It is common to see your regular dentist when you need a cavity filled, and a single tooth pulled. Regular checkups, restorations, and basic cosmetic procedures your general dentist perform can maintain your mouth healthy. They’re always busy putting crowns on teeth, fitting dentures, and assessing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
However, what if your dental problems necessitate lower jaw surgery or a full denture implant? You would visit an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in those circumstances. Let’s take a closer look at what these oral specialists do and what makes them different from each other.
What is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) is a doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of the face, mouth, and jaw.
Dental Maxillofacial surgery can involve anything from wisdom tooth extraction to cleft lip and palate surgery.
An OMS often spends another 4-6years in a hospital-based residency program after completing the dentistry school. They may become board-certified, pursue a second medical degree, or finish specialist fellowships.
Your OMS will acquire considerable training and experience in all facets of anesthetic administration during this period. The many procedures that an OMS performs necessitate this anesthetic skill.
Procedures That Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (OMSs) Perform
For various reasons, your dentist may send you to an OMS. The following are some of the most common oral and maxillofacial operations.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
An
impacted wisdom tooth does not just cause pain but also damages other teeth. It may even result in other dental issues. It necessitates more extensive surgery to cut the gum and remove any bone above the tooth. It is also not overly intrusive, though stitches are necessary, which may be self-dissolving or eliminated a week later.
An expert oral surgeon pulls impacted wisdom teeth to relieve pain and lower the risk of infection. After dental surgery, there may be some bleeding which a gauze pad is enough to control. Rinse the area with warm salt water for a few days to make it clean and prevent infection.
Jaw Surgery
If you have a jaw problem that is not possible to resolve with orthodontics alone, jaw surgery is what you should consider. Orthodontics focuses on the adjustment of the jaws and teeth. The orthodontist and oral surgeon will collaborate to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Jaw surgery is helpful in various issues like the following:
- Making everyday activities such as biting, chewing food, or swallowing easier.
- Repairing an injury or congenital issue on the face.
- Fixing breathing issues like OSA (obstructive sleep apnea).
Cleft Lift or Cleft Palate Surgery
The OMS treats cleft lip and palate patients. Cleft lip and palate surgery are performed on newborns and young children. The jaw and face components are restored, allowing for normal function and appearance.
To manage the challenges associated with these defects, such as eating, speech, hearing, and psychological development, children born with these diseases generally require the talents of numerous professionals.
Reconstruction Surgery
Patients with deformities of the jaws due to oral and facial region trauma are handled by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The patients often have a lower quality of life if they do not get sufficient treatment.
The repairing procedure of the oral cavity (replacement of lost teeth and gums) occurs once a functional reconstruction is completed. Inter-disciplinary planning with surgeons and prosthodontic specialists is the first step in restoring oral function.
Dental Implants
In most cases, implants are placed under local anesthetic. The gum is sliced and pushed aside to expose the underlying bone after the local anesthetic injection takes effect.
After that, the expert drills a hole into the bone and screws the implant. The gum is then put back at the right site with stitches. The stitches are normally dissolvable but can take various weeks to vanish.
When Should You Look for an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
It is crucial to look for an oral maxillofacial surgeon near you if you have severe facial trauma and need a tooth extraction or orthodontic treatment. Alternatively, visit Family Dental Care – Calumet City site today.
