Sometimes, standard dentistry just will not do the trick. When you have an oral health issue that refuses to back down, it is time to put down the toothbrush and floss and move on to more drastic measures. If you have an inflammatory disease or irreversible damage to your teeth or mouth, it is time for oral surgery and periodontics.
While the term “oral surgery” may sound quite dramatic and instantly bring to mind extended hospital stays and major procedures, oral surgery at a dentist can actually be quite mundane. Many seemingly routine procedures performed at a dentistry are considered oral surgery, including tooth extractions and dental implants. Oral surgery works to treat diseases, injuries, damages, and defects to the head, neck, face, oral tissues and jaws through surgery.
Periodontics is the field of dentistry that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that occur in the area surrounding and supporting your teeth. This can include your gums, periodontal ligament, cementum and alveolar bone. These diseases are called periodontal diseases, and they usually involve unnecessary inflammation or bleeding in the gums. Periodontics works to rectify this situation and treat the diseased gums, as failure to treat a periodontal disease can result in loose teeth and eventually even losing teeth.
There are a variety of different oral surgery and periodontics procedures that a dental surgeon or periodontist may perform.
Oral surgeon Dr. Hage offers oral surgery and periodontics procedures including:
This common procedure is when a dental surgeon needs to remove wisdom when the jaw is not large enough to house them. Even if the jaw is large enough, sometimes the wisdom teeth emerge irregularly and need to be removed. These irregular wisdom teeth can cause swelling, pain, and possibly infection.
If you are unhappy with the way your gums sit on your teeth, you can opt for cosmetic gum surgery. Regardless of if you feel your gums reveal too much of your teeth or too little, an oral surgeon can fix the gums to your likening.
Dental implants are a great way to replace damaged or missing teeth. The trouble tooth will be pulled, and in its place, a replacement tooth that looks and feels just like a real tooth will be surgically implanted.
A bone graft is when the dental surgeon will use a portion of your own bone to replace bone in your mouth that has been damaged by gum disease. A bone graft can also be performed with a synthetic bone or a bone donated from a third party. Once the graft is complete, it will work as the foundation for bone regrowth in the problem area.
A soft tissue graft is when soft tissue taken from the roof of your mouth is inserted into damaged or receding gums to reinforce them and encourage healing.
Pocket Reduction Surgery, also known as flap surgery, is when the gums are retracted to remove any excess tartar. While the gums are pulled back, the surgeon will also smooth out any irregular surfaces to halt the production of bacteria. Once complete, the gums will be pulled back down and reattached to the tooth, eliminating any “flap” that bacteria can hide in.
If you suffer from gum issues or another oral disease, come to University Dental Family Dentistry and Orthodontics in San Diego. Our team of experienced oral surgeons and periodontists will get your teeth, mouth, and gums in tip-top shape. If you are interested in learning more or coming in for an exam, give us a call at (619) 473-2565.
Dr. Hage is very detail oriented, has a passion for technology, constantly invests in new cutting-edge equipment and has more than 1000 successful dental implant surgeries in his resume. Dr. Hage is well known for over-engineering dental treatment plans often at no extra charge for patients. He believes in Quality Dental Works Without Compromise.
Dr. Armin Hage – Professional Training & Associations
American Dental Association
California Dental Association
San Diego County Dental Society
International Academy Of Dental Implantology