Oral surgery is a surgical procedure that requires the removal of diseased or damaged tissue from inside the mouth. An oral surgeon in The Woodlands, Texas, may need to remove a wisdom tooth, a tumor, an abscessed gum, impacted teeth, and many other types of growths. Oral surgery can take place in either outpatient or inpatient settings. Look for a reliable The Woodlands oral surgery center, which indicates that you need oral surgeons.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
The wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to develop. They usually erupt into position around age eighteen, but this process can take longer or fail to happen. This condition is known as impacted wisdom teeth, and it must be removed when necessary.
Food that becomes trapped in between a partially erupted tooth and the gum line can contribute to infection, inflammation, and deterioration of the jaw bone around it. Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause crowding and misalignment of other teeth.
Impacted Molars
Molars are often referred to as flat teeth with broad crowns and distinctive bumps on their chewing surfaces. They start developing in our mouths at age six. The third molars, known as wisdom teeth, are the last molars to erupt. Impacted molars are unable to fully develop from being stuck between other teeth, preventing them from coming into position.
They are challenging to clean because they are trapped inside the gums, but they can also damage neighboring teeth when chewing. Impacted second molars may need removal surgery when symptoms of pain, infection, or damage are present.
Decayed Teeth
Decayed teeth arise from a buildup of plaque that forms underneath the gum line. Various bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, cause this buildup, leading to tooth decay. A cavity can emerge when the enamel and dentin (the layers beneath the enamel) erode due to acidity produced by bacteria in the mouth. Tooth decay can be preventable by proper oral hygiene, including brushing twice a day and flossing daily.
Fractured Teeth
Fractured teeth are another common reason for oral surgery. The enamel that coats the tooth’s crown is robust, but it may sometimes chip or crack. It can be caused by biting down on something complex (like an ice cube) or through gum injury, which causes a visible gap between the tooth and surrounding gum tissue.
Cancers of the Mouth and Jaw
Cancers of the mouth, tongue, jaw, or throat may require surgical treatment to remove all cancerous growths from these areas altogether. The approach depends on the tumor location within the mouth and whether it has spread to other areas.
Jaw problems like Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ), also called TMD, are issues with the jaw’s temporomandibular joint that connects the lower part of the jaw to the skull. These problems can interfere with chewing or cause pain during specific jaw movements. The most common symptoms include face pain, earache, and headache.
Suppose you are not sure if you need oral surgery; the best thing is to see your doctor. Oral surgeons can diagnose and treat many of these conditions without invasive procedures like surgery. For example, impacted wisdom teeth may be removed with a simple extraction or dental laser procedure that does not require anesthesia. Your dentist can often restore decayed teeth through preventive treatments like fillings or root canal therapy.
