What is Oral Surgery?
Oral surgery covers the diagnosis and surgical treatment of injuries, defects and diseases of soft and hard tissues in the face, mouth, jaws and teeth.
While we always opt for the least invasive treatment possible for any given dental issue, in some cases, less invasive treatment alternatives will simply not be sufficient and oral surgery is needed.
Dental Implants
As part of the process to replace a missing tooth and restore your smile, a dental implant will be placed. This small titanium screw functions similar to a natural tooth root. Together with a tooth replacement such as a bridge or crown, a dental implant looks and feels much like a natural tooth.
Gum Grafts
During this procedure, the dentist transplants gum tissue from the roof of the mouth to another area of the gums. The exposed tooth roots will be covered with a gum graft, which can also help to repair receding gums and reduce related symptoms such as severe tooth sensitivity or eventual tooth loss.
Tooth Extractions
While we always prefer to save a natural tooth, in some cases this will prove impossible. If a tooth is damaged too extensively as a result of injury, decay or gum disease, your dentist may need to remove it.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
This final set of molars erupts in the back corners of a normal adult mouth. If wisdom teeth are causing issues for your oral hygiene, your dentist may recommend having them removed to help preserve your oral health.
Frenectomy
This procedure eliminates the frenum, a small piece of tissue connecting your tongue, cheeks or lips to the gum area. Our dentists perform frenectomies for babies, children and adults if the frenum is restricting function. This condition would commonly be referred to as tongue-tied, cheek-tied or lip-tied. Frenectomies are fast-healing and do not require anesthesia.
Bone Grafts & Sinus Lifts
When your dentist performs a bone graft, bone tissue will be added to your jaw bone, strengthening it enough to support a dental implant. A sinus lift is a type of bone graft during which your dentist adds bone material to the upper back jaw to raise and increase the amount of bone in the sinus area, so a dental implant can be placed later.