Oral Surgery

An oral surgeon  is a dentist who specializes in different aspects of surgery both in and around the mouth. They diagnose and treat defects, injuries, and diseases involving the head, mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, and neck.

Here at the Ekamai Dental Clinic we have developed procedures to remove teeth painlessly and an emphasis on saving as much of the supporting bone and gum tissues as possible. This is important because strong structures provide essential support for your implants, bridges, or dentures leading to the best possible functional and cosmetic results. An oral surgeon can carry out a wide range of procedures. We have outlined some of the more commonly practiced procedures below. 

The wide ranges of services in the oral surgery field are determined by the specialist according to the need of the patient:

• Surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth is the removal of impacted third molars that normally grow out at around age 18 to 20 years.
  
  Wisdom teeth are just as useful as any other tooth if they grow out properly with a proper bite relationship and healthy gum tissue. If wisdom teeth do not erupted properly, they are referred to as impacted. Impacted teeth can result in infection, decay of adjacent teeth, gum disease or other problems. Many dentists thus recommend the removal of impacted wisdom teeth to prevent potential problems.
  
  Your dentist does a checkup and examines corresponding x-rays to determine if the teeth are impacted. Every case is different and only your dentist can determine if there is a reason for you to have a tooth removed.
  
  Tooth extraction is removal of teeth and may be done when:
  
  - the tooth is severely decayed
  - there is advanced periodontal disease ("gum disease")
  - the tooth may be broken such that it cannot be repaired
  - other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned    in the mouth (such as impacted wisdom teeth)
  - preparation for orthodontic treatment ("braces")

Normal tooth extraction is a simple process and is normally completed in one visit. After tooth is removed, the gums is usually left to heal before the gap is replaced by dental bridges, dental implants or dentures in preventing predispose teeth in the long term.

• Orthognathic surgery refers to the surgical repositioning of the maxilla, mandible, and the dentoalveolar segments to achieve facial and occlusal balance. One or more segments of the jaw can be simultaneously repositioned to treat various types of malocclusions and jaw deformities.
  
  Preoperative diagnosis and planning between orthodontist and craniofacial surgeon is required to ascertain the feasibility of various treatment options.
  
  Usually, pre-surgical orthodontics are necessary to straighten the teeth and align the arches so that a stable occlusion can be obtained post-operatively, while orthodontics following surgery are frequently required to revise minor occlusal discrepancies.

• Bone graft surgery is done where to re-establish bone dimension in dental implants treatment or in periodontal treatment.
  
  There are different types of bone graft materials available. Each of the bone graft materials is usually developed with a specific purpose or advantage in mind. Your dental specialist will make a decision with respect to the bone graft material based on your individual needs and the latest research in that field.
  
• Dental implants are man-made replacement for natural teeth root similar to having a new set of permanent teeth. There are several types of dental implants options and dental systems available on the market today.

Pre-prosthetic surgery refers to any oral surgery treatment such as gingivectomy or crown-lengthening that is done prior to restorative dental works in re-establishing function of teeth or improving esthetics of teeth.