20 May

Four Common Types of Dental Surgery

Surgery may seem like an intimidating solution to dental complications. Most people dread dental surgery because it sounds painful and scary. However, dental surgeries are typically very simple procedures with a quick recovery. To set your mind at ease, the dentists at Lifetime Family Dental in Gilbert would like to inform you about the common types of dental surgery we offer.

1. Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Extracting wisdom teeth is one of the most common dental surgeries. Wisdom teeth are the last of your teeth to erupt and typically appear in early adulthood. Most adults have four wisdom teeth located in the back corners of the mouth. 

Wisdom tooth extraction involves removing all four teeth, when necessary, while you are sedated. Extraction is an outpatient procedure, so you get to go home the same day. Recovery only takes a few days as long as you follow your dentist’s instructions for caring for your mouth.

It’s necessary to remove wisdom teeth as early as possible. Wisdom teeth can cause discomfort, become vulnerable to disease and tooth decay, or become impacted. An impacted wisdom tooth gets stuck below your gums and can cause complications. 

2. Cosmetic Dental Surgery

Patients with discolored, chipped, missing, or otherwise flawed teeth often turn to cosmetic dentistry. The focus of cosmetic dental treatment is typically on flaws that show when you laugh, smile, talk, or eat. Cosmetic dentistry can restore confidence and leave you with a healthy smile. Only some cosmetic procedures require surgery, but recovery only takes a few days. 

Cosmetic Procedures That Require Surgery are:

• Dental implants
• Full dental reconstruction
• Bone and gum grafts 

Other Types of Cosmetic Procedures include:

• Tooth Whitening
• Dental Veneers
• Cosmetic Bonding
• Gum Recontouring

3. Dental Implants

Your dentist may suggest dental implants if you are missing teeth or if you need to have a tooth replaced. An implant replaces the tooth all the way down to the root, so that you can chew food without damaging the implant. This makes dental implants more secure than dental bridges, a similar restorative solution.

There are three types of dental implants:

• Single dental implants
• Implant-supported bridges
• Implant-retained dentures

Dental implants require surgery to fuse the base into the jawbone. A separate procedure attaches a crown to the base. Receiving dental implants is a long process. It can take up to 6 months for the base to fuse securely and for the jawbone to heal so that a crown can be attached.  

4. Root Canals

A root canal is performed when the root of your tooth has become infected. Your dentist will remove the infected pulp, disinfect the root canal, and then seal your tooth. Avoiding a root canal when you have an infected root risks letting the infection spread to other areas of your mouth and jawbones.

Television and movies have portrayed root canals as extremely painful procedures. Luckily, painful root canals are now a total myth. You won’t feel any pain during a root canal procedure, but you might experience some minor pain and discomfort once the anesthesia wears off. However, recovery is quick and should only take a few days at most. 

Dental Surgery in Gilbert

Sometimes dental surgery is a necessary step in maintaining your oral health. If you are experiencing tooth pain or sensitivity, it’s wise to schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more complex the type of dental surgery you may require. Contact Lifetime Family Dental to schedule an appointment today.

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (5/20/2021). Image by StockSnap from Pixabay