Our Santa Monica dentist understands that the word “surgery” can seem pretty intimidating at first. But the truth is that oral surgery doesn’t need to feel scary, and this type of treatment actually very useful for many types of patients. Today we’re talking about scenarios in which surgical intervention may be necessary. Keep reading to learn more…
Dental Damage
Even minor cavities and periodontal disease can intensify over time, and necessitate surgical intervention. An infection that begins in a single tooth or an area of gum tissue can spread and reach the sensitive inner core of a patient’s tooth, and even the jawbone. When this occurs, our dental team needs to remove the damaged and infected tissue, and restore the damaged tooth or bone.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
For many patients, oral surgery is necessary in order to remove the patient’s problematic wisdom teeth. When there is enough room in a patient’s mouth, wisdom teeth can sometimes erupt normally, and we can pull them out. However, it is common for wisdom teeth to stay stuck in a patient’s jawbone. In these cases, our team will go in surgically to remove the impacted tooth.
Oral Cancers
If your dental team discovers a cancerous tumor you will likely need to have it excised surgically. Removing this tissue is the first step in treating cancer and achieving remission. Keep in mind that oral cancers can develop throughout the mouth—the tongue, hard palate, jawbone, and even the sinuses. The specific type of surgery you require will depend on the location and stage of cancer.
As you can see there are many situations in which dental surgery can be transformative and even smile-saving. To learn more about any of these treatment options, or to speak to a member of our Santa Monica dental team, please give our office a call. We are here to help!