The thought of having oral surgery is enough to make many people cringe. However, oral surgery can be necessary and can often help alleviate discomfort and improve function of the teeth and jaw. Such procedures are also often quick and simple, meaning they are little to worry about.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the set of teeth that grow at the back of the gums. Wisdom teeth develop later than the other adult teeth, usually erupting in the late teens or early twenties. Whilst the wisdom teeth often emerge easily and painlessly, there isn't always space for them to grow properly. This means the wisdom teeth may emerge at an angle, only partially emerge, or get 'stuck'. Such a case is known as an impacted wisdom tooth.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause discomfort and swelling, lead to infection, and even damage the surrounding teeth. As a result, they may need to be surgically removed. This procedure may be carried out by your dentist or by a more specialist surgeon at a hospital. It is a relatively quick procedure which is carried out under local anaesthesia.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a replacement tooth that is fitted when there is damage to a real tooth, for example, trauma or infection. The implant replaces both the tooth itself and the root. The implant consists of an internal rod, which replaces the root, and a 'screw' called an abutment, onto with the false tooth will fit.
The procedure will be carried out by a dentist, with the patient under anaesthesia. The dentist will drill a hole into the jawbone, into which the implant will fit. Depending on the circumstances, the dentist will either fit the abutment and false tooth immediately, or in a second procedure a few months later (to allow the mouth to heal).
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)
TMD is a condition in which the small joint that connects the skull and lower jaw suffers a dysfunction. This impedes the function of the jaw, leading to difficulty and pain when moving the jaw (for example, when chewing or opening the mouth). TMD can also cause headaches and migraines.
Whilst TMD can be often be treated with oral medication and physiotherapy, more severe cases may require surgery. This surgery will be carried out by a specialist maxillofacial surgeon and can involve the replacement of the joint with an artificial implant.
Share25 August 2016
The average dentist takes many client appointments each day and also deals with emergency situations on a regular basis. Dental emergencies are very common because people are likely to put off having tooth pain fixed until the pain becomes unbearable. Some people have anxiety about dental visits, and others are trying to avoid the expense of dental care. In either case, the end result is often a dental emergency. I have worked as a professional dental hygienist for many years and have seen all types of dental emergencies. I hope that this blog will help people identify potential emergencies before they become too serious and will allow people to know when to get help.
