Oral Surgery
Comprehensive Oral Surgery Services in Metro Atlanta, GA
Going to the dentist for a professional cleaning is a familiar routine for most people. However, when you need a more advanced procedure, you might be referred to an oral surgeon. Oral surgery candidates in Metro Atlanta trust the team at Atlanta Oral & Facial Surgery to help restore their smiles. We provide a wide range of services to address patients’ mouths, teeth, and jaws in a comfortable environment. You can rely on us to carefully examine your needs and create a custom care plan.
What Is Oral Surgery?
Oral surgery is any surgical procedure performed in or around the mouth. These procedures treat diseases, injuries, and defects of the head, neck, face, and jaw.
While a regular dentist handles routine care like cleanings and fillings, an oral surgeon steps in for more complex problems, performing operations that go beyond the surface of the teeth and gums. These procedures often involve cutting into the tissue or bone to remove a problem or fix a structural issue.
Many people undergo these surgeries daily. It’s a common type of care that can relieve pain, improve your ability to chew, and protect your overall health.
Understanding the Roles and Training for Oral Surgeons
Oral surgeons are dental specialists who focus solely on treating complex conditions of the mouth, teeth, and facial regions. But what does an oral surgeon do? These doctors perform surgeries, administer general anesthesia, and help patients manage pain.
Becoming an oral surgeon takes a lot of time and hard work. First, they must complete four years of dental school to become a dentist. After that, they complete a hospital-based residency program that lasts four to six years. During this time, they train alongside medical doctors, learning about general surgery, plastic surgery, emergency medicine, and anesthesiology.
Because of this intensive training, oral surgeons are highly qualified to perform complicated surgeries and give patients medicine to sleep during their procedures. They know how to handle emergencies and keep patients safe at all times.
Who Needs Oral Surgery?
Many dental and medical problems require surgical intervention. If your regular dentist spots an issue they cannot treat in their office, they may send you to our doctors in Metro Atlanta. Common issues we can treat with oral surgery include:
- Impacted Wisdom Teeth – Sometimes, the large teeth at the back of your mouth don’t have enough room to grow. They get stuck in the gums or bone and must be removed to prevent pain and infection.
- Missing Teeth – If you lose a tooth, you might want a dental implant to replace it. A surgeon can place a small metal post into your jawbone to hold the new artificial tooth.
- Jaw Pain or Problems – If your jaw joints hurt, pop, or don’t close correctly, surgery can help repair the bone structure.
- Facial Trauma – Accidents can cause broken facial bones or knocked-out teeth. Surgeons repair these injuries to restore function and appearance.
- Oral Pathology – If your dentist spots a strange lump or patch of tissue in your mouth, a surgeon can remove it and test it for disease.
Is Oral Surgery Considered a Medical or Dental Procedure?
Oral surgery often bridges the gap between the medical and dental fields. Because it happens in the mouth and often involves the teeth, it’s deeply connected to dentistry. However, the procedures involve cutting tissue, altering bone, and using general anesthesia, which makes it a medical event.
The billing for these procedures can also vary. Some surgeries, such as basic tooth extractions, are usually covered by dental insurance. Other procedures – like fixing a broken jaw or removing a tumor – might be covered by your health insurance. Our office staff is always happy to help you understand your insurance coverage.
Different Types of Oral Surgery
We perform several types of oral surgery at our Metro Atlanta clinics. Among them are:
- Tooth Extractions – This is the removal of a tooth that’s badly decayed, broken, or impacted.
- Dental Implants – We can place artificial tooth roots into the jawbone to hold replacement teeth.
- Bone Grafting – Our doctors can add bone density to the jaw so that it can support implants.
- Corrective Jaw Surgery – We can fix alignment issues to improve chewing, speaking, and breathing.
- Sleep Apnea Treatment – This treatment involves removing excess tissue in the throat to clear the airway.
Do Surgeons Perform Root Canals?
A root canal is a procedure that cleans an infection from the inside of a tooth to save it. General dentists or endodontists usually perform these treatments. An endodontist is a dental specialist who focuses entirely on the inside of the tooth. However, if a root canal fails or if the infection spreads to the bone around the tooth, an oral surgeon might get involved. In these rare cases, the surgeon might perform a procedure to remove the infected tip of the tooth’s root. Typically, though, we focus on extracting teeth that cannot be saved.
How to Prepare for Oral Surgery
Preparation is key to a smooth and successful procedure. Your doctor will give you specific instructions based on your health and the type of anesthesia you’ll receive. It’s essential to follow these rules closely to avoid having to reschedule your appointment. You should plan to take some time off from work or school because you’ll need a few days to rest at home. Also, be sure to arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from our office.
Can You Eat Before Oral Surgery?
If you’re only getting a local anesthetic, you can usually eat a light meal before your appointment. However, if you’re getting IV sedation or general anesthesia, the rules are very strict. You must have an empty stomach, so we’ll ask you not to eat anything for at least eight hours before your surgery. Eating before anesthesia can cause you to feel sick or create serious breathing problems during your procedure.
Can You Drink Water Before Oral Surgery?
If you’re going to sleep for the procedure, you must stop drinking fluids several hours before you arrive. Sometimes, your doctor will allow you to drink clear liquids like water or apple juice until two to six hours before your surgery. But you must never drink milk, coffee with cream, or orange juice with pulp before anesthesia. Always follow the exact instructions your doctor provides to keep yourself safe.
Recovery from Oral Surgery
Once your procedure is over, the healing process begins. You’ll probably feel tired, and your mouth will be numb for a few hours. When you get home, your main job is to rest. Keep your head propped up on some pillows to help reduce swelling. You can also hold an ice pack to the outside of your face for the first day or two.
Our team will give you clear directions on how to care for your mouth. We’ll also provide medicine to help manage any pain or discomfort. You should keep your mouth clean, but be gentle so that you don’t disturb the healing areas.
What to Eat After Oral Surgery With Stitches
Your mouth will be tender, and you must protect your healing gums. Knowing what to eat after oral surgery is very helpful. Stick to a soft food diet for the first few days. Great options include:
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Smoothies, but drink them from a cup rather than through a straw
- Scrambled eggs
- Warm soup
Avoid crunchy, hard, spicy, or sticky foods that could pull at your stitches or irritate the surgical site.
How Long After Oral Surgery Can You Smoke?
We don’t recommend smoking at all because of the many health problems it poses. Furthermore, it’s very bad for the healing process. The chemicals in smoke slow blood flow to your gums, which means your mouth takes longer to heal. Even worse, the sucking motion of smoking can pull the protective blood clot out of your healing wound, causing a painful condition called dry socket. To protect your mouth and avoid terrible pain, wait at least 72 hours before smoking, and preferably much longer.
Contact Us in Metro Atlanta for Your Oral Surgery Needs
Taking care of your mouth is an important part of your overall health. If you’re experiencing pain, need a tooth removed, or want to learn about replacing missing teeth, Atlanta Oral & Facial Surgery is here to help. We have state-of-the-art clinics throughout Metro Atlanta to serve you, so contact us today to schedule a consultation.