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Patient with her Oral Surgeon Boca Raton

When Do You Need Oral Surgery?

October 17, 2022

Not all oral health problems require that you see an oral surgeon in Boca Raton. However, there are certain cases wherein oral surgery is necessary to restore and improve your oral function and relieve you from uncomfortable symptoms like pain.  

We understand that the idea of surgery can be daunting for most people, but if you don’t deal with a problem now, sooner or later, it will complicate matters and could turn into a dental emergency. When do dentists recommend oral surgery

Tools of an oral surgeon Boca Raton

Reasons Why You Might Need Oral Surgery 

What Is Oral Surgery? 

Oral surgery is an umbrella term that describes surgical operations performed on your teeth, jaw, gums, and oral tissues. It can be broken down into two categories, maxillofacial surgery, and dentoalveolar surgery. In maxillofacial surgeries, the focus areas are your head, face, neck, and jaw.  

Meanwhile, if you’re scheduled for a dentialveolar surgery, your oral surgeon will work on your teeth and gums. An example of dentoalveolar surgery is tooth extraction.  

What Conditions Require Oral Surgery? 

Damaged Tooth, Impacted Wisdom Teeth, Decayed Tooth 

Your permanent teeth aren’t supposed to be removed, but if they pose risks to your oral health, your oral surgeon will have no choice but to perform an extraction. Extraction is needed for crowded or impacted wisdom teeth, severely damaged teeth that are beyond repair, removing a badly decayed tooth, or preparing for dental implant surgery. There are two types of extractions – simple and surgical.  

A simple tooth extraction is done if your tooth is visible above the gum line. This does not require surgery. Your dentist will use a lifter and forceps to pull your tooth out. However, if your tooth is impacted, a surgical extraction is needed to remove it safely. 

Jaw Problems 

Corrective jaw surgery may be needed if you suffer from a facial trauma that affected your jaw area, temporomandibular jaw disorder, a wisdom tooth extraction, or malocclusion.  

What happens if you neglect to get surgery? Will it impact your health? The answer is yes. People who deliberately avoid surgery can suffer from periodontal problems, a relapse of orthodontic treatment, and jaw joint pain, and it could even alter their facial appearance.   

Jawbone Loss 

People interested in getting dental implants but who failed to pass the eligibility criteria due to a lack of bone mass and structure can opt for bone grafting surgery. For dental implant surgery to be successful, you must have a healthy and sufficient jawbone.  Remember that the implants are embedded in your jawbone.  

If your jawbone lacks density, osseointegration will not occur (the process where the implants fuse with bone tissues). The bond is essential to keep the dental implants securely anchored in your mouth.  

Even if you’re not eligible for dental implant surgery because of evident bone loss in your jaw, you’ll still have a chance to get dental implants if you undergo bone grafting surgery.  

How Do You Prepare for Oral Surgery? 

The preparation depends on the type of surgery you’re getting. If it’s a simple procedure, you’ll receive a local anesthetic to numb the area. But, if the surgery is complex, your oral surgeon may talk to you about general anesthesia. Regardless of the type of surgery you’re getting, one thing is sure – it will be painless due to the anesthesia. 

Oral Surgeon during a procedure in Boca Raton

Looking For a Reliable Oral Surgeon in Boca Raton? 

If you have more questions about oral surgery that aren’t addressed here, feel free to ask us. At 5th Avenue Dental, we appreciate questions.  

Our friendly and knowledgeable team provides you with all the information you need to give you peace of mind about your surgery. We have years of experience in the industry, and we are confident that we’ll be able to deliver high-quality results. Contact us today for an appointment.