Dental surgery is a collective term for surgical procedures performed on teeth and the jaw. This procedure is often conducted for cosmetic purposes, but some individuals undergo the surgery to improve their quality of life and restore dental function. Patients living in Cuenca, Ecuador, suffering from pain and other issues caused by dental problems will benefit from these procedures.
Types of Dental Surgery
Dental surgical procedures fall into different categories depending on the targeted site of surgery. Famous types of surgical procedures include the following:
- Orthodontics: Orthodontic procedures concentrate on teeth and malocclusions, also known as “bite” issues like overbite and underbite. Common procedures conducted by our experts are braces placement, molar removal, fillings, and cleaning.
- Endodontic: Endodontic surgical procedures focus on teeth roots or pulps. Since tooth pulps are hidden inside gums, this procedure requires an incision on gums to reach the affected part. A patient may undergo this procedure due to infected tooth pulps. Endodontic surgery may include a narrow incision to drain pus that accumulated due to infection or total root pulp removal. Root canals are the common endodontic procedures.
- Prosthodontics: Prosthodontics includes placing dental prosthetics. Many of these procedures require surgery due to the nature of placing the prosthetics, which include artificial teeth and other implants that restore teeth’s appearance. Common dental prosthetics patients living in Cuenca, Ecuador, often require are dentures, crowns, bridges, veneers, and implants. Placing these implants requires utmost expertise as prosthodontics professionals need to choose the right implants according to the patient’s jaw and teeth structures.
Conditions Requiring Surgery
Surgery can be recommended for patients with severe dental problems that affect their daily life. Dental problems can impact a person’s life due to infection-triggered pain, swelling, and difficulty chewing. A patient may also undergo this procedure for cosmetic purposes due to malformed teeth and jaws that affect their overall appearance. People who have lost teeth due to injuries and accidents are also good candidates for these surgical procedures.
Complications
Common complications experienced post-surgery are minimal. Patients may feel pain after anesthetics wear off, though the pain is manageable by taking medications prescribed by experts. Procedures that require excision and tooth removal may cause post-surgery bleeding with varying extent 24 hours after completing the procedure. Minor infection and swelling on gums may also occur post-surgery. The surgeon will discuss possible complications and proper post-operation care to minimize their presentation.
Preparations
The first part of preparation for surgery includes a physical examination of the affected area. The surgeon will assess the severity of the dental issue and recommend the best procedure for the patient. After assessment, the patient will undergo a dental x-ray to have a better view of the teeth to be fixed and jaw areas. The surgeon will then have a better idea about the right surgery. Pre-surgery instructions will also be discussed together with the possible risks and complications. Post-surgery care will be provided to set patients’ expectations.
Anyone may suffer from severe dental problems. You may need to undergo dental surgery due to dental problems or if you want to improve your smile. Call us right away at 410-8745 or send us an email for an immediate assessment.
*Originally published on Find Health in Ecuador October 14, 2014
