Oral surgery
Oral surgery is the oldest of the odontology specialisms and includes the diagnosis and surgical treatment of the diseases produced in the mouth, jaw and its tissues.
Oral surgery comprises all sorts of extractions including the wisdom teeth, impacted teeth, surgery for appliances, cysts on the jaw, periapical surgery, pre prosthetic surgery as well as removal of lesions and analysis of same, and implants.
Although patients are often scared of extractions, thanks to technical advances in local anaesthetics, these can be carried out without pain and the minimum of discomfort to the patient.
Frequently asked questions
Should wisdom teeth always be extracted?
If the wisdom teeth are in the correct position and are not causing any damage or problem, it is not necessary to take them out. However, extraction is recommended if any of these symptoms are present: inflammation of the gums surrounding the crown of a partially erupted tooth or pericoronitis, lesions in the adjacent molars, destruction of the bone, cysts, pain or crowding of the teeth.
What is an impacted tooth?
These are teeth which when coming through remain partially or completely enclosed in the oral cavity (either in the bone or tissue) these are most frequently the wisdom teeth, in particular the lower ones followed by the upper canines.
What is the treatment for impacted teeth?
Depending on the situation of the tooth held in the jawbone, various treatments can be used: extraction in the case of wisdom teeth or relocation by orthodontics into the dental arch when the tooth in question has an important or aesthetic function as is the case with canine impacted teeth. Also it is often the case that no action need be taken just the checking of the development of the tooth as long as there is no risk of disease.
What should I do after oral surgery?
Bite on a pad of gauze for 20 minutes after the operation. Place a bag of ice or a cold towel on the face for a few hours, keeping it in position for 10 minutes at a time. Avoid cooling the skin of the cheek where the extraction took place too much and causing an ice burn . Do not rinse the mouth in the following 24 hours as mouthwashes may dislodge the coagulation and natural healing process. It is preferable to keep in a position where your head is higher than your body, for example seated or in bed with two pillows.
The day of the operation you should keep to a cool, bland diet. The following day eat what you fancy but for your own comfort it is better to eat bland food at room temperature. The following day you can rinse your mouth with salt water or with the mouthwash recommended by the surgeon. Make sure your dental hygiene is performed correctly using a toothbrush to reach all possible areas and clean your teeth after each meal.
During the first few hours you will notice that the wound bleeds a little. If this increases, use a gauze pad on the wound and bite on it for 30 minutes. Repeat this as often as necessary. After the operation for the first 7-10 days you might experience swelling or bruising, pain, difficulty opening your mouth and possibly a slight rise in temperature up to 38 degrees which is normal.
In the case of an emergency, if the dental surgery is closed, call your GP or the duty emergency doctor. If the situation is serious, go to the hospital.