Oral Surgery Bloomington MN
Are you looking for Oral Surgery Bloomington MN? At Oxboro Dental we provide high quality dental care for our patients in Bloomington, MN and surrounding areas!
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Are you looking for Oral Surgery Bloomington MN? At Oxboro Dental we provide high quality dental care for our patients in Bloomington, MN and surrounding areas!
Request an AppointmentWhile people often worry when they hear the word “surgery,” oral surgery can be a great option. Sometimes it’s even a necessary one. There are a few common oral surgery procedures that include dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, bone grafting, and more. They all serve their purpose and should be seriously considered if offered by your dentist.
Below is more information about various oral surgeries, their benefits, aftercare, and more.
Dental Implants
If you have a tooth or teeth that are knocked out, fall out, or need to be extracted, you’ll need to consider replacement options. One option that may be available to you is dental implants. Dental implants are a secure and strong teeth replacement option that allows patients to bite and chew their favorite foods without worry. They also help to maintain the jawbone of the patient, which will begin to deteriorate over time without a replacement. Finally, dental implants help to keep the surrounding teeth in place.
Over time, your teeth will begin to shift if you have a gap in your teeth. This can lead to crowding, crooked teeth, and impacting other teeth. It is much more difficult to take good care of your oral health when your teeth shift. In turn, this can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and worse. You may even need to get more teeth extracted! Dental implants help to keep your healthy teeth in place, encourage jawbone density, improve the smile of the patient, and make it easier to bite and chew.
The dental implant process involves the use of general anesthesia while your dentist cuts into the gum to access your jawbone. A titanium post is placed in your jawbone and left to fuse. Once the post is secured, your dentist will place an abutment and replacement crown.
Wisdom Tooth Extractions
While wisdom teeth don’t always cause problems when they erupt, they often do. Most of the time, wisdom teeth are removed between the ages of 17 and 25. It’s very common for wisdom teeth to not fit properly with the rest of a patient’s teeth. The jaw is not able to accommodate the extra teeth that are coming in. Because of this, they end up impacting and causing problems with healthy teeth. When this is the case, a dentist will need to perform oral surgery to extract them. This involves the dentist using local anesthesia, then making an incision and removing the teeth with forceps. After this, gauze will be placed to stop the bleeding. Some dentists will remove wisdom teeth preemptively to ensure they don’t erupt and start causing problems.
Make sure you have a ride ready to bring you home after the procedure. You won’t be able to drive. Also, bring comfortable clothing. You most likely won’t remember the procedure, so you don’t have to be anxious about it. For any questions about wisdom tooth extraction, speak with your dentist at Oxboro Dental.
Corrective Jaw Surgery
If you have an irregular jaw alignment with an incorrect bite, trauma to your jaw caused by TMJ, or other issues with your jaw, you may be a candidate for corrective jaw surgery. You may also want to consider jaw surgery if your jaw is in the wrong position, and it affects your facial appearance. If you believe you are a candidate for corrective jaw surgery, set an appointment with a dentist for a consultation.
Bone Grafting
Jawbone grafting involves a surgeon taking bone from elsewhere (either another part of your body, a donor, an animal, or a synthetic piece of bone), and installing it into your jawbone. Over time, new bones will regenerate. This is a great option for patients that need dental implants, but their jawbone has become too soft, weak, and thin to hold the post for the implants.
If you are getting dentures and they don’t fit because of jawbone irregularities, you may be a candidate for a bone graft. This can help to eliminate irregularities so your dentures will fit properly and be more comfortable.
Oral Surgery Recovery
While there are a lot of different types of oral surgery, the recovery process is often quite similar. If there is blood, you’ll generally be given gauze to help stop the bleeding. You may have a blood clot form, and it’s important to take care of the clot and not remove it. Generally, after oral surgery, you’ll be asked to avoid straws for a few days. You also shouldn’t smoke. Soft food will be required for a day or longer. Rinsing your mouth with salt water can help to reduce the potential for infection. You can take over-the-counter medication for the pain, as well as use an ice pack to reduce swelling. Your dentist may prescribe you prescription pain medication for certain procedures. Use only as directed. Your dentist will provide you with additional recovery instructions after your procedure. Pay attention to these instructions, and don’t deviate. Before you know it, you’ll have recovered from your oral health surgery!
The Benefits of Oral Surgery
There are a lot of benefits to oral surgery, and the benefits depend greatly on the type of oral surgery that was performed. You may find that it is easier to bite and chew after certain procedures. Many procedures help with appearance and can make a smile look more natural. Oral surgeries can also ensure the safety of healthy teeth and maintain the integrity of the jawbone. You may be able to speak better as well.
In order to avoid certain types of oral surgery, make sure you are taking good care of your oral health. Brush, floss, and rinse twice a day every day. Also, make sure to book an appointment for a cleaning and checkup.
If you don’t have an appointment for a cleaning and checkup, reach out to Oxboro Dental today. We’ll get you in the books. If you are having any issues with your jawbone, teeth, or gums, reach out. We will let you know what the best repair method is.