Oral surgery involves incisions, excisions, and sutures to the structures of the mouth, some of them in or around the teeth. Some oral surgeries are as common as wisdom tooth extraction. Others are as complex as cleft palate repair.
The number and variety of dental surgical procedures point to specialization. For example, periodontists are the go-to specialists for gum flap surgeries. Endodontists handle surgical procedures that treat the inner tooth. Then there are the oral and maxillofacial surgeons who fix problems that range from dental implant surgery to lump removal to the surgical correction of jaw fractures. Fortunately, general dentists can also perform minor oral surgeries in the following situations:
A general dentist extracts teeth all the time. These extractions range from badly damaged incisors or canines to molars. Sometimes the teeth that a general dentist extracts are partially erupted due to obstruction from teeth, gum tissue, or bone.
In such cases, a general dentist may make small incisions into the gum. These small surgical cuts allow the dentist to grip the partially erupted or impacted tooth to pull it out. The dentist may have to go a step further and remove any obstruction to the problem tooth.
There are patients with painful wisdom teeth that either grow horizontally or sit under layers of gum and bone. Extracting such teeth requires surgery to expose the tooth. Surgery may involve opening the gums as well as a layer of the jawbone. A general dentist will refer such patients to an oral surgeon.
General dentists perform plenty of root canals. However, not all root canal procedures are made equal. Some patients have straightforward root canal anatomies that allow a general dentist to access and remove all infection in the inner tooth. The success rate for such patients is high.
Other patients have complex root canal anatomies that increase the likelihood of failure. That is where an endodontist or oral surgeon steps in to perform intensive procedures like the apicoectomy. Removing the tips of tooth roots is a more complex procedure that requires a specialist. It then follows that a general dentist will refer patients with complex tooth root anatomies to the appropriate specialist.
The placement of dental implants requires the placement of small, biocompatible screws in the jawbone. These screws connect to abutments, which in turn connect to dental restorations or prosthetics.
Dental implant surgery is a fairly intensive oral surgery that is usually the preserve of oral surgeons and periodontists. However, some general dentists pursue in-career training that equips them with the skills and knowledge to install dental implants.
This means that it is possible to find a general dentist with the skill to place dental implants. Prospective patients judge the skill level of such dentists based on the dentist’s list of happy patients.
Before oral surgery becomes a prospect, you will need an accurate diagnosis. You will also need an explanation of all your treatment options. This is where our general dentist comes in. Our dentist has years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of oral health problems. Make an appointment to find if oral surgery is the approach that can help restore your smile.
Request an appointment here: https://oracaredentistry.com or call OraCare Dentistry at (469) 293-4444 for an appointment in our Plano office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Oral Surgery in Plano, TX.
Understanding that Oral Surgery includes tooth extractions allows dental patients to recognize that extractions are serious dental treatments. General dentists often perform tooth extractions on their patients only when the tooth is no longer saveable. Therefore, a tooth replacement option must be chosen whenever a tooth is extracted.There are two different types of extractions: simple…
Looking for information on implant dentistry? Whether only a few teeth or the complete row of teeth are missing, implant dentistry might be the best choice to restore the natural function and appearance of the smile. Before starting any major dental procedure, you would probably have many questions. This article provides answers to some of…
Root canal treatment may seem intimidating at first, but the more prepared you are the less likely you are to experience anxiety. Continue reading to learn how to prepare for this procedure. The following review discusses three tips you can use to prepare properly ahead of your scheduled root canal treatment.You can prepare for a…
Dental professionals use a root canal treatment to stop tooth decay from getting worse and treat the effects of tooth decay. While reversing tooth decay is not possible, root canal treatment can often restore the appearance, shape, and overall health of a tooth that is damaged by a severe cavity.While minor cavities may only need…