Oral Surgery

What is oral surgery?

Oral surgery refers to surgical procedures performed on your mouth, teeth, jaws, and face. An oral surgeon has both dental and medical training. Your dentist may refer you to Ramona Family Dentistry’s in-house oral surgeon if you have problems that are beyond a dentist’s expertise. 

Though it may sound serious, many oral surgery procedures are routine. You don’t need to worry that you have a complicated or urgent problem just because your dentist suggests oral surgery. Oral surgery can dramatically improve the health and function of your teeth, gums, and jaw.

What procedures does an oral surgeon perform?

An oral surgeon can perform a variety of procedures, including:

Wisdom tooth removal 

An oral surgeon may extract your wisdom teeth if they’re “impacted,” which means that they haven’t broken through your gums properly. This procedure can treat or prevent pain, infection, crowding, and other complications.

Tooth extractions

In addition to removing impacted wisdom teeth, oral surgeons may remove teeth that are seriously decayed, damaged, or cause crowding.

Corrective jaw surgery

If your jaw doesn’t align correctly, surgery may be a more effective way to fix it than orthodontics.  

Sleep apnea treatment

An oral surgeon can treat sleep apnea by removing excess tissue from the back of your throat, which clears your airways. Surgery may be an option if other treatments, including dental appliances or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) don’t work or you’d prefer not to use them.

Implants

Oral surgeons can place dental implants, metal tooth roots that become a part of your jawbone. Implants are an option to replace missing teeth that looks and feels natural.

TMJ treatment

In some cases, surgery is necessary to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which can cause jaw pain and difficulties opening and closing your mouth. 

Ramona Family Dentistry’s in-house oral surgeon works closely with your dentist to develop a treatment plan that works for you.

How do I recover from oral surgery?

Your surgeon gives you detailed instructions, specific to your procedure, to ensure a quick, uncomplicated recovery. Some general tips to keep in mind as you prepare to undergo oral surgery include:

• After you get home from your surgery, rest for the remainder of the day.
• While you rest, keep your head propped up with pillows to minimize swelling and bleeding.
• If you’ve been prescribed antibiotics, take the entire course.
• Take pain medication as prescribed, including to prevent pain.
• Ice your face frequently to reduce swelling.
• Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water.
• Eat soft foods and liquids until your surgeon says it’s okay not to do so.

To schedule an oral surgery consultation, call Ramona Family Dentistry, or use the online booking tool.

Read more about our Oral Surgeon - Dr. Hansen