Oral Surgery

Anesthesia is a common aspect of oral surgery in Belmont, NC. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons receive special education and participate in extensive anesthesia training during residency. Their knowledge allows them to provide various anesthesia options, from local anesthesia to general anesthesia, in an outpatient setting based on the patient’s surgical needs.

The third molars in an adult’s mouth are wisdom teeth, which usually do not begin to erupt from the gums until a person is between 17 and 25 years old. Wisdom teeth emerge from the back of the mouth on both sides of the upper and lower jaws. Since these teeth are unnecessary and can have eruption issues like impaction, overcrowding, and infection, wisdom tooth extraction is standard practice.

People with one or more missing teeth looking for permanent replacement teeth usually choose dental implants. It is an effective and reliable long-term tooth replacement solution involving the surgical implantation of tiny rods with abutments in the tooth socket down to the jawbone. Dental implants are durable, permanent teeth replacements that prevent healthy teeth from shifting out of place and losing jawbone density.

Frena are small oral tissues that support or limit movement under the tongue, inside the upper and lower lips, and in the areas connecting the cheeks to the gums toward the back of the mouth. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons often perform a frenectomy to loosen or release the bands to allow for a greater range of motion of the mouth, tongue, and jaw. Surgeons may also use the surgical procedure to close gaps in upper front teeth.

You may need tooth extraction as a last resort for treating a dental injury, addressing tooth decay, or preparing the mouth for orthodontic treatment, such as braces to treat overcrowded teeth. An oral surgeon will use a simple extraction technique to gently pry the tooth from its socket or a surgical tooth extraction that requires a small incision in the gum tissue. You will receive the appropriate anesthetic for your procedure.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have an excellent understanding of the head, neck, and mouth, making them experts at diagnosing and surgically treating cancers in those areas. Your general dentist or oral surgeon can detect cancerous cells at their earliest stages during routine exams.

Undergoing oral surgery in Belmont, NC often requires bone grafting to ensure that the surgical area has enough good quality bone material to accommodate the treatment. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons use bone grafting techniques during a dental implant, tooth extraction, facial trauma treatment, and reconstructive surgery for the face, jaws, and mouth.

Bone grafting is sometimes needed to support dental implants where teeth have been missing for a long time and improve a person’s ability to chew, speak, and have an improved appearance after reconstructive treatments.

Impaction is a common problem with wisdom teeth, but any tooth can develop the issue, requiring oral surgery in Belmont, NC. An impacted tooth cannot successfully erupt from the gums or cannot emerge from gum tissue without affecting neighboring teeth. Sometimes, impacted teeth can shift into their proper positions through an expose-and-bond procedure.