Oral Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS or OMFS) specializes in treating many diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral (mouth) and maxillofacial(jaws and face) region

EXTRACTIONS

A tooth that cannot be saved with restorative materials may need to be removed. Before removing your tooth, the area will be numbed with anaesthesia. The tooth is then loosened using a special dental instrument known as an elevator. After it is loosened from the socket, it is removed by a forceps, a dental instrument commonly used in dental extractions. Stitches may be necessary after the removal of a tooth.

INDICATIONS

Unrestorable carious tooth

Abscessed tooth not treatable by endodontics

Calcified root canal

Patient refusal to safe tooth.

POST-OPERATIVE CARE

Complying with the following directives will significantly help in recovering faster
and reduce the danger of potential complications.

Bleeding

Rinse your mouth briefly with cold water once, then fold a piece of gauze (or a cotton handkerchief) into a tight pad and place directly over the bleeding area. Apply firm, steady pressure on the pad by biting on it for 30 minutes. Repeat twice if bleeding persists. If this fails, please call us immediately for assistance.

Pain

It is normal to be in pain after a surgery. The pain is treated with painkillers as prescribed.

Swelling

It is possible for the area that has undergone surgery to swell. This is absolutely normal and could take up to 4 days (the swelling could worsen by the 2nd day and calm down by the 4th). To reduce the swelling ,as much as possible, you should place on the area an ice pack wrapped in a towel for 15 minutes and repeat this procedure 4 – 5 times the day of the surgery. It is also possible to appear bruises on the skin.

Fever

A slight increase in body temperature is normal and not alarming.

Difficulties in mouth opening

This occurs often especially when removing your wisdom teeth .In this case, you should make an effort to slowly open your mouth.

Surgical sutures

If stitches are placed on the wound, it is possible to feel some tension after a few days. However, this will disappear after their removal, 7 days following the surgery. Breaking one or more sutures is not alarming.

BleedingOral hygiene

On the day after the surgery you should rinse your mouth with the prescribed mouthwash, while you can brush your teeth paying particular attention to the area of the surgery.

Mouth rinse

On the day of the surgery, you should not rinse your mouth, brush your teeth or spit.

Diet/ Nutrition

During the first 24 hours food must be soft and cold. Over the next two days food can be a little bit harder. On the day of the surgery you should avoid anything hot.

Medication

If prescribed they should be taken according to your Dentist.

NOTE: In case of prolonged bleeding, of side effects from medications, of severe pain or
if swelling does not subside after the fourth day you should immediately inform the dentist.

SURGICAL EXTRACTION

A wisdom tooth that is deemed problematic is normally extracted to avoid any oral complications.

Problems Caused By Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Infection:

When a wisdom tooth becomes stuck in the jaw bone there is often a partial flap of the gum overlying the tooth and infection may develop around this area. The area becomes swollen, red and very painful. Swallowing may be painful and sometimes people can feel generally unwell.

Decay:

When the wisdom teeth become stuck they are often impossible to clean properly and they can become decayed. Also, they can cause decay in the tooth in front and it can be very difficult to place fillings in these situations prior to the removal of the wisdom teeth.

Crowding:

Pressure from impacted wisdom teeth is one of the causes of crowding of the front teeth. It is not the only cause of crowding as some people with no wisdom teeth still get crowding but it is believed to be a significant contributing factor.

Damage to adjacent teeth:

Pressure from impacted wisdom teeth can also cause damage to the adjacent teeth. Food impaction between the adjacent tooth and the wisdom tooth can cause cavities in both teeth and cause bone loss on the back of the good tooth.

Cysts:

A fluid filled sack called a cyst can on rare occasions form around the crown of an impacted wisdom tooth.

How is the procedure done?

To have a wisdom tooth removed, a small incision is made to open up the gum tissue over the tooth and remove any bone that is covering the tooth. Once the tooth is in view, it is grasped with a dental instrument, known as a forceps, and gently rocked back and forth to loosen it from the jaw bone and surrounding ligaments. Sometimes the tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces to make it easier for removal. Stitches may be necessary after the removal of a wisdom tooth.