Oral Surgery Specialist

What is oral surgery?

Oral surgery is any surgical procedure performed on your oral tissues, including your teeth and gums.

The word surgery can sound daunting. Many people hear it and think of general anesthesia, extended hospital stays, and lengthy recovery periods. Oral surgery is a little different, however. Many oral surgeries are quick and easy procedures performed at the Columbia Dental office under local anesthesia and don’t require extensive recovery time.

What are some types of oral surgery?

Some of the more common types of oral surgery include:

Simple tooth extractions

Columbia Dental practices conservative dentistry that aims to keep as much of your natural structures intact. There are some situations, however, where a tooth can cause more trouble than it’s worth. When that’s the case, an extraction is the best way to optimize your oral health. 

Your dentist uses a local anesthetic to numb your tooth and the surrounding tissues during your procedure, so you won’t feel any pain, just a little bit of pressure as the tooth is removed. 

Your dentist then uses a special tool to wiggle the tooth back and forth and loosen it enough to pull it out of the socket. Once your tooth is removed, they pack the area with gauze to help the formation of a clot.

In some cases, they might also perform a bone graft to help strengthen the bone tissue in your jaw and prevent bone loss.

Wisdom tooth extractions

If your wisdom tooth has erupted through your gums, the extraction process is similar to a simple tooth extraction. If your wisdom tooth is impacted, however, then your extraction is slightly different.

Your dentist has to make a small incision in your gum to expose your wisdom tooth before removing it, and in some cases of impaction, they have to cut through your jawbone to access the tooth. Your dentist might also need to break up your tooth and remove it in smaller pieces. 

Dental implants

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that replace missing teeth. Your dentist embeds them in your jawbone with a simple surgery that involves making an incision in your gums, drilling a hole in your jaw, and placing the implant inside. As you heal over the next few months, your bone tissue and your implant fuse with one another.

What should I do before and after oral surgery?

The particulars of your pre- and post-operative care depend on your particular oral surgery. The professionals at Columbia Dental provide you with detailed instructions and are always available by phone to help you properly prepare for your surgery and recover quickly.

Schedule your visit with Columbia Dental by calling the office or booking online, and get started with your oral surgery today.

Are you looking for a dentist in the city of Elizabeth or the town of Roselle? Book an appointment with us today!