What Does Oral Surgeon Do?

When your dentist recommends oral surgery, it’s important to understand what it entails. This specialization is different from dentistry because it includes four to seven years of hospital-based surgical and medical training.

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Oral Surgery

Oral surgery is a wide term and encompasses many different procedures. Some of the most common treatments are surgical tooth extraction, dental implant placement, bone grafting and treating facial trauma. The oral surgeon is uniquely qualified to perform these procedures because they have completed both four years of dental school and a rigorous, 4-year residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

They can use their unique training and background in dentistry, medicine and surgery to evaluate the mouth and jaw bones and remove cysts and tumors. They can also do biopsies of the soft tissue in and around the mouth. In addition, they can do corrective jaw surgery to treat bite problems that cannot be solved with orthodontics alone.

Patients must follow the doctor’s instructions for recovery after oral surgery. This may include avoiding alcohol and smoking, eating soft foods, using an ice pack and performing salt water rinses. They must also stay hydrated and take antibiotics as directed.

Maxillofacial Surgery

Many oral problems, including cancers and infections, affect the bones of the mouth and jaw. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons use their medical, dental, surgical and bone grafting skills to treat these problems and improve function and aesthetics.

Presurgical lab work and imaging are often required to ensure that a person's body can safely handle the stress of anesthesia and surgery. These tests also help to assess whether a patient has any medical conditions that would impact the outcome of surgery.

Once a person has undergone anesthesia, recovery times vary according to the type of procedure and its invasiveness. Most people feel like themselves within two to three days, although it's important to avoid vigorous swishing or spitting because this can disturb healing. It's also a good idea to follow all post-surgery instructions and take medication as prescribed. These steps can reduce the risk of complications, such as a complication called dry socket, which results in severe pain after a tooth has been removed.

Jaw Surgery

Some bite and alignment problems cannot be corrected using today's advanced dental and orthodontic techniques. In these cases, corrective jaw surgery (also known as orthognathic surgery) may be recommended.

During this procedure, the surgeon cuts and shapes the bone in order to properly align the upper and lower teeth. This can help fix a wide variety of problems, including underbites, overbites, retrusive upper and lower jaws, and crossbites.

The oral surgeon Thibodaux may use screws and plates to hold the bone in its new position. Following the surgery, the orthodontist will begin a post-operative phase to "fine tune" the upper and lower teeth in order to achieve a proper fit and occlusion.

Changing the shape of your jaw not only creates a healthier, more functional bite; it also makes a dramatic impact on facial aesthetics. Our patients in Thibodaux, Houma, Schriever, LaSalle, Gray, and surrounding LA communities can trust us to deliver both. Call to set up an appointment for a consultation.

Dental Implants

An oral surgeon is uniquely qualified to perform dental implants because of their extensive training and experience. Having spent four to six years in dental school, they have been exposed to many different dental restoration patients and can provide a custom-fit treatment plan for each individual.

In addition to this, they are able to perform other procedures that may be needed before the implant surgery begins. For instance, some people have a jawbone that is too soft or thin to support an implant. If this is the case, a bone graft will be performed first. By removing some healthy bone and placing it in the areas that need to be thickened, an oral surgeon can prepare the area for dental implant surgery.

Once the gum tissue has healed, an oral surgeon Thibodaux will place a titanium implant rod into the mouth. This rod will eventually fuse with the gum and jawbone, providing a strong foundation for the replacement tooth.