Dental Health: What Are the 5 Common Types of Dental Surgery?
In the case of dental health, people usually take dental surgery as something major and is normally the source of panic and fear when their dentists mention this term. Not only that, most people think that dental surgery takes hours and is a very painful and expensive path to take.
But what most people don’t know is that dental surgery is a very common process that one undergoes to address specific dental conditions. Each person has different treatments, depending on their specific dental issues. Dental surgery is an outpatient procedure, so patients can go home after the operation and return to their normal daily activities after a few days.
If you’re still feeling anxious about this type of surgery, we will share with you five common types of dental surgery that most people go through:
Dental Implants
Dental implants are replacements for the roots of your teeth. They are used to secure crowns to your jawbone. Typically, they comprise titanium and titanium alloy because these metals are lightweight and biocompatible (the body does not reject them). Implants replace teeth because of diseases, oral cancer, decay, and even extensive smoking and alcoholism.
Dental surgery such as implants takes a longer time because the bone needs to fuse properly before the tooth seats in place. You may undergo several procedures to create channels in your jawbone that implants will fit through and become intact with the bone. At the minimum, you need two to six months for the bone to fuse before proceeding with tooth restorations (such as bridge or crowns) attached to complete the whole surgery process.
Root Canals
A root canal is one of the most common dental surgeries, with millions of teeth being treated every year. This procedure saves many teeth from extraction, toothaches, and sensitivity. If this is your first time undergoing a root canal, you don’t have to worry because it’s typically pain-free.
A surgeon usually does root canals to remove the decayed portion of your teeth and extract the infected pulp. The pulp is the soft core underneath your tooth enamel that contains the blood vessels, tissues, and nerve endings. When this gets infected, it can lead to pain (usually gums, and occasionally, neck and jaw) and occasional swelling.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that removes the adult teeth at the back-bottom and top corners of your mouth. These teeth are the last molars to sprout, normally when a person is between the ages of 17 and 25.
Some people don’t need wisdom teeth removal. But for others whose wisdom teeth don’t have room to grow, then these teeth will be impacted and might lead to infection, pain, and other dental complications. So usually, dentists suggest a wisdom tooth extraction.
This type of surgery is also an outpatient procedure and can take a few days of recovery. During this procedure, wisdom teeth are removed through surgical incisions and then stitching the extraction site to allow healing. Just remember to always follow your doctor’s orders to avoid excessive bleeding or even blood clots.
Cosmetic Dental Procedure
A cosmetic dental procedure is not a medically required procedure but it can improve one’s facial features like the patient's face. This procedure also covers orthodonture and teeth whitening.
Similarly, this kind of surgery is used to improve one’s smile by combining other procedures such as dental veneers, composite restoration, and teeth whitening. Cosmetic dental procedures are usually pain-free and can be immediately done in your dentist’s office, so you won’t need to contact an oral surgeon.
Reconstructive Surgery
When accidents happen, a person sometimes gets damages to the face because of facial trauma, falls, and even injuries. This can be stressful and scary, so one option you have is to see an oral surgeon who can offer you solutions to fix the damages on your face.
There are two categories of facial reconstruction under dental surgery. One is fractures and another one is soft tissue injuries.
Fractures are related to the tiny bone tissues in your mouth, including reconstruction of the jawbone and teeth. Some major reconstruction involves surgeries that go into nasal cavities and the forehead. Soft tissue injuries include trauma to the gums or skin. They are usually cut on the lips, tongue, and inside of the cheeks. These injuries also include lacerations of the hard and soft palate.
Conclusion
Dental surgery is not something that you should be afraid of because this can help you relieve pain, discomfort, swelling, or any signs and symptoms that you are currently experiencing. Know that dentists and oral surgeons have their own specialization so they can look after your dental problem and be able to offer life-changing solutions for your particular dental situation.
G-Dental32 offers various dental services including general dentistry, oral surgery, and dental implants in Denver. Reach out to us today so we can book your appointment and start living your life pain-free and more confidently!
