Any procedure performed around or in your mouth and jaw counts as oral surgery. Surgery can address serious issues, such as tooth loss or impacted wisdom teeth. Many patients will need oral surgery at some point in their life. Here are four ways oral surgery can impact your smile:
Root Canal Therapy Saves Teeth
Root canals are a common oral surgery that allows the outer tooth structure of compromised teeth to be preserved. This procedure treats tooth infections, which could otherwise spread and threaten your overall health. Root canal treatment involves creating a small hole in your tooth and removing the infected or damaged pulp. Once the area is cleaned out, the tooth can be sealed and topped with a restoration, like a filling or crown.
Bone Grafts Strengthen the Jawbone
If you’ve lost density in your jawbone, bone grafting can restore it. Although the surgery itself isn’t painful because of modern anesthesia and sedation, you may experience some discomfort, bruising, and swelling while you heal. Bone grafts have a very high success rate.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Your wisdom teeth sit way back in your mouth. Many patients experience impacted wisdom teeth, which is when the teeth can’t break properly through the gums, or their wisdom teeth grow in crooked. These problematic teeth can cause pain, damage to neighboring teeth, and increase your risk of infection. At Villa Vista Dental, we offer nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation for extractions.
Dental Implants Replace Missing Teeth
If you want to replace a missing tooth (or even an entire arch), dental implants are the most natural tooth replacement option. After confirming you have enough jawbone density, we first implant a biocompatible post in your jawbone. As you heal, this will fuse to your bone and replace your missing tooth root. Once you’ve healed, we can place an artificial tooth like a crown, bridge, or denture on top!
Oral Surgery at Villa Vista in Elk Grove, CA
Our team is committed to your safety and comfort for every dental procedure. Dr. Tin is a member of many associations, such as the International Dental Implant Association and American Dental Association, so you can feel confident in his skills and experience.
Please contact us with questions or to schedule an appointment!