Once in a while, your teeth may require medical attention from an experienced oral surgeon. This may stem from various causes, including complications with oral conditions. Subsequently, you will need to see a professional as soon as possible to help you remedy your problem. They should have the required skill and knowledge required to perform a successful surgery and guide you through the treatment.
By contacting La Puente Advanced Dentistry, you will receive excellent medical services from one of the best dentists in La Puente, California. Our wealth of experience in performing different types of oral surgery equips us with the necessary tools to safeguard your wellbeing throughout the treatment process.
Understanding What Oral Surgery Entails
Oral surgery is a practice area touching on a broad range of dental services. Hence, your dentist may recommend surgery as a remedy for more than one condition. This is because it is an effective form of treatment that targets a specific area in your jaw or mouth cavity. Therefore, any dental procedure involving a surgical process qualifies to be oral surgery.
Some treatment options may combine oral surgery with additional procedures to promote overall success during recovery. In this case, your treatment experience encompasses surgery as the main procedure, meaning you will still need to make adequate preparations before undergoing treatment.
After your dentist prescribes oral surgery as the most effective treatment for you, you want to understand what to expect beforehand. Not only will you be more prepared for the procedure, but you will also appreciate how the treatment creates the expected outcome. Therefore, you will have more faith in the process and will be more receptive to the instructions given.
Types of Oral Surgery
As mentioned above, your dentist may recommend oral surgery as the best remedy for your dental condition. Since it entails undergoing an invasive procedure, your condition is likely to be severe, meaning other dental remedies are ineffective towards achieving a permanent solution. Subsequently, your condition will dictate the type of oral surgery you will receive. Some common procedures prescribed to patients include:
Dental Implant Surgery
Dental implant treatment is available for persons in need of teeth replacement. The condition may arise from multiple causes, including high-impact accidents that break your tooth crown. Patients suffering from severe tooth decay, gum infections, or dental abscess infections may also lose their natural teeth.
Fixing dental implants in their place is a viable option to help them maintain a good oral aesthetic. Typically, a dental implant surgery entails removing the current tooth and enamel and replacing it with a titanium implant as the artificial root. Afterward, the dentist will fit the artificial crown to complete the treatment.
You can understand the importance of making adequate preparations before undergoing dental implant surgery from the steps. This is because it is an invasive process, especially if you have multiple teeth replaced by the titanium implant.
After surgery, your dentist will need to follow up on your recovery to ensure you are responding well. Making follow-up check-ups is essential, as dental implant treatment occurs in stages. Hence, the density must allow your jawbone tissue to fuse with the titanium implant for a natural fit in your dental structure.
When all implants are well fused into your jawbone, the dentist can then schedule a separate appointment to have the artificial crown fixed. In the meantime, you will wear temporary crowns to help you maintain your regular look.
Gingivitis or Gum Grafting
Gum diseases, especially infections, take a toll on your overall oral health. This is because they affect your gums severely, leading to serious complications inside the gum tissue. In return, the gums become incapable of supporting your teeth in their jawbone sockets. Therefore, most patients begin to experience the discomfort of loose teeth and pain when chewing or biting.
Gingivitis also destroys the health of your gums, so they are more prone to inflammation after pus collects. Therefore, you may suffer significant pain, and bleeding as some parts of the gums rupture from too much pus collected.
The best remedy for severe Gingivitis is undergoing gum graft surgery. The procedure entails removing all infected gum tissue from the affected area. Next, the dentist acquires grafts from healthy parts of the mouth, mostly from the roof cavity. The roof provides an excellent source of gum for grafting because of its large surface area and less exposure to infections from teeth.
Once the dentist collects the healthy flesh, they will stitch it to the affected area where infected gum tissue was removed. The goal is to promote gum rejuvenation by introducing fresh tissue to replace areas affected by Gingivitis.
When a procedure is completed as required, the newly grafted gum tissue will fuse with the remaining tissue from the originally infected area. Subsequently, new growth occurs and continues over time. If the patient observes recovery guidelines as required, their oral health returns to normal after a few years.
Advanced Maxillofacial Surgery
Maxillofacial dentistry entails performing advanced oral surgeries, particularly when the patient has suffered severe injuries or complications. For example, a patient suffering from multiple jaw fractures may need oral surgery to help remove disintegrated bone pieces. With maxillofacial dentistry, the dentist may even succeed in reconstructing these pieces and assembling them on your jaw.
