The teeth perform loads of tasks. Apart from chewing the food, teeth help speak distinctly and open new avenues in personal and professional spheres. A bright smile can boost your self-confidence. A lost tooth can dent your self-esteem, and you would have to hide it while you speak or smile.
Apart from aging and dental trauma, there are several other reasons to lose a tooth or two or to have cavities. Oral surgery can be a form of restorative dentistry performed by oral surgeons focusing on reconstructing the facial bones, the neck, the head, and the jaws.
Oral surgery is a broad term referring to any form of surgery performed by oral surgeons on your teeth, jaws, gums, or other oral structures. Oral surgery is performed for the following reasons:
There are several types of oral surgeries performed by dentists near you. The most common form of oral surgery is teeth extraction. Dentists recommend tooth extraction if you have an impacted or cavitied tooth. The same may be suggested to cure dental trauma or wisdom teeth complications. Dentists focus on protecting and saving the natural teeth but removing the impacted tooth is necessary to keep the rest.
A dental implant is another widely used oral surgery to replace lost teeth. Dental implants are a long-lasting and permanent solution to lost teeth. In dental implant surgeries, the dentist surgically places zirconium or titanium posts in the jawbones. The artificial crowns are placed on the metal posts to replace the lost teeth.
In Pflugerville, TX, the oral surgeon might need to perform dental bone graft surgery if the jawbones are insufficient to support the dental implants or the roots of the natural teeth stimulate the nerves beneath the jaws. Dental bone grafting surgery restores the volume and density of the jawbones.
Periodontal surgeries are performed to treat periodontal or gum diseases. During periodontal surgeries, the dentist makes an incision in the gumline, cleans the affected teeth, removes the debris and plaque before repositioning the gum tissues back in place.
Oral surgeons perform orthogenetic surgery to correct skeletal abnormalities of the jawbones. Such oral surgeries improve chewing capabilities, address facial imbalances, correct misalignment of the teeth, and correct TMJ disorders.
Oral surgery is an invasive process and might involve sedation dentistry. The dentist might use intravenous sedation depending on the teeth or oral cavity condition. Once the oral surgery is performed, you can expect most of the pain for the first 24 to 48 hours. With time, the pain reduces considerably, but it is normal to experience some discomfort and pain even after 4 days of the surgery.
Soreness and discomfort would last for 3 to 5 days after the oral surgery. The amount of discomfort differs from the site of operation and from person to person. You can experience numbness and bleeding in the first few hours after surgery, and the rea might continue to ooze for a day after surgery. You can use a gauze pad over the wound to reduce bleeding.
It is important to follow the dentist's instructions in Pflugerville, TX. It is advisable to take it easy and rest after the oral surgery. You should not use a toothbrush or mouthwash immediately after oral surgery.
If the surgery site is swelled, you may apply an ice pack on the jaws for about 30 minutes, remove it for 15 minutes and reapply. Such action of alternative hot and cold compression action can reduce inflammation and pain.
Avoiding hot and cold food and beverages after oral surgery is better. You should eat food that requires minimum chewing. Using a straw should be avoided immediately after oral surgery. You should also consider visiting the dentist after undergoing oral surgery. Peak Dental – Pflugerville can be the dental office to see avail of our personalized dental care. We offer free white whitening with every complete dental treatment here.
