Oral surgery involves any procedure on a patient's teeth, jaws, gums, or other oral structures. It can include jaw surgeries, gum grafts, implants, and extractions. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a periodontist performs oral surgery. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are professionals with advanced training in oral surgery procedures. If you plan to undergo an oral surgical procedure in Fullerton, our experienced dentists at Tayani Dental Group can help.

Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery

Maxillofacial surgery is a specialty of dentistry associated with jaws and face. Maxillofacial surgery is a surgery that treats injuries and diseases of the areas around the mouth. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have extra education and training beyond a general dentist. Some could get oral surgery diplomas alongside a medical degree. They undergo at least four years of training in hospital-based surgical programs alongside medical residents in different specialties, including anesthesia. Anesthesia includes various types of IV sedation, including general anesthesia and twilight sleep, where you cannot feel any pain because you are rendered unconscious. It could also involve local anesthesia, where the dentist numbs only a small area of your body for your procedure.

Who needs oral surgery? An oral surgeon can come in handy in the following situations:

Cancer Treatment

Oral surgeons not only treat cancers of the mouth. They also treat cancers of the head, head, and surrounding oral features like the lips, larynx, throat, sinuses, and salivary glands. Oral surgery can help in addressing the following:

  • Facial infections.
  • Biopsy.
  • Facial injury repair.
  • Removal of lesions on the face or inside the mouth.
  • Cleft lips and cleft palate surgery.
  • Nerve repair.

Sleep And Breathing Issues

Oral surgeons deal with issues like snoring and sleep apnea, which causes an individual to stop breathing briefly while sleeping. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can recommend a CPAP machine or other appliance to open your airway.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often arises when the tissue in the back of an individual's throat falls back and blocks the airway during sleep. At times, OSA can be treated successfully using conservative methods like CPAP medicine or oral appliance therapy. However, surgery might be necessary in severe cases.

The type of procedure you would undergo will depend on what is blocking your breathing. It could be that a specific part of your mouth or nasal passages requires adjustment. It could also be that your airway needs to be made more prominent. The procedure can involve extracting the soft tissues of the oropharynx or the lower jaw. In this case, you could undergo a new treatment option known as ''Laser surgery''. You could have the surgery in the doctor's office and go home the same day. On the other hand, you can spend a few days in the hospital and have your jaw wired shut if the surgery you require is more complex.

Improve Fit Of Dentures

Oral surgery can correct any jaw irregularities for first-time denture wearers. A dentist can perform oral surgery before creating dentures to ensure a better fit. Oral surgical procedures could also benefit people wearing dentures for a long time. Supporting bone can deteriorate with time, making dentures not fit properly. In severe cases, an oral surgeon could add a bone graft to strengthen areas with little bone.

Dental Implants

An oral surgeon could replace missing teeth with dental implants. A surgeon places a titanium implant into a patient's jaw, and the dentist places a crown. Dental implants are ideal when you lose your teeth through an infection or accident. Implants also serve as an alternative to dentures and bridges. Candidates for dental implants must meet the following requirements:

  • Must be willing to maintain good oral hygiene practices.
  • Must not be prone to infections.
  • Must have sufficient bone level and density.

Most surgeons consider dental implants reliable since they are the longest-lasting tooth replacement option available. Dental implants are small threaded posts made of medical-grade zirconia or titanium. Once they are healed, implants can be restored with dentures, dental bridges, or dental crowns.

Overbite Or Underbite

Dentists can recommend orthognathic surgery if your jaw or teeth are not aligned properly. This could be the best option if:

  • You have sleep apnea.
  • Certain birth defects.
  • Swallowing or chewing problems.
  • Excessive overbite or underbite.

Some people fail to grow their upper and lower jaws properly, which can make it hard to breathe, eat, swallow, and speak. Braces and other orthodontic appliances can correct improper tooth alignment. However, severe cases require oral surgery to move all or a section of the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both into a new position that is healthy, functional, and more balanced.

An orthodontist will first explore other ways of correcting your teeth if they fail to line up. However, if the problem is caused by your jaw, you could require oral surgery.

Jaw-Joint Problems

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects a person’s jaw to their skull. This joint is the little ‘’hinge’’ in front of the ears. This could cause issues like headaches, stiffness, jaw popping, and pain in the jaw. Splints, physical therapy, and a combination of oral medications can be used to treat people with TMJ disorders. However, joint surgery is the best option for severe cases. Joint surgery could also be used when the diagnosis shows a specific problem in the joint. Ice packs, pain medication, and oral devices can also help, but individuals with recurring problems could require oral surgery.

