A number of conditions may require oral surgery, including:
Impacted Teeth
Wisdom
teeth, otherwise known as third molars, are the last set of teeth to
develop. Sometimes these teeth emerge from the gum line and the jaw is
large enough to allow room for them, but most of the time, this is not
the case. More often, one or more of these third molars fails to emerge
in proper alignment or fails to fully emerge through the gum line and
becomes entrapped or "impacted" between the jawbone and the gum tissue.
Impacted wisdom teeth can result in swelling, pain, and infection of the
gum tissue surrounding the wisdom teeth. In addition, impacted wisdom
teeth can cause permanent damage to nearby teeth, gums, and bone and can
sometimes lead to the formation of cysts or tumors that can destroy
sections of the jaw. Therefore,
Dentists recommend people with impacted wisdom teeth have them surgically removed.
It's
not just wisdom teeth that sometimes become impacted and need to be
removed. Other teeth, such as the cuspids and the bicuspids can become
impacted and can cause the same types of problems described with
impacted wisdom teeth.
Tooth Loss
Dental Implants are an option for tooth loss due to an accident or infection or as an alternative to bridges and
Dentures.
The implants are tooth root substitutes that are surgically anchored in
place in the jawbone and act to stabilize the artificial teeth to which
they are attached. Suitable candidates for dental implants need to have
an adequate bone level and density, must not be prone to infection, and
must be willing to maintain good oral hygiene practices.
Jaw-Related Problems
Unequal
jaw growth. In some individuals, the upper and lower jaws fail to grow
properly. This can cause difficulty in speaking, eating, swallowing, and
breathing. While some of these problems -- like improper teeth
alignment -- can be corrected with braces and other orthodontic
appliances, more serious problems require oral surgery to move all or
part of the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both, into a new position that is
more balanced, functional, and healthy.
Improve fit of dentures.
For first-time denture wearers, oral surgery can be done to correct any
irregularities of the jaws prior to creating the dentures to ensure a
better fit. Oral surgery can also help long-term denture wearers.
Supporting bone often deteriorates over time, resulting in dentures that
no longer fit properly. In severe cases, an oral surgeon can add a bone
graft to areas where little bone remains.
Temporomandibular
Joint (TMJ) disorders. Dysfunction of the TMJ, the small joint in front
of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet, is a common source of
headache and facial pain. Most patients with TMJ disorders can be
successfully treated with a combination of oral medications, physical
therapy, and splints. However, joint surgery is an option for advanced
cases and when the diagnosis indicates a specific problem in the joint.
