Oral and maxillofacial pathology is one of ten dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA). A dentist with this type of training performs various types of oral surgery.
How Oral Surgery Can Help You
Facial Pain & Facial Reconstruction
Issues involving facial pain may be the result of structural issues with your jaw. This can often be alleviated with surgery. We can also repair damaged facial structures. Our dentists at Corner Stone Dental will exhaust all other treatment options before we consider surgery, however.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are surgically placed in your jaw, creating a strong attachment so they won’t come out or move around. Implants are aesthetically pleasing, matching your natural teeth to create a beautiful smile that will boost your self-confidence.
Tooth Extraction & Wisdom Teeth Removal
We’ll do everything we can to save your natural tooth before recommending extraction. But sometimes a tooth extraction is the best way to protect your smile. This is a gentle procedure that only takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Wisdom teeth are the third and final molars that grow at the back of your smile. Unfortunately, the emergence of a patient’s wisdom teeth often leads to overcrowding. This can cause teeth to crack, break, or become impacted beneath the gumline. All of these circumstances may result in severe pain and infection.
Wisdom teeth typically grow between the ages of 17 and 25. If your dentist notices signs of overcrowding, we’ll recommend wisdom teeth extraction to protect your smile.
Regular Screening for Oral Cancer
Every six months, we provide screening for oral cancer during your regular checkup. It only takes a few minutes to safeguard your health. Diagnosing and treating oral cancer in its earliest stages dramatically improves the patient’s chances of a successful outcome.
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that leads to life-threatening health conditions. A lot of patients are unhappy with their CPAP machines. That’s why we provide effective treatment alternatives to CPAP.
Many of our sleep apnea patients in Swansea, IL find relief using one of our convenient oral appliances that gently keep the airway open while you sleep. When you meet with Dr. Wilson for your free consultation, we can talk about all your treatment options. In some cases, surgery is recommended to remove the excess tissue that causes sleep apnea by blocking the patient’s airway.
Frequently Asked Questions
After your surgery, you’ll need to take 48 to 72 hours to rest. These first days are crucial to your recovery because your body needs to work hard to make repairs. It’s best to avoid any strenuous activities that can impair your recovery and follow instructions from your dentist carefully. Proper care after your surgery helps reduce the likelihood of infection.
For many oral surgeries, you’ll be awake but the area being worked on will be numbed with a local anesthetic. Most oral surgeries aren’t invasive enough to require general anesthesia because the local anesthetic is enough to keep you from feeling any pain.
Your surgery won’t be painful during the procedure. You’ll be numbed with an anesthetic, so you won’t feel anything happening during your visit. When you’re recovering, you may feel pain and discomfort. These are normal feelings and you may be given a prescription to help.