Woodbury Oral Surgery

When a patient encounters a major problem in their mouth, they will require an oral surgeon who specializes in these types of surgeries. Although a dentist can handle basic tasks such as cleaning and treating teeth, an oral surgeon can perform more complex procedures such as the extraction of a tooth or the restructuring of the bone or gum tissue.

There is a variety of services that an oral surgeon can provide that will help a patient who is fighting ongoing pain or other problems within the mouth. Specifically, the conditions an oral surgeon can address include impacted teeth, jaw misalignment, and bone loss. Oral surgeons can treat chronic diseases or conditions that derive from issues of the mouth.

Patients who are facing a dental emergency should reach out to an experienced oral surgeon who will be able to perform the necessary surgery that will alleviate the problems.

How Do I Know I Need Oral Surgery?

The common sign that a patient might need an oral surgeon is if they are experiencing pain in the mouth. This could be a symptom of other problems going on in the jaw or gumline. A typical condition associated with mouth pain is an impacted wisdom tooth. This is a basic procedure for an oral surgeon.

When a patient meets with an oral surgeon, they will be able to diagnose the problem and schedule treatment right away. During the initial consultation, the surgeon will go over the patient’s options, including surgery, and what those options include. The surgeon will also discuss the recovery from these treatments and their impact.

What Procedures Do Oral Surgeons Perform?

Oral surgery pertains to any surgery that has to do with the mouth or jaw. There are a variety of oral surgeries that involve surgical procedures, including tooth removal, while there are those that involve the repositioning of the jaw. Work on the teeth and jaw are not the only aspects of this type of surgery, as an oral surgeon can assist in the removal of a tumor as well.

Oral surgeons can perform different kinds of dental procedures. The types of oral surgeries include the following procedures:

Dental implants: A beautiful smile gives people confidence and self-esteem, and it is hard to display when a person is missing teeth. Implants will help restore that smile and confidence.
Wisdom teeth extraction: An impacted wisdom tooth can have devastating consequences on a person’s mouth. It can cause an infection in the mouth and severe pain for a person. Extracting the tooth will eliminate that pain and prevent any future damage to the gum and jawline.
Orthognathic surgery: This corrects multiple facial and jaw irregularities; benefits include an improved ability to chew, speak, and breathe. In many cases, an enhanced appearance can also result.
Craniofacial implants: There are patients who suffer severe facial injuries in a car accident or because of treatment to a malignant disease or other issue. This type of surgery can help restore a person’s appearance, and with modern technology it will be indistinguishable from a person’s natural face.
TMJ surgery: A temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the body’s most complex joints, and when healthy it allows a person to eat, talk, and swallow without pain. When diseased, it can cause severe pain and massive problems. Surgery can help repair any damage to alleviate a significant amount of pain.
Sleep apnea surgery: This dangerous condition causes patients to stop breathing at night. It can lead to loud snoring and a lousy night of sleep for the one suffering from it and their partner. There are a variety of surgeries offered that can open the airways to allow patients to breathe easier at night and have a more restful and quiet sleep.

When a patient encounters a tooth or jaw problem that exceeds the expertise of a general dentist, that is when an oral surgeon should be called in. The oral surgeon will use their background to help fix the problem as quickly as possible.

What Happens Before Oral Surgery?

Oral surgery is similar to traditional surgery in that the surgeon, or their team, will talk with the patient about the procedure and let them know about any specific preparations they must go through in the days or hours leading up to the surgery.

A common request is that the patient fast, or refrain from eating, for a certain period prior to surgery. This usually takes place because the patient will be administered anesthesia during the procedure. There are other preparations a patient might be requested to make, such as the following:

Prepare recovery space: Everyone should designate a specific location to utilize for their recovery. Ideally it will be their home, but they might need help, so they could select a friend’s or a loved one’s place. The recovery space should be clean and have what the patient needs during recovery.
Ready the bed: A patient should set their bed up ahead of time so that they can sit on it at an incline if they wish.
Fasting: In most instances, a patient should not eat or drink anything for about eight hours before the surgery. This is not a definitive range, as surgery vary and is best to check with the surgeon.
Arrange transportation: Getting to the surgery center is not the problem but traveling to the recovery location could be an issue. A patient may have anesthesia, so they will be unable to drive. They could also be in pain or discomfort and should have someone else drive. They should arrange for a friend, family member, or even a taxi to take them home.

Surgery can be an anxious experience on its own. Arranging a few basics such as the recovery space and transportation to and from the surgery center can alleviate some tensions so that the patient can just focus on the surgery itself.

How can I Help My Oral Surgery Recovery?

After surgery, a patient should return to their pre-selected recovery place and rest. They might feel sore and experience minor bleeding in the first few days, but they should feel better after that. To accommodate the recovery, there are a few things that patients should do, including the following:

Take it easy for the first few days. After oral surgery, the body experiences a traumatic event and requires time to recuperate. If a person pushes themselves, it could make recovery last longer.
An oral surgeon will provide specific instructions on what a patient needs to do following the surgery. They should follow those instructions consistently.
Part of the surgeon’s instructions could be medication that they prescribe that will help a patient recover. This could be pain medication or another type, but a patient should take those medications as per their instructions.
Patients should also avoid foods that are too hot, cold, tough, chewy, or spicy. They should stick with soft chewable foods such as yogurt, applesauce, and instant oatmeal.
Patients should observe any problems that arises in the first couple of days outside of the normal side effects that usually occurs. They should also check in with their surgeon periodically to update the surgeon on their progress.

A patient should allow for several days to recover and not get discouraged if they are not improving as quickly as they would like. These things do take time, and so long as the oral surgeon is pleased with the progress, that is the important aspect of the surgery.

Woodbury Oral Surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Handle a Variety of Procedures to Address Dental Emergencies

You may never know when a dental emergency will arise, including an extracted wisdom tooth or the loss of teeth. You may be suffering from a long-term condition such as sleep apnea. For all these situations, the Woodbury oral surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons can handle it. Our friendly staff and experienced surgeons will fix your problem and help you through the process. Call us at 856-582-4222 or contact us online to make an appointment or schedule a consultation. With offices in Washington Township, Haddonfield, and Woolwich Township, New Jersey, we are dedicated to helping patients throughout South Jersey.