Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

It is a branch of dentistry which deals with the soft tissues of the oral cavity (cheek, palate, tongue, and lips) and also the hard tissues (teeth, and alveolar bones) within the surgical room environment.

Surgical interventions are applied to the soft tissues (such as cheeks, tongue, palate or lips) and hard tissues (teeth and bones) in the oral cavity.

Wisdom teeth are the third molars at the back of the dental arch. They usually erupt by the age of twenties; however, they often partially erupt or remain impacted in the jaw bone due to teeth crowding and displacement of the eruption position or depending on the bone density in the respective region of the oral cavity.

About Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Frequently Asked Questions

What type of operations are performed in dental surgery?

Surgical interventions are applied to the soft tissues (such as cheeks, tongue, palate or lips) and hard tissues (teeth and bones) in the oral cavity.

What is the wisdom tooth?

Wisdom teeth are the third molars at the back of the dental arch. They usually erupt by the age of twenties; however, they often partially erupt or remain impacted in the jaw bone due to teeth crowding and displacement of the eruption position or depending on the bone density in the respective region of the oral cavity.

Should every wisdom tooth be extracted?

It will be easier to extract wisdom teeth before the formation of their root ends is completed. To extract the wisdom teeth, the gingiva and the bone over the impacted tooth crown needs to be retracted. There is no need to extract a wisdom tooth when it has completely erupted. They may be used as abutments to fix a dental bridge in the future if the teeth in front of them are lost. Because they are located at the most rear end of the dental arch, they are the most difficult teeth to brush. This causes accumulation of food particles and germs over them, leading to gingival inflammation and foul mouth odour. Wisdom teeth erupting towards the cheek or the tongue at an angle should be extracted if they cause the patient to bite his cheek and tongue involuntarily.

What are the procedures to be performed after tooth extraction?

It will be easier to extract wisdom teeth before the formation of their root ends is completed. To extract the wisdom teeth, the gingiva and the bone over the impacted tooth crown needs to be retracted. There is no need to extract a wisdom tooth when it has completely erupted. They may be used as abutments to fix a dental bridge in the future if the teeth in front of them are lost. Because they are located at the most rear end of the dental arch, they are the most difficult teeth to brush. This causes accumulation of food particles and germs over them, leading to gingival inflammation and foul mouth odour. Wisdom teeth erupting towards the cheek or the tongue at an angle should be extracted if they cause the patient to bite his cheek and tongue involuntarily.

Does any kind of swelling or discoloration developing in the mouth; on the tongue, Cheeks, under the tongue or palate; indicate a dangerous lesion?

The oral cavity (inside the mouth) is one of the places, where the initial findings of several kinds of systemic diseases occur. Therefore, these lesions should be carefully monitored. If these lesions indicate a disease, treatment should be initiated without delays. It should be remembered that only an experienced dentist can identify malignant lesions in the mouth. Furthermore, an early diagnosis saves lives.