What is an oral surgeon?

An oral surgeon is a specialist who performs surgery of your face, mouth, and jaws, including cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. They perform tooth extractions, jaw realignments, dental implants, tumor removals, and more.

What conditions do oral surgeons treat?

Oral surgeons treat various conditions that affect your jaw, neck, face, and mouth. Some of the most common conditions treated by oral surgeons include:abscessed tooth: a serious bacterial infection that forms a pocket of pus in your gums or near your tooth’s rootbruxism: teeth grinding or jaw clenching that leads to dental wearimpacted tooth: a blocked tooth that cannot surface through your gumsjaw joint issues (temporomandibular joint disorder): a disorder that makes it difficult to open and close your jaworal cancer: cancers of your mouth, including your tongue and gumstooth sensitivity: pain or discomfort that occurs with hot and cold food or beveragesuneven jaw: an imbalance of your jaw’s muscles, tendons, and bones that causes issues with eating, sleeping, talking, and morewisdom teeth: your back molars, which can be removed before they crowd or damage your other teeth

What procedures do oral surgeons perform?

Oral surgeons can perform various procedures that repair and treat conditions of your mouth that cause pain and discomfort. Some of the most common procedures include:dental implant: a procedure that uses a titanium screw and an artificial tooth to replace a missing toothgum biopsy: the removal of gum tissue used to detect the presence of cancer or other diseasesgum graft: a procedure to help treat and repair damaged gum tissue and receding gumsimpacted tooth removal: the surgical removal of teeth unable to surface through your gumsroot canal: a procedure that removes the unhealthy root of a tooth

When should I contact an oral surgeon?

Most oral concerns can be cared for by a general dentist. When the severity of your condition requires greater expertise, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon.Consult with your general dentist if you need a referral to an oral surgeon, especially if you’re experiencing pain when opening or closing your jaw. You may also benefit from speaking with an oral surgeon if you have severe gum disease, an impacted tooth, dental nerve damage, or a serious infection.

What can I expect from a first oral surgery appointment?

Your first oral surgeon appointment will typically include a consultation that explains your diagnosis and treatment options. Your oral surgeon may require additional X-rays and imaging tests to understand your medical needs better. If your procedure is not complicated, your oral surgeon may perform surgery on the same day as your first visit.

What questions should I ask my oral surgeon?

It’s important that you prepare for your appointment with your oral surgeon. To help you get started, we’ve created a list of good questions to ask:How experienced are you in performing this surgery?What will happen during my procedure?What kind of anesthesia will you be using?What is the expected recovery time?What foods should I eat and avoid?How long will the procedure take?What are the self-care steps after I get this surgery?You may use these questions as a starting point, but feel free to add your own. A good practice is to also ask for additional information or take notes during your appointment. If your surgery requires anesthesia, request a friend or family member to take you to your appointment.