By 
Most people are familiar with what goes on during a standard dental visit. You’ve probably had strange devices inserted in your mouth and been backed into a tiny alcove while a machine in another room takes x-rays of your teeth and jawbones. You’ve most likely stretched out in a nice, padded dental chair while a dentist or technician examines your teeth for cavities and other types of damage.
No doubt, you’ve waited patiently as your teeth were being cleaned. You may be all too acquainted with the hum of the dentist’s drill as he or she gets rid of your cavities. You might even know the distinct pinch of a needle being inserted into your jaw joints and gums and the odd, pulling pressure to follow during a simple extraction.
Venturing Deeper into Dental Care
Most of those basic procedures aren’t overly frightening especially if you’ve been through them multiple times. When your dentist mentions oral surgery, though, it may elicit a feeling of foreboding or outright panic. Understanding some of the procedures a doctor of dental surgery carries out can help ease the anxiety and prepare you for the experience to come.
Root Canal Procedures
If you have a tooth that’s infected and causing unbelievable pain, the dentist may be able to eliminate the pain and infection without getting rid of the tooth. During a root canal procedure, the dentist will drill into the tooth just as he or she would for a filling. From there, the dentist will use special tools to remove the root and other soft tissues inside the affected tooth. Then, he or she will clean and disinfect the tooth and fill it in to prevent further infection. You’ll be asked to return at a later date to have the tooth fitted with a crown to provide long-term protection against damage and other issues.
Surgical Extractions
Though root canal procedures are effective solutions for many patients, not all teeth can be saved. Some are just too damaged to fill or repair. Others may have curved roots or other structural issues that make them impossible to pull via standard extraction methods. In those cases, a surgical extraction may be required. In truth, these procedures don’t feel much different than regular extractions. You’ll receive the same types of anesthetics and feel the same types of pressure. The only difference is that the oral surgeon will need to make incisions in your gums to remove the tooth and possibly put in a few stitches to foster the healing process.
Reconstructive Surgeries
Dental reconstructive surgeries involve repairing the jawbones and treating serious damage to the gums and other soft tissues of the mouth. These injuries often come from vehicle accidents, falls, and sports mishaps. Reconstructive surgery is aimed at reversing damage to oral and facial soft tissues, repairing broken jawbones, preventing alignment issues, and maintaining dental functionality. Several types of dental reconstructive surgery are available. Because of the varied nature of serious facial and oral injuries, no two procedures are exactly the same.
Taking Dental Care to the Next Level
Basic dental care entails preventative maintenance and standard treatments, but it doesn’t cover all needs. Some issues require more in-depth treatment. That’s where dental surgeries come into play. These services are designed to repair injuries and prevent ongoing pain and recurring infections among other benefits. Though surgical dental procedures may sound a bit frightening, their results are anything but negative.
Comments