Also known as orthognathic surgery, corrective jaw surgery addresses skeletal abnormalities of a person’s jaw bones. Your surgeon could perform this procedure to improve your chewing, address facial imbalances, or correct misalignment. Your surgeon could also perform this procedure to ease pain caused by TMJ dysfunction (TMD).

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is a common type of oral surgery. Your dentist can recommend tooth removal if you have gum disease, dental trauma, wisdom teeth complications, or severe tooth decay. Tooth removal is sometimes done to prepare you for dentures or other prosthetic devices. When possible, most dentists opt to save your natural teeth. However, tooth removal could sometimes be necessary to preserve your oral health. Most dentists also recommend the removal of wisdom teeth as a preventative measure to reduce your risk of bone loss, cavities, and other problems.

Impacted Teeth

Impaction is common with third molars, also known as wisdom teeth. It can also happen in other places in the mouth. Impacted teeth could arise from the gum line if the jaw is large enough to allow room for them. Unfortunately, this is not the case most of the time. The teeth can be crowded when they emerge from the gums for the first time. They can fail to come out completely. This can lead to sore gums and infections of the gum tissue surrounding the third molars or wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause permanent damage to adjacent bones, gums, and teeth. Sometimes, they can cause the formation of tumors or cysts that can destroy part of the jaw.

Your surgeon or dentist can recommend that you have your wisdom teeth extracted before they cause any problems. However, not only wisdom teeth become impacted and require extraction. Other teeth, like bicuspids and cuspids, could also be impacted and cause the same issues.

Cleft Lip And Palate Repair

A child born with a cleft palate has an opening in the roof of their mouth, while a child born with a cleft lip has an opening in their upper lip. Some minors could have both conditions. Cleft lip and palate could arise when the facial structures fail to develop fully in the uterus. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can perform cleft lip and palate surgery to restore normal eating. This procedure could also help a child develop proper speech patterns in the future.

Periodontal Surgery

If you have moderate or severe periodontitis, a gum specialist can recommend gum disease treatment. During this procedure, your surgeon will make incisions along your gum line. He/she can move the tissue back temporarily away from your teeth. Your surgeon will also clean the roots of your teeth, flushing away bacteria and plaque that have developed under your gums. The surgeon will then reposition your gum tissue and suture it into place.

Periodontitis can cause gum recession, which might require a gum graft. Your surgeon can reinforce the area of the tissue loss with donor tissue, which can be obtained from the roof of your mouth or bought from a certified tissue bank.

Dental Bone Graft

Your dentist can recommend a dental bone graft if you have lost bone in your jaw. You could lose your jawbone because of several reasons. The roots of your natural teeth stimulate the nerves in your jaw, and stimulation signals your brain to send nutrients to your jaw, keeping it healthy and strong. However, bone deterioration can occur if a tooth has been missing for some time. This happens because of the absence of roots to stimulate the nerves. A dental bone graft could restore the volume and density in your jawbone to allow the placement of dental implants in the future.

Your surgeon can place a bone graft when performing a periodontal surgery. Because of advanced gum disease, the bone surrounding the teeth could be eroded. A bone graft provides a solid foundation and reduces mobility, keeping your teeth healthy and strong.

The Oral Surgery Procedure - What To Expect

The following are the phases of the oral surgery procedure:

Before Oral Surgery

You will undergo a comprehensive assessment to check your jaw joints, gums, teeth, and surrounding structures. Your dentist will also take dental X-rays and scans to clearly view your nerves, jawbone, teeth roots, and other crucial oral landmarks. Using this information, the dentist will tailor a personalized treatment plan.

During Oral Surgery

Sometimes, your surgeon can perform oral surgery in a dental office as an outpatient procedure. For your comfort, your surgeon will put you under sedation, including oral medications, nitrous oxide, moderate or deep sedation or intravenous (IV). In other situations, your surgeon can complete oral surgery in a hospital under general anesthesia.

After Oral Surgery

You will receive detailed post-operative instructions following your oral surgery procedure. You must adhere to your surgeon's instructions to reduce your risk of infection, bleeding, and other complications.

