Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery covers a broad spectrum of procedures that address teeth, supporting bone, and related facial structures. Routine needs often include removal of erupted or impacted teeth, especially when a tooth threatens neighboring teeth, causes repeated infection, or interferes with orthodontic treatment. Surgical extraction techniques help manage difficult extractions with minimal trauma to surrounding tissues.
Surgical endodontic procedures are another important category; when root canal therapy alone cannot resolve persistent infection, a targeted surgical approach can remove the source of inflammation and preserve the tooth when appropriate. Exposure of impacted teeth for orthodontic alignment is commonly performed in tandem with orthodontic treatment to guide unerupted teeth into their correct positions.
Emergency dental surgery can be necessary after acute injury or infection. Rapid, well-coordinated care reduces complications and promotes a better recovery. Deciding which procedure is appropriate involves a careful clinical evaluation and, when needed, imaging such as digital radiographs or cone-beam CT scans to map anatomy precisely.
Treating dental and facial injuries requires a structured approach: assess airway and general health, stabilize the patient, and then address specific dental or facial injuries. Fractured teeth, displaced jawbones, and soft tissue lacerations each demand tailored surgical techniques to restore form and function while minimizing long-term problems like altered bite or chronic discomfort.
Detection and management of oral pathology — including cysts, benign growths, and suspicious lesions — is an integral part of surgical practice. When oral lesions are identified, the surgical team evaluates size, location, and behavior; if biopsy or removal is indicated, the procedure is planned to achieve both diagnostic clarity and optimal healing.
Early intervention for infections or traumatic injuries can prevent escalation and reduce the need for more extensive procedures later. Coordinated postoperative monitoring and follow-up ensure that healing proceeds as expected and that restorative or orthodontic phases can continue without delay.
Pre-prosthetic and preparatory surgeries create a stable foundation for crowns, bridges, dentures, and implant restorations. Procedures such as bone grafting, sinus floor elevation, and tissue recontouring address deficiencies in volume or shape that would otherwise compromise the fit and function of prosthetic teeth. These interventions are designed to produce predictable, long-lasting results.
Bone grafts may use a patient’s own bone, donor material, or synthetic alternatives to rebuild areas of bone loss. In the upper posterior jaw, sinus lifts are performed to increase vertical bone height, enabling stable implant placement. Each technique is selected based on anatomy, long-term restorative goals, and the most current evidence for predictable integration.
Exposure to modern imaging allows clinicians to plan grafts and implant placement with high precision. Thoughtful coordination between surgical and restorative teams improves outcomes and helps ensure that appliances — whether removable or fixed — are comfortable, functional, and esthetically appropriate.
Oral surgery also addresses conditions that extend beyond individual teeth. Orthognathic (jaw) surgery corrects skeletal discrepancies that affect chewing, speech, facial balance, and long-term dental health. When structural alignment is a contributing factor to discomfort or dysfunction, surgical correction can offer durable improvement in both form and function.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can present as pain, limited jaw opening, or clicking. Surgical options are considered only after conservative therapies are explored; when structural problems require direct intervention, procedures are selected to relieve symptoms while preserving joint integrity. Careful diagnosis and imaging guide these decisions to avoid unnecessary interventions.
Sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea are increasingly managed in collaboration with oral surgeons. When anatomical contributors to airway obstruction are identified, targeted surgical measures can be part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Coordination with medical sleep specialists ensures that surgical care complements non-surgical therapies and monitoring.
Patient comfort and safety are central to every surgical encounter. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons undergo extensive training in local anesthesia, conscious sedation, and general anesthesia modalities. This expertise allows the team to tailor sedation plans to each patient’s needs, ensuring procedures are carried out with effective pain control and close physiological monitoring.
Preoperative assessment evaluates medical history, current medications, and any conditions that could influence anesthesia or healing. Clear pre- and postoperative instructions help patients prepare for surgery and support a smooth recovery. Pain management strategies emphasize safe, evidence-based approaches to minimize discomfort while promoting timely return to normal activities.
In addition to anesthesia, strict infection control and sterile technique are followed throughout every procedure. Postoperative follow-up is an essential part of care: timely checks allow the surgical team to confirm healing, manage any complications promptly, and coordinate subsequent restorative or rehabilitative steps as indicated. When surgery is well planned and executed, patients typically experience reliable outcomes and improved oral health.
To learn more about oral surgery services and whether a surgical option is appropriate for your needs, contact us for more information. Our team is available to explain recommended approaches and help guide your next steps toward restoring comfort, function, and confidence in your smile.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery covers a broad range of procedures that address problems of the teeth, jaws and surrounding facial structures. Common treatments include extractions of erupted and impacted teeth, surgical management of facial trauma, corrective jaw surgery, biopsy and removal of oral pathology, and placement of dental implants. Surgeons also perform pre-prosthetic surgeries such as bone grafting, tissue recontouring and sinus lifts to prepare the mouth for dentures or implant-supported restorations.
In addition to these surgical procedures, oral surgeons manage complex endodontic surgeries, expose impacted teeth for orthodontic alignment, evaluate and treat TMJ disorders, and offer select facial cosmetic services. Their training emphasizes both functional rehabilitation and esthetic outcomes, allowing them to coordinate care with general dentists, orthodontists and other specialists to achieve predictable results.
You should consult an oral surgeon when a dental issue requires surgical intervention beyond the scope of routine dental care. Examples include deeply impacted wisdom teeth, jaw misalignment that affects chewing or breathing, large or suspicious oral lesions, complex facial trauma, or the need for advanced bone grafting prior to implant placement. Your general dentist will often refer you when specialized surgical skills and sedation options are needed to ensure a safe and effective outcome.
