Dental surgery is a medical specialty that specializes in surgical procedures in the area of the oral cavity. General dentists can also perform such procedures. For more complex cases, however, they will refer you to a dental surgery specialist. Such doctors have completed appropriate further training in dental surgery.
Below you will find further information on dental surgery and selected dental surgeons.
Dental surgery covers the entire spectrum of surgical operations in the region of the oral cavity. The associated procedures affect one or more of the following areas:
The experts in these surgical procedures are both dentists and oral surgeons. Oral surgeons are dentists with several years of additional training in the field of dental surgery.
Dental surgery must bedistinguished from oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMF). Both specialties are based on a degree in medicine and dentistry. However, oral and maxillofacial surgery refers exclusively to operations in the oral cavity. Maxillofacial surgery, on the other hand, performs reconstructive surgery not only on the jaw, but generally on the entire face.
Dental surgery covers a wide range of treatment options within the oral cavity. These include, among others
In many cases, the treating dentist refers his patient to a specialist in dental surgery. In this case, the actual diagnosis has already been made. For example, if the dentist determines that a tooth needs to be removed, he or she will refer you to a surgeon. The surgeon will discuss the procedure with you and set a date for the operation.
If a diagnosis has not yet been made, it is up to the doctor to make one. As part of the anamnesis, he will talk to you about your symptoms and ask you questions about your medical history.
This often requires detailed examination methods, usually an imaging procedure. X-rays of the jaw are among the most common options, and in many cases
are also conceivable. These examination methods offer a detailed and accurate view of the respective structures. This allows the doctor to localize the disease and determine its extent.
Dental surgery has a large number of treatment methods. They depend on the exact findings and the associated diagnosis.
The following three examples illustrate the wide range of dental surgery.
Wisdom teeth often do not have enough space in the jaw. They may only break through partially, resulting in niches in which bacteria can accumulate. Inflammation of the mucous membrane or problems with opening the mouth are regular consequences.
The surgical removal of one or more wisdom teeth takes place under local anesthesia. A small incision in the mucous membrane is usually necessary. The dental surgeon then exposes the tooth. If necessary, he divides it and then removes it.
He then closes the wound with stitches, which he removes after around ten days. The procedure usually only takes a few minutes.
Deep-seated caries is often associated with bacterial infestation of the dental pulp. In severe cases, the tooth may even die. If possible, the tooth should be preserved.
This requires root canal treatment, in this case the removal of the root tip. To do this, the dental surgeon cuts off the infected tip of the tooth root. He then removes the surrounding inflamed tissue.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
A dental implant consists of a screw, a post as an attachment and a crown © Maksym Yemelyanov | AdobeStock
If a tooth is missing, there are several ways to replace it. Dental bridges and removable teeth are inexpensive, but make functional and aesthetic compromises. A dental implant is a tooth replacement that comes close to the natural tooth. An implant also protects the neighboring teeth as they do not have to be ground down.
Dental implants are special screws that serve as artificial tooth roots. As part of implantology, they are inserted into the jawbone and grow into it.
Individual crowns, bridges or even dentures are suitable as attachments.
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