6 Reasons You May Need Oral Surgery
Jul 25, 2024
Learning you need oral surgery can be scary and overwhelming. However, like many procedures, this is an umbrella term for numerous treatments involving oral structures, like the teeth, mouth, and jaw.
So, while no one wants to undergo surgery, some of these procedures are more complex than others.
Our skilled Tropical Dental Care team offers a variety of oral surgery procedures at our practice in Tomball, Texas.
Here are six reasons you may need oral surgery.
No one wants to lose a tooth, but sometimes, it’s the best solution. If that’s the case, our team typically recommends surgical extraction.
During this procedure, we make small incisions in the gum to remove the problem tooth. Situations that can require tooth extraction include severe decay, gum disease, and dental trauma.
It’s also common to undergo tooth extraction to prevent wisdom teeth complications down the road.
Another common reason to undergo oral surgery involves bone loss.
When bone loss occurs, the area starts to deteriorate, leading to loss of density and volume. This can put your teeth at risk and cause visible changes in your appearance. You also need enough healthy bone to support a dental implant.
Our team can restore lost volume to the jaw where bone loss occurs by inserting graft material to support the remodeling process.
Nothing beats the form and function of a natural tooth, but a dental implant is a close second.
If you have a missing tooth, our team can surgically place a post in your jaw that functions like a tooth root.
As the site heals, the implant becomes fused in the bone, making it the longest-lasting tooth replacement option available.
Did you know that 2 in 5 American adults have some form of gum disease? This oral infection can cause receding gums, abscesses, tooth loss, and even systemic health complications without treatment.
Our team can often treat gum disease in the earliest stages with nonsurgical methods. However, as it advances, surgical interventions are usually necessary to thoroughly remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth, gums, and roots.
Depending on the severity of your condition, we could also rebuild lost gum tissue by placing skin grafts taken from other areas of your mouth or a certified tissue bank.
If your mouth has multiple issues at one time, our team could recommend full mouth reconstruction. Reasons for this procedure can include trauma, decay, or extensive tooth loss.
When performing full mouth reconstruction, our team incorporates multiple procedures to restore your oral health and function, such as:
Undergoing a full mouth reconstruction not only restores your smile but also reduces your risk of future complications, like bone loss and gum recession.
Finally, our team could also recommend a surgical biopsy of suspicious tissue in the mouth, including benign and malignant oral cancers.
These procedures can involve either soft or hard tissues, and samples undergo lab testing for diagnosis.
In some cases, a biopsy can also completely remove the suspicious tissue. However, our team can outline the next steps based on your results.
Oral surgery procedures vary significantly from person to person based on the condition requiring treatment. For instance, a tooth extraction may take 30 minutes, while full mouth reconstruction can take several hours.
But you can rest easy in our hands. Our team offers personalized guidance to ensure you know exactly what to expect every step of the way.
We also understand that dental issues can cause anxiety and discomfort, so we also offer sedation dentistry to guarantee your comfort throughout your treatment.
Could you need oral surgery? Our team can explain the best options for the ideal outcomes. Contact Tropical Dental Care to schedule a consultation with our experts in Tomball, Texas, today.