Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery
Maxillofacial and Dental Surgery
Some conditions, disorders, or traumas that occur in teeth, oral tissues, and jaws may require surgical interventions. Maxillofacial and dental surgery is the branch of dentistry responsible for these medical and surgical treatments. These treatments and operations should be performed by specialized oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The general aim of the applied treatments is to address the functional and aesthetic problems caused by patients’ jaw and dental issues.
What is Maxillofacial and Dental Surgery?
Some congenital anomalies, diseases, disorders, traumas, and injuries can cause damage to the hard or soft tissues in the face and jaw. Oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery is a discipline that deals with the diagnosis, diagnosis, and treatment processes of these conditions.
Surgeries and treatments within the scope of oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery are performed with local or general anesthesia or sedation. All surgical operations are carried out in an operating room by expert surgeons.
What are the treatments in Maxillofacial and Dental Surgery?
Within the scope of maxillofacial and dental surgery, impacted or complex tooth extractions can be performed. Operations related to dental implants as well as jaw and facial implants are also carried out in this field. Infections, tumors, and cysts in the mouth, jaw, and face areas may sometimes require medical and surgical interventions. Moreover, surgical operations required for bone inflammations, fractures in the related areas, sleep apnea, cleft lips and palates, tissue damages, and botox applications are also performed by oral and dental surgeons.
Orthognathic and reconstructive surgical operations can be performed to treat disorders such as growth disorders, jaw closing problems, orthodontic disorders, and skeletal mismatches.
Wisdom Tooth Treatment
The extraction of wisdom teeth requires local anesthesia, numbing only the area where it is located. The extraction of wisdom teeth should be performed by maxillofacial surgeons. The tooth is removed using surgical tools that remove the surrounding bone, and the wisdom tooth is extracted. Stitches are placed at the surgical site after the operation. Stitches are removed between 7 and 10 days.
Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth
- Pain and sensitivity in teeth and gums
- Pain around the ears leading to headaches
- Pain around the jaw leading to headaches
- Bad breath
- Swelling in the lymph nodes
- Jaw pain during chewing
When are wisdom teeth extracted?
- Decayed tooth
- Gum disease / gum abscess
- Orthodontic reasons
- Formation of cysts
- Formation of pressure
Is the extraction of wisdom teeth mandatory?
Extractions of wisdom teeth are not mandatory as long as they are functional. However, wisdom teeth, like other teeth, should be preserved. Wisdom teeth that have not erupted yet and exert pressure on other teeth can cause tooth decay and misalignment. Therefore, extraction should be performed.
What to pay attention to after wisdom tooth extraction?
- Do not touch the extracted area with your hands.
- Eat on the other side for a day after the extraction.
- If you smoke, do not smoke for the first 24 hours as smoking can cause bleeding at the operated area.
- It is normal to have some bleeding in the first two days after the surgery.
- Do not consume excessively hard and sticky foods.
- Apply cold therapy to the swollen area for 10 minutes and rest for 2 minutes.
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) Treatment
The aim of bruxism treatment is to prevent permanent damage to teeth and jaw joints and to eliminate pain. For the most suitable treatment method, a maxillofacial surgeon should be consulted to determine the degree of bruxism.
Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
- Waking up with pain in the mouth, neck, shoulders, and face muscles
- Waking up with headaches
- Grinding teeth during sleep
- Clicking sound from the jaw joints
- Bite and break problems between teeth
- Increased tooth pain and sensitivity
- Sensitivity in the inner cheek due to grinding
- Difficulty sleeping and causing sleep disorders
Impacted Tooth Treatment
Teeth that cannot continue to develop inside the mouth and remain under the gum or bone are called impacted teeth. Wisdom teeth, premolars, and canine teeth can remain under the gums or bones, becoming impacted teeth.
Symptoms of Impacted Teeth
- Pain in the jaw joint and bone
- Sensitivity and pain in teeth and gums
- Bad breath due to decay
- Pain during chewing
- Headaches
- Swelling in the lymph nodes
What to pay attention to after impacted tooth extraction?
- Pay attention to oral and dental hygiene.
- For the first 24 hours after impacted tooth extraction, eat on the other side.
- Nothing should be eaten or drunk in the first 2 hours after the procedure. Soft foods, preferably liquid meals, should be consumed after 2 hours.
- Do not smoke for 24 hours.
- Apply cold compresses if recommended.
Note: The information and recommendations on this page are for informational purposes only. Consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. For more detailed information, before and after images, please contact our WhatsApp line!