ORAL SURGERY

Oral surgery (or maxillofacial surgery) is a procedure that can correct a large array of diseases, injuries or defects in the jaws, face and neck. It can also fix problems in the soft and hard tissues of the oral/maxillofacial region.

It can treat a number of conditions such as:

Impacted teeth - In some cases when wisdom teeth emerge, the gum line and the jaw are large enough to allow space for them, but in most instances, this doesn't happen. Frequently, wisdom teeth fail to emerge in proper alignment or they do not emerge at all through the gum line and therefore, become 'impacted' (entrapped) between the jawbone and the gums. This can lead to pain, swelling and sometimes infections. At the same time, this condition can cause permanent damage to adjacent teeth, gums and bone; in some cases, it can even lead to tumors or cysts that can devastate entire sections of the jaw. A surgical removal of the wisdom teeth is usually recommended immediately. This condition isn't limited to wisdom teeth only; it can occur with any other types of teeth, such as the cuspids and bicuspids.

Tooth loss - dental implants are a great solution for tooth loss and is an excellent alternative to dentures. The implants basically work as tooth root substitutes that are surgically fastened to the jawbone and serve as a base for artificial teeth. For this procedure, patients must have an adequate bone structure for the implants to work.

Unequal jaw growth - in some cases, the lower and upper jaw fail to grow properly; this can lead to difficulties in eating, swallowing, speaking and breathing. Even though most of these issues can be treated with braces or orthodontic appliances, the more serious issues may require oral surgery to shift the upper or lower jaw (or both) into a more functional, balances and healthy position.

Poor fitting dentures - for people who are getting dentures made for the first time, oral surgery can deal with any irregularities of the jaw preceding the manufacturing of the dentures to ensure an ideal fit. Surgery can also help patients that have worn their dentures for a long time since the supporting bone of the jaw can deteriorate.

Facial injury repair - Oral surgery can also be used to treat broken facial bones or fractured jaws.