The time your oral procedure will take will depend on the following factors:

  • Whether you choose sedation.
  • The number of teeth that are being treated.
  • The type of oral surgery you are undergoing.

One tooth removal could take more than 30 minutes. A more comprehensive procedure, like corrective jaw surgery, could last two to three hours.

Whether Oral Surgery Is Medical Or Dental

Most oral surgeries fall under dental benefits when it comes to insurance. Sometimes, however, oral surgery is covered under medical insurance. For example, you could be covered by your medical insurance if you have been involved in an accident and oral surgery is performed in a hospital setting. However, policies and plans are different. It is therefore advisable that you ask your dentist for details. In short, medical insurance will not cover all oral surgeries; it will only cover a few.

The Complications Or Risks Of Oral Surgery

Oral surgery has related complications just like any other procedure. Once the anesthesia wears off, there will most likely be some pain or soreness. The degree and duration of discomfort will depend on the type of surgical operation you underwent. Bleeding following oral surgery is common and resolves typically within eight hours. Applying pressure using a gauze compress is very helpful.

Swelling is another typical adverse effect, especially after tooth extractions and operations requiring soft tissue cutting. Bruising can occur in certain patients, but it is more common in the elderly and those on daily aspirin or steroid medication.

Other possible complications of oral surgery include the following:

Risk Of Infection

Infection following oral surgery is uncommon but can occur. People with diabetes or a weakened immune system are more susceptible to post-surgical infections. Infection symptoms include fever, pus, abnormal swelling in the treatment site, and a persistent unpleasant taste in your mouth. Dental surgeons can recommend antibiotics to prevent infections.

Injury To The Adjacent Teeth Or Tissues

While oral surgeons take great care to protect neighboring teeth or previous dental restorations during oral surgery, injuries to teeth or adjoining tissue are possible.

Dry socket

A dry socket is a painful condition that can arise following tooth extraction. Typically, a clot forms in the socket left by the extracted tooth. The clot protects the nerve and bone tissues exposed during tooth extraction until it dissolves naturally around a week to ten days later. In a dry socket, the clot dislodges early, making the nerve more susceptible and hindering the healing process.

Persistent Numbness

Oral surgery might irritate the nerves surrounding the operative site. Irritating these nerves can result in decreased or complete loss of sensation in locations served by the nerve. The affected areas can include the lip, cheek, tongue, chin, teeth, or gums. Usually, any numbness that does develop typically resolves in 24 hours or less. However, chronic numbness can develop and persist much longer.

Sinus Complications

Sinus cavities are empty spaces located on the front of the forehead, close to the eyes and nose. Drainage from the sinuses prevents bacteria from accumulating in the nasal canal. The lowermost sinuses are pretty close to the roots of the upper teeth. Surgery on these teeth can allow the tooth roots to enter the sinus cavity, leading to complications.

Root Fragments

Tooth roots can be lengthy and delicate, making them vulnerable to breaking during surgery. Dental surgeons can remove any fractured pieces, although some might need to be left in place if they are too close to a nerve or sinus. Sometimes, removing the fragment could compromise the adjacent teeth.

Jaw fracture

Wisdom tooth extraction can weaken the jawbone, particularly if it is already thin. The jawbone can also be at risk if the wisdom teeth are lodged under the gum or partially break through the gum. A weakened jawbone could elevate the likelihood of a jawbone fracture.

Temporomandibular Joint

The temporomandibular joint, abbreviated TMJ, holds the jaw to the skull. Wisdom tooth removal can cause irritation and pain in the TMJ, which can be worse if you already have a TMJ condition.

You should follow your dentist's instructions and take all medications as prescribed. If you develop any of the above side effects, call your dentist for further instructions.

Smoking and tobacco use are among the most preventable risk factors for side effects after oral surgery. Patients who smoke are more prone to have dry sockets and heal slowly. Tobacco smoking increases the risk of infection.

Find An Experienced Fullerton Oral Surgeon Near Me

Oral surgery refers to various invasive treatments for dental and jaw issues. The most prevalent form of oral surgery is tooth extraction. Other oral surgeries include dental implant placement and wisdom tooth removal. If you need a reliable oral surgeon in Fullerton, you can count on our dentists at Tayani Dental Group. We have the expertise and experience to perform all types of oral surgeries. Contact us at 949-741-0795 to speak to one of our dentists.