Dentoalveolar Surgery
Dento means teeth and alveolar refers to the bony portion of the jaws which holds the teeth. Dentoalveolar surgery includes any procedure to treat problems or diseases occurring in these areas. the most common procedure the oral surgeon performs is the removal of diseased teeth. Removal of teeth is necessary if teeth become decayed or loose from gum disease. Traumatic injuries to the teeth may also necessitate their removal.
Sometimes, tooth disease will also damage the supporting bone or surrounding gum tissue. Some dentoalveolar surgical procedures are designed to restore these tissues to health in order to allow placement of dental prosthesis (false teeth). These may include small bone reconstruction procedures such as bone grafting. Other procedures restore the soft tissues next to the teeth. Soft tissue disease can be restored by grafting, which is transferring healthy gum tissue to sites previously damaged by disease. Sometimes, growths or abnormalities of the soft tissues or jaws must be removed prior to the placement of false teeth.
All dentoalveolar surgery can be performed utilizing either local anesthesia (numbing medicine) or general anesthesia (going to sleep). Each patient has different needs for anesthesia based on the type of surgery they will have. The doctor will thoroughly review your case to determine the best way to complete your surgery comfortably. Patients can expect the procedures to be easily tolerated with minimal recovery time.
Oral Pathology
The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer. The following can be signs at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:
- Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth
- A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
- A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth
- Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
- Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology, and curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.
We would recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly and remember that your mouth is one of your body's most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Please contact us so we may help.
Pre-prosthetic Surgery
The preparation of your mouth before the placement of a prosthesis is referred to as pre-prosthetic surgery.
Some patients require minor oral surgical procedures before receiving a partial or complete denture, in order to ensure the maximum level of comfort. A denture sits on the bone ridge, so it is very important that the bone is the proper shape and size. If a tooth needs to be extracted the underlying bone might be left sharp and uneven. For the best fit of a denture, the bone might need to be smoothed out or reshaped. Occasionally, excess bone would need to be removed prior to denture insertion.
One or more of the following procedures might need to be performed in order to prepare your mouth for a denture:
- bone smoothing and reshaping
- removal of excess bone
- bone ridge reduction
- removal of excess gum tissue
- exposure of impacted teeth
We will review your particular needs with you during your appointment.
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