Additionally, maxillofacial surgery is recommended for patients with clefts on their lips or other parts of the face. Since most clefts are congenital, they require expertise when correcting to avoid causing additional complications for the patient.
Patients experiencing abnormal growths anywhere on their face can also schedule a maxillofacial surgery. The initial steps in treatment involve identifying the type of growth you have. This will be useful in detecting cancerous cells, if any, or dismissing the prognosis. Afterward, the surgeon can remove the growths to help you begin the recovery process.
When scheduling a maxillofacial surgery, you want to ensure you work with a highly trained and experienced surgeon. Their involvement will directly impact the quality of life you live after the surgery and recovery.
Root canal Procedures
Root canals are fairly common procedures performed to remove unwanted nerves from inside the tooth. They are useful for highly sensitive teeth because sensitivity arises from exposure to different temperatures and pressures. Similarly, patients with severe teeth infections and dental abscesses affecting their nerves will require a root canal to prevent further complications and discomfort.
A root canal is invasive, especially because the surgery requires your dentist to trace the nerves in the pulp and remove them. Afterward, they will need to clean around the operated area and place fillings to prevent disease-causing microbes from invading.
Overall, you want to consult your dentist and inquire about additional information to note before the procedure. This way, you will have a better understanding of what to expect before the process begins.
Teeth and Jaw Restructuring
Your teeth and jaws may also be severely dislocated or injured, resulting in the need for reconstruction surgery. After an accident, most patients will opt for oral surgery to help them make a full recovery without worrying about additional complications. Thus, consulting your dentist to receive trusted guidelines is critical towards making a full recovery.
Since patients present different medical needs, your dentist will conduct several physical examinations and imaging before finding the best treatment plan for you. As a result, you want to remain patient throughout the diagnostic process as you await additional guidelines.
How to Prepare for an Oral Surgery Procedure
Doubtless, many patients feel nervous before going into the dental office for their procedure. This commonly arises from the fear of the unknown, particularly because of how invasive surgery is. Nonetheless, you can prepare for your procedure by following a few guidelines. Not only will you feel more relaxed, but you will also obtain the important details regarding your procedure. Some preparation tips to follow are:
Conduct Some Personal Research on the Procedure You Will Undergo
Nothing beats the interest and satisfaction of finding out details on your own before consulting a professional. With an intrinsic curiosity to learn more, you will be committed to finding out important information on the treatment process you will undergo.
For reference, you can start by learning more about the condition you are dealing with. For example, patients requiring removal of dental abscess can inquire on the best procedures to reach the tooth pulp. Once you conduct additional research on the condition, you will determine whether the recommended treatment is the best remedy for your current case.
Meet Your Dentist for a Consultation
After obtaining the preliminary information, you will then schedule a consultation with the oral surgeon. Their input is the most important source of information for your consideration, as they have practiced in the field for a long time.
Subsequently, you should choose an experienced dentist to help you identify the condition and recommend specific processes to undergo. During your consultation, you are free to ask any questions regarding why your dental problem arose and how to prevent a recurrence in the future.
Ask Someone to Drive You Home After the Surgery
Naturally, you are not at your best after undergoing any surgery. This extends to oral surgeries, as they involve anesthesia and long hours in one position. Most patients will complain of fatigue, drowsiness, confusion, and restlessness after waking up.
Due to this, you want to organize for a loved one or a friend to help you go home safely after surgery. You may make plans to have them drive you or acquire a cab to take you to your destination. This way, you do not have to strain to drive yourself home, as it may increase accident risks.
Additionally, you want to prepare a safe and comfortable environment for rest upon arriving home. You will need to extend the recovery period until the dentist issues further guidelines.
Pre-Treatment Processes You Will Undergo
Before your dentist clears you to face oral surgery, you will need to undergo various pre-treatment processes. Most procedures serve as diagnostic options for the dentist to study your dental structure and create an effective treatment plan. Therefore, you can expect your direct involvement in some of the pre-treatment plans to promote the chances of a successful procedure. The various pre-treatment processes issued include:
- Recording Your Medical History
- Taking X-Ray Images
- Creating Study Models of Your Teeth
- Undergoing Photographic Imaging
- Taking Pre-Surgery Medication
Aftercare for Oral Surgery Patients
Once the dental surgery you underwent is complete, you will need to make a full recovery before appreciating the effectiveness of your treatment. Hence, your dentist will provide various aftercare tips to help you stay on track with making a full recovery.