Oral surgeons also manage conditions that involve the relationship between the teeth and the jaw joints, such as TMJ disorders, and they provide solutions for obstructive sleep apnea when surgical airway procedures are appropriate. Seeking an evaluation early can simplify treatment planning and reduce the risk of complications from delayed care.
Oral surgeons are trained to provide a range of anesthesia and sedation options tailored to the complexity of the procedure and the patient’s medical history. Local anesthesia numbs the surgical area for many minor procedures, while oral or intravenous (IV) sedation can help patients remain relaxed or semi-conscious during more invasive treatments. General anesthesia is available for extensive procedures or for individuals who require complete unconsciousness and airway management.
Your surgeon will review medical history, current medications and anxiety levels to recommend the safest option and will explain what to expect before, during and after sedation. Advanced monitoring and recovery protocols are used to maintain patient comfort and safety throughout the surgical experience.
Dental implant placement is a surgical procedure in which a titanium implant is inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Oral surgeons perform the surgical portion of implant therapy, which includes evaluating bone quality and quantity, planning implant position, performing necessary bone grafts or sinus lifts, and placing the implant with precision to support a prosthetic crown, bridge or denture. Proper surgical placement is critical for long-term implant stability and optimal esthetics.
After implant surgery, a healing period allows the implant to integrate with the bone before the restorative dentist attaches the final prosthesis. Oral surgeons work closely with restorative dentists to coordinate timing and ensure that the implant is positioned to meet both functional and cosmetic goals, helping patients regain chewing function and a natural-looking smile.
Bone grafting and sinus lift procedures are intended to rebuild or augment jawbone when there is insufficient volume to support dental implants or provide stable denture foundations. Bone grafts use the patient’s own bone, donor bone material, or synthetic substitutes to create a stronger base, while a sinus lift raises the sinus floor and places grafting material in the upper jaw to allow implant placement in the molar and premolar areas. These procedures restore the height and width of bone that may have been lost from tooth extraction, periodontal disease, or long-term tooth loss.
The oral surgeon will evaluate bone quality with imaging studies and develop a grafting plan that matches the patient’s needs and timelines for implant restoration. With modern techniques, many grafts integrate predictably and allow implants to be placed after appropriate healing, improving the long-term success of prosthetic rehabilitation.
Impacted teeth, especially wisdom teeth, are removed surgically when they cause pain, infection, damage to adjacent teeth, or when they impede orthodontic treatment. Management begins with a thorough clinical exam and radiographs to determine tooth position, root anatomy and proximity to vital structures such as nerves and sinuses. The oral surgeon develops a removal plan that minimizes risk and preserves surrounding bone and tissue whenever possible.
Many extractions are performed under local anesthesia with or without sedation to ensure patient comfort. Postoperative instructions and follow-up care focus on pain control, swelling management, infection prevention and safe return to normal activities, with attention to nerve function and proper healing.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and facial pain have multiple causes, and oral surgeons play a role in diagnosing and treating conditions that require surgical intervention. Conservative treatments are often tried first, including physical therapy, occlusal appliances and medication, but when structural problems of the joint, severe degenerative disease or persistent joint locking are present, surgical options may be considered. Procedures range from arthroscopy and minimally invasive joint therapies to joint reconstruction in advanced cases.
A careful multidisciplinary evaluation helps determine whether surgery is appropriate and which technique offers the best chance of symptom relief and functional improvement. The goal of surgical care is to restore comfortable jaw function while minimizing pain and long-term joint deterioration.
Yes, oral surgeons evaluate and treat certain types of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly when airway anatomy contributes to breathing obstruction during sleep. Treatment options vary with severity and may include surgical procedures to remove or reposition obstructive tissue, advance the jaw to enlarge the airway, or place supportive devices. Oral surgeons collaborate with sleep medicine specialists to determine candidacy for surgery and to design a comprehensive treatment plan that may also incorporate non-surgical therapies such as oral appliances and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
A thorough assessment including sleep studies and airway imaging guides decision-making and helps predict which surgical approaches are likely to improve sleep quality and reduce related health risks. The objective is to restore a stable, open airway while preserving or improving oral and facial function.
Recovery varies depending on the procedure but commonly includes a period of localized swelling, mild to moderate discomfort, and gradual return of normal function over days to weeks. Your surgeon will provide specific aftercare instructions covering pain management, wound care, dietary modifications and activity limits, along with signs to watch for that would merit prompt follow-up. Following these instructions closely and attending post-operative visits helps ensure proper healing and reduces the risk of complications.
Many patients can manage routine recovery at home with prescribed or over-the-counter medications, cold compresses and a soft-food diet, while more complex surgeries may require additional monitoring or staged restorative care. Clear communication with your surgeon and rapport with the treating team make recovery smoother and support successful long-term outcomes.
Preparing for oral surgery begins with a comprehensive consultation where your surgeon reviews medical history, current medications and any prior imaging or dental records. You may be asked to obtain new X-rays or a cone-beam CT scan to assist with surgical planning, and the team will provide preoperative instructions regarding fasting, medication adjustments and transportation if sedation or general anesthesia is planned. Be sure to disclose all health conditions, prescriptions and supplements so the surgical team can tailor anesthesia and perioperative care to your needs.
On the day of surgery, arrive with a responsible adult if sedation is expected, wear comfortable clothing and follow any specific directions given by the office. The goal of careful preparation is to reduce risks, improve comfort and help the surgical procedure proceed efficiently so you can begin a predictable recovery process.