Dental Surgery

Dental Surgery

Dental surgery encompasses a wide range of procedures, commonly categorized by the area of focus or the specific issue being addressed. Common names include oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontal surgery, endodontic surgery, prosthodontic surgery, and orthognathic surgery.  Procedures can range from simple extractions to more complex surgeries involving the jaw, gums, or tooth structure. 

Here’s a breakdown of common dental surgery types and procedures:

Common Names of Dental Surgery:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery:This specialty deals with a broad spectrum of conditions, diseases, injuries, and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws, and the hard and soft tissues of the oral (mouth) and maxillofacial (jaws and face) region.
• Periodontal Surgery:Focuses on treating gum disease and conditions that affect the supporting structures of the teeth, such as bone and tissue loss.
• Endodontic Surgery:Addresses issues within the tooth, such as infections or injuries to the pulp (the soft tissue inside the tooth), often involving root canal procedures.
• Prosthodontic Surgery:Involves the placement of dental prosthetics like implants or dentures to replace missing teeth or support other restorations.
• Orthognathic Surgery:Corrects jaw and facial irregularities to improve bite and appearance, often involving surgical repositioning of the jaws. 

Procedures of Dental Surgery:

• Tooth Extraction:Removal of a tooth, ranging from simple extractions (for teeth easily accessible) to surgical extractions (requiring incisions and potentially bone removal). 
• Wisdom Tooth Removal:A common surgical procedure involving the extraction of wisdom teeth (third molars) which can cause crowding, impaction, or pain. 
• Dental Implant Placement:Surgical procedure to insert a titanium post into the jawbone to serve as a foundation for a replacement tooth (crown). 
• Gum Grafting:Surgical procedure to restore receding gums, often due to gum disease, by transplanting tissue from another area of the mouth. 
• Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery):Involves repositioning the upper or lower jaw to correct malocclusion (bite problems) or facial asymmetry. 
• Root Canal Surgery (Apicoectomy):Surgical procedure to remove the tip of the tooth’s root (apex) and surrounding infected tissue when a root canal treatment alone is not sufficient. 
• Frenectomy:Surgical removal of a frenulum (a small fold of tissue that restricts movement), such as the lingual frenulum (under the tongue) or the labial frenulum (connecting the lip to the gum). 
• Sinus Lift:Surgical procedure to increase the amount of bone in the upper jaw, often necessary before dental implant placement in the posterior maxilla (upper jaw behind the nose). 
• Bone Grafting:Surgical procedure to add bone to the jaw, either to augment bone volume for implant placement or to repair bone loss due to disease or injury.