Overview Of Oral Surgery

If your tooth has been bothering you for weeks with the pain becoming unbearable, or your jaw has been sore, and you cannot pin the exact cause, or a tooth or more fell off after a trauma, then maybe you need oral surgery. You just gasped. Surgery? But then, just be cool and calm down as this article is a brief exposé on oral surgery in San Jose.

Oral surgery is an area of specialty within dentistry that involves the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the face, mouth, teeth, and jaws.

Why You Would Need Oral Surgery.

Oral surgeries are required for tooth and jaw procedures that go beyond the expertise of a general dentist. If your wisdom teeth are impacted, then you may require the services of an oral surgeon. Also, if you suffer from gum disease and need to have a gum graft, your general dentist will then refer you to a periodontist who is an expert in those types of oral surgeries.

What Are Some Common Types Of Oral Surgery?

Oral surgery is performed for many reasons, including the following:

Bone grafting: Dental implants or other restorative devices are used in areas where one or more teeth have been lost, although sufficient bone material is needed for it to be placed. Bone grafting can be used to build up this material so an implant or other devices can be placed and properly supported, in areas where you don’t have enough bone.

Wisdom tooth removal: Wisdom teeth can sometimes become impacted and fail to fully erupt or can also cause other teeth to become crowded. These teeth can also be difficult to clean properly and can make adjacent teeth difficult to brush. Hence, your oral surgeon may sometimes recommend that your wisdom teeth be removed to avoid gum disease, appearance issues, and other problems.

Soft tissue grafting: Gums can recede and expose tooth roots, which can cause pain. This condition can also change the appearance of your smile. Soft tissue grafting uses healthy gum tissue to cover exposed roots, which alleviates pain and thickens the rest of your gum tissue, which helps keep them from receding more.

Tooth extraction: Dentists usually make every effort to save a tooth, but sometimes this isn’t possible due to extensive injury, trauma, or decay. In this case, a tooth may need to be extracted, or pulled, to improve your oral health.

These oral procedures may be minor and major. Minor oral surgeries are more routine and are performed easily while major oral surgeries are more comprehensive.

What Happens During Oral Surgery?

Before your procedure, your dentist and oral surgeon will explain what the goals of your surgery are and what you can expect.

During surgery, you’ll receive local or general anesthesia to help make you more comfortable. If you receive general anesthesia, you’ll need someone to drive you home.

Your oral surgeon will also make sure you understand any aftercare instructions, including what you can and can’t do for a short period, what to do if you’re experiencing pain, bleeding, or swelling, and more. A follow-up appointment may be scheduled if necessary, or you may call your surgeon if necessary. If you need the best dentist for oral surgery near you, you can contact us for oral surgery in San Jose today, as our experienced oral surgeons are dedicated to providing the highest level of compassionate care to each patient.

In general, here are some best advice to adhere to before surgery. Do not eat, drink or smoke after midnight the night before. Also, make sure that your mouth is well-cleansed to avoid infection. While rinsing your mouth, avoid swallowing the water.

What Happens After Oral Surgery?

Following surgery, some discomfort, numbing, or tingling is to be expected. The following tips will help you experience a faster, easier recovery:

• Use cold compresses to decrease swelling.
• Take any medication prescribed to relieve any discomfort. • Drink clear, room-temperature liquids until you can comfortably eat soft foods, e.g. ice cream. • Do not spit, smoke, or suck through a straw immediately after surgery.
• Do not brush your mouth the night after surgery.
• Get plenty of rest right after surgery.
• Do not drink alcohol the day of surgery or while taking pain medication.