Following these guidelines is crucial for your health, mainly because they protect you from complications after an invasive procedure. Moreover, you will experience less pain and discomfort, giving you a more comfortable recovery experience.
Some important aftercare tips to observe are:
- Avoid Hard Foods
- Use Salt Water to Clean Your Wounds
- Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
- Take Pain Medication as Prescribed
- Use any Supplementary Oral Devices as Directed
- Follow the Behavioral Guidelines Given Accordingly
Complications Arising From Oral Surgery
Like other medical procedures, oral surgery poses a few risks for patients who undergo the process. Most complications arise from wound exposure to harmful bacteria before you heal completely. Others may also arise from the treatment processes used by the professional.
Nonetheless, you can overcome the complications if detected early, so you do not have to worry about dealing with multiple problems. Further, your dentist will support you throughout the treatment to help you manage the complications, if any.
Some complications to look out for include:
Bacterial Infections
A freshly operated wound may cause serious problems if left exposed to disease-causing microorganisms. This is because the wounds provide conducive grounds for microorganisms to breed, increasing the chances of a severe infection. Consequently, the outcomes of your infection can trigger additional complications that are difficult to deal with.
For some, the bacteria may spread into the blood, resulting in serious conditions like blood infections and sepsis. Fatalities are frequently recorded based on these two complications, so you want to safeguard yourself in the best way possible.
Consulting your dentist upon discovering a potential bacterial infection is crucial to maintaining your well-being. Not only will the dentist prescribe timely treatment, but they will also combat any future threats to your health.
Recurring Dental Problems
As mentioned, you want to work with a highly skilled and qualified oral surgeon. Doing so will prevent you from dealing with any health-related complications arising from oral surgery. For example, the oral surgeon should understand the intricate processes involved in a root canal and suggest. Moreover, they should suggest a suitable remedy to avoid exposing you to unforeseen health risks.
Additionally, some dental practitioners may consider providing a quick fix when conducting oral surgery. Subsequently, they do not tackle the problem efficiently, so you may experience the same problem several years later.
Due to this, you risk making more expenditures than necessary. You can avoid the inconvenience by working with a trusted and qualified dentist. They should understand the importance of identifying the underlying dental condition and providing a permanent fix.
Highly Invasive Surgery Resulting in Long-Term Recovery
Some oral surgeries may be highly invasive, leading to prolonged recovery time. Although this factor is not necessarily a complication, you are more prone to medical complications at any time during recovery. Consequently, prolonging the recovery period inevitably increases the risk.
While your dentist will provide aftercare tips to help you cope with the long-term recovery process, you may still encounter additional problems. These include the re-exposure of open wounds to infections, dislocation of a fixed jaw, and dental abscess collecting in the teeth. If you detect an unusual recovery trend, you want to contact your dentist as soon as possible for immediate treatment.
Loss of Supplementary Oral Devices
Most jaw surgeries aim at correcting the jaw position. Therefore, your dentist may prescribe oral devices to help your oral cavity adapt and shift into the desired position. Although the devices should be worn as recommended, some complications may arise.
For example, you may misplace your device, making it difficult to follow treatment directives. Consequently, your jaw may begin to revert to its previous position, leading to a reversal of treatment results.
Alternatively, you may accidentally break or deform the device, causing you to put the treatment on hold until you replace the broken piece. Further, you will incur additional costs when the oral devices are restructured and delivered. The overall outcome may cause serious health and financial implications, so you want to avoid them where possible.
Contact a La Puente Oral Surgeon Near Me
Facing oral surgery is inevitable for some patients, as it is the only way to remedy a dental condition fully. Due to this, you want to remain ready for the procedure by consulting an experienced dentist specializing in oral surgery. In doing so, you will learn what to expect and the various preparation processes to undergo.
Since oral surgeries are intricate dental procedures, you want to entrust your health to a highly skilled professional. Working with La Puente Advanced Dentistry is recommended if seeking contemporary oral surgery services in La Puente, California. With the help of our experienced and compassionate team, you can expect to receive excellent treatment services regardless of your dental condition. If you or a loved one requires to undergo oral surgery, contact us today at 626-626-7075.
