Understanding Oral Surgery: Procedures and Patient Care
The word “surgery” often brings to mind a stay in the hospital and a lengthy recovery. However, the experience of having oral surgery is usually very different. Oral surgery is often performed in a dental office setting, under local anesthesia, with minimal recovery time. Oral surgery can range from routine procedures like tooth extractions to complex jaw realignment and trauma care. Schaefer Dental Group provides specialized oral surgery services to patients in Lansing, Michigan.
Common Oral Surgery Procedures
Oral surgery procedures are performed to relieve pain, treat infection or trauma, restore function, or improve a person’s appearance. Conditions and procedures commonly treated include:
- Tooth Extractions: Removal of impacted wisdom teeth, diseased teeth that cannot be saved, or overcrowded teeth necessary for orthodontic alignment.
- Dental Implants: Minor surgical placement of a titanium implant into the jawbone beneath the gum line to serve as the long-term root replacement for a dental crown.
- Oral Diagnosis & Biopsies: Removal of a small tissue sample for laboratory analysis when a suspicious oral lesion is found, often used to detect or rule out oral cancer.
- Corrective Jaw Surgery: Procedures to correct misaligned jaws that affect both jaw function and appearance.
- Snoring & Sleep Apnea: Surgical removal of excess tissue in the back of the throat for certain individuals.
- TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder): Surgery may be considered when conservative remedies fail to relieve chronic jaw pain.
- Facial Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery: Treating injuries to the face and mouth, including re-implantation or replacement of knocked-out teeth.
- Cleft Lip/Palate: Surgical treatment for these common birth defects to ensure the child can lead a healthy, normal life.
What to Expect
Before your oral surgery, X-rays will often be taken for diagnosis and treatment planning. You will receive a step-by-step explanation of the procedure, and your anesthesia options will be discussed.
To ensure your safety and comfort, it’s always important to inform your healthcare providers about:
- All medications you are taking (prescription and over-the-counter).
- Any chronic health conditions you have.
- Whether you smoke.
Your recovery experience will depend on the procedure you are having as well as your general state of health.