Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery encompasses a wide range of procedures and covers all branches related to oral and dental health.
Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery Treatments
Tooth Extraction: One of the most common procedures performed by oral surgeons and dentists for adults and children. Teeth may need to be extracted due to decay, impaction, gum disease, infection, or other reasons.
Impacted Tooth Extractions: Teeth that have failed to erupt due to position issues or lack of space are called impacted teeth. They can also remain impacted due to delayed shedding of baby teeth or cyst formation. Most commonly affected are third molars (wisdom teeth), canines, and first premolars. Impacted teeth may be fully or partially erupted. They are often discovered during routine radiographic examinations.
Symptoms of Impacted Teeth: Sometimes impacted teeth can damage adjacent teeth roots, cause difficulty in biting or chewing, sensitivity, pain, bad breath, or an unpleasant taste in the mouth. If these issues are present, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon may recommend extraction. Tooth extraction surgery is usually an outpatient procedure done in the surgeon’s office, meaning you can go home the same day. The procedure is generally short and mostly performed under local anesthesia. Sedation or general anesthesia may be used in cases of anxiety.
Jaw Cysts: Cysts are pathological cavities filled with fluid or semi-fluid material, surrounded by soft tissue called epithelium. They grow slowly in the area they occupy. Although cysts can develop anywhere in the body, they are most common in the jaws.
Jaw cysts are often asymptomatic in early stages, causing many people to seek medical attention only when the disease progresses. Late diagnosis can lead to significant jawbone damage. Surgical intervention is required for cysts, as they rarely resolve on their own. Untreated cysts can lead to facial swelling, infection, jaw deformity, or even benign or malignant tumor formation.
Jaw Tumors: These are growths in the jaw that may be benign or malignant. They usually result from developmental anomalies in tooth formation. Surgical removal is required, which can be performed under local or general anesthesia depending on the tumor size. Determining whether a jaw tumor is benign or malignant requires pathological examination. Microscopic analysis guides the appropriate treatment plan.
Apicoectomy (Root-End Surgery): When a tooth has been severely infected for a long time and conventional treatment has failed, an infection can develop at the root tip. Apicoectomy involves opening the gum tissue and underlying bone to remove the infected tissue and root tip, ensuring no further infection remains in the canal.
Abscess and Maxillofacial Infections: A dental abscess is a collection of pus in the gums or tooth roots, causing significant pain and discomfort. Bacterial infection under the skin leads to abscess formation. Abscesses are classified as periapical (at the tooth root) or periodontal (in the gums).
Periapical Abscess: Forms at the tip of a tooth root, often resulting from untreated cavities, trauma, or previous dental treatments.
Periodontal Abscess: Occurs in the gums of otherwise healthy teeth, often due to food debris trapped under the gum, leading to bacterial buildup and infection.
Symptoms of Dental Abscess:
- Severe, sharp, or throbbing pain
- Increased pain when pressure or heat is applied
- Swollen lymph nodes and facial swelling in advanced cases
- Bad breath
- Fever
- Difficulty opening the mouth (trismus)
- Insomnia
- General discomfort and malaise
Treatment involves drainage and infection control, often followed by root canal therapy, implants, or bridge placement. Untreated dental abscesses can lead to severe systemic complications, including brain, heart, sinus, or jawbone damage.
Periodontal Disease: Infection affecting the tissues surrounding and supporting teeth, which can cause tooth loss even in the absence of cavities. It is common in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Early stages (gingivitis) involve red, swollen, tender, and bleeding gums. Advanced stages (periodontitis) affect gums, supporting bone, and periodontal ligaments, causing gum recession, tooth mobility, abscesses, sensitivity, and bad breath.
Periodontal Surgeries: Performed to treat advanced gum disease or regenerate lost soft and hard tissues. Procedures include gum surgeries, bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration, and soft tissue grafts. These surgeries are typically done under local anesthesia, with sedation or general anesthesia used when necessary.