The term ‘oral surgery’ can evoke feelings of discomfort or anxiety in some people. However, while dental oral surgery is a treatment option for certain conditions, it’s actually an umbrella term for different surgical procedures.
In this post, an expert on oral health in Melbourne, discusses the basics of dental oral surgery and other helpful information should you be required to undergo the procedure.
Dental Oral Surgery – The Basics
Dentists perform dental oral surgery to treat problems and medical conditions affecting the mouth, face, jaw and teeth. Oral surgery comes in a variety of forms, including:
- Facial reconstruction
- Fractured jaw repair
- Gum grafting
- Maxillofacial surgery
- Root canal
- Tooth and soft palate implants
- Tooth extraction
- Wisdom tooth removal
Dental professionals, including endodontists, periodontists and prosthodontists, carry out surgical treatments.
What to Expect
The prospect of undergoing dental oral surgery may seem frightening. However, it’s something that your dentist will schedule only after a thorough consultation.
Your dentist will review your medical and dental history, discuss your unique diagnostic and treatment requirements and address any queries or uncertainties you might have.
Dentists use computerised imaging technology to assess if a patient needs oral surgery. Depending on the type of dental issue, oral procedures might be straightforward or complicated.
Once a surgical treatment is decided, your dentist will advise you on what the operation comprises. They will also discuss all risks of undergoing the procedure.
It’s important to remember that each type of oral surgery is designed to treat a specific condition and is intended to achieve a certain outcome. The complexity of each procedure also varies, as does the patient’s recovery time. For example, a tooth extraction may be considerably less complicated and easier to recover than from a surgical procedure for a severe condition like a fractured jaw.
In general, however, for proper healing and rehabilitation, dentists advise their patients to practise the right post-operative care, which typically includes the following:
- After treatment, patients must abstain from eating certain foods for 48 hours.
- For a period, they should also refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol because these can impede the healing process.
- Use an ice pack to help minimise swelling in the affected area.
- After eating, patients should rinse their mouths with saltwater to help wash away harmful pathogens.
Depending on the type of oral surgery, a patient’s recovery time might last anywhere from 48 hours to a month. The kind of post-operative care may also vary.
Regular follow-up dental check-ups are also scheduled so that the dentist can observe and analyse changes or improvements after the surgery.
Consult an Expert in Oral Health in Melbourne
The best way to know for certain if you have a dental concern requiring surgical treatment is by consulting a reputable provider of oral health care as Holistic Dental Melbourne CBD on 03 9662 2288.
