When you hear “oral surgery,” do you imagine a hospital and the need for general anesthesia? You might be surprised by how many in-office dental procedures fall under the umbrella of oral surgery.
Here are some reasons that you may need oral or dental surgery:
Impacted Teeth
Tooth Extraction
Detection and diagnosis of oral diseases
When your dentist or orthodontist says a tooth is impacted, it means that the tooth is somehow trapped and has not been able to erupt through the gums. Wisdom teeth often are impacted because there’s not enough room in your mouth for them, or because they are blocked by the position of other teeth.
Though some impacted teeth pose no problems, an impacted tooth can become infected, develop cavities or cause gum disease. So oral surgery to remove an impacted tooth may be wise for your long-term health, as well as your orthodontic treatment.