your procedure depends on several factors, like the type of oral surgery, the number of teeth requiring treatment, and whether or not you opt for anesthesia. A single tooth extraction may take about half an hour, while a more extensive procedure, such as corrective jaw surgery, may take two to three hours.
How can I find a dental surgeon near me?
Now that you know a dental surgeon's role in your healthcare, let us help you find one nearby. Zocdoc is an online platform that assists you in finding top-rated specialists for your medical requirements. Input your search query to find a dental surgeon near you. The forum will scan through millions of entries in its database to display a list of healthcare experts you seek.
These search results can be filtered through several parameters, such as the specialty, locality, appointment slot, gender, language, and whether they are an in-network provider. You can narrow your preference by going through detailed profiles of all the doctors provided.
Through Zocdoc, you can also find an oral surgeon near you who accepts your insurance. You can easily add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account. While you can only search for and book an appointment with one insurance plan at a time, you can still mention your secondary insurance details in the notes for your provider during the booking process. If your provider uses Zocdoc's intake forms, you also have the option to include secondary insurance information when filling out these forms online.
Zocdoc gives you information on their expertise, training, years of practice, awards, and certifications, if any. You can also find authentic reviews from previous patients who visited these specialists and thus make an informed decision. Zocdoc also enables you to book a video consultation or an in-person appointment with the chosen dental surgeon near you based on your availability. All bookings you make via Zocdoc are easy, secure, and completely free!
Oral surgeon and oral health statistics in the U.S.
According to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were around 4,290 oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the country as of May 2022. Dentist offices had more surgeons (~3,660) compared to general medical and surgical hospitals (~250) and outpatient care centers (~60).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also found that cavities, severe gum disease, and severe tooth loss are the top three oral conditions that severely impact overall well-being and quality of life. One out of four adults aged 20 to 64 suffers from cavities. By the time children in the U.S. turn 8, more than half of them (~52%) develop a cavity in their baby teeth.
Maintaining oral care from an early age is imperative to preventing major dental issues, some of which may require oral surgery.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic
WebMD
Mid-Hudson Oral & Maxillofacial Practice, PC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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