What are Surgical Treatments?

Oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery is a specialty focused on the health and surgical treatments of teeth, jaws, and soft tissues in the mouth. Many people believe that oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery is limited to tooth extractions. However, many issues that negatively impact daily life, such as impacted tooth problems, jaw and joint problems, infections, and many others, fall within the scope of oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery. In this branch, advanced treatment methods like dental implants and sinus surgery are applied to resolve a person's functional and aesthetic problems. In other words, oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery is a specialized branch at the intersection of dentistry and medicine. Expert Dentist Emin Serhat Arıkan, serving patients in Adana, explained what surgical treatments are in dentistry and in which procedures they are used.

What is Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery?

Oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery is one of the specialized branches of dentistry. It deals with the surgical treatment of soft and hard tissue diseases in the mouth, jaw, face, and neck regions. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons specializing in this field have extensive knowledge and experience in both dentistry and medicine. In this branch, which performs complex surgical operations, both congenital anomalies and later occurring traumas and diseases are treated.

Which Diseases Does Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery Address? What are the Conditions Requiring Surgical Treatment?

Oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery is concerned with a very broad spectrum of diseases. Diseases for which surgical treatments are performed are as follows:

Impacted Teeth and Extractions

One of the most commonly applied surgical treatments is the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth may remain impacted if they do not find sufficient space to erupt in the mouth. In this case, the person faces severe pain and the risk of infection. Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause decay and crowding in neighboring teeth. Tooth extraction surgery is the most effective treatment method for these and similar problems. In addition, teeth that have experienced trauma and are consequently broken or have advanced decay are also treated with surgical operations.

Dental Implant Applications

Dental implant applications refer to the placement of titanium screws, which serve as artificial tooth roots, in place of a person's missing teeth. Implant applications, one of the most important areas of oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery, allow patients to regain their speaking, biting, and chewing functions. They also restore the aesthetic appearance. For dental implant applications to be performed, the patient must have sufficient bone density. If there is insufficient bone density, dental implants can be applied through surgical techniques such as sinus lift or bone grafting.

Jaw and Facial Traumas

Jaw fractures, facial bone fractures, and soft tissue injuries resulting from accidents or blows are among the conditions requiring emergency intervention by oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery. These traumas can prevent the patient from performing functions such as speaking, breathing, and chewing. Surgical interventions can fix fractures and restore the natural anatomy of the face.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ)

The temporomandibular joint is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull. Problems occurring in this joint can restrict the ability to open the mouth, cause jaw locking, pain, and clicking sounds from the joint. Jaw surgery offers surgical or non-surgical treatment options for these problems. In severe cases, procedures such as intra-articular surgery or joint arthroscopy may be necessary.

Oral Cysts and Tumors

When benign or malignant cysts and tumors occur in the mouth and jawbones, their diagnosis and surgical treatment are also performed by oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgeons. After diagnosis is made by biopsy, the most appropriate treatment plan is created. Early diagnosis is crucial for the success of surgical operations.

Oral Infections and Abscesses

Serious abscesses and infections originating from tooth roots or spreading from soft tissues require urgent surgical treatment. These infections, if not treated in time, can rapidly spread to the face and neck regions, posing a life-threatening risk. Oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgeons drain the abscess and eliminate the source of the infection. This makes it possible to control infections and abscesses.

Orthognathic Surgery (Jaw Deformities)

In cases where the upper and lower jaws are misaligned relative to each other, the patient experiences both aesthetic and functional problems. In such situations, orthognathic surgical treatments are sought. This operation, also known as jaw surgery, aims to bring the teeth and jaw into their ideal positions. This method is usually carried out in conjunction with orthodontic treatment processes. This treatment procedure ensures the patient's functional and aesthetic recovery.

What are the Treatment Methods Used in Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery?

The treatment methods used in the oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery branch vary according to the disease and the patient's needs. These applications can sometimes be minimally invasive procedures, while also encompassing challenging and complex reconstructive surgical operations.

Impacted tooth surgery, dental implant treatments, sinus lifting, and bone grafting are among the most frequently applied treatment methods. In addition, pre-prosthetic surgical arrangements, tumors, oral cysts, and the control of infections occurring in the jaw region, as well as the diagnostic and treatment processes of diseases, play an important role. Depending on the patient's condition and needs, treatments may be performed under sedation, local anesthesia, or general anesthesia. All these operations must be performed under sterile operating room conditions.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Tooth extraction – Surgical removal of broken, decayed, or impacted teeth.

Removal of small cysts – Removal of benign cysts while the patient is under local anesthesia.

Biopsy – Taking tissue samples from suspicious lesions in the patient and subjecting them to pathological examination is also among the minimally invasive surgical procedures applied in dentistry.
Implant and Bone Surgery

Dental Implant Applications – Procedures involving the placement of titanium screws to replace lost teeth and to serve as an artificial tooth root.

Sinus Lift – Applied to patients with insufficient bone density in the upper jaw, by adding bone graft to the sinus cavity to make the patient suitable for implant treatment.

Bone Grafting – A procedure to increase bone density in patients experiencing bone loss in the jawbone, by applying bone blocks and bone powder to the affected areas.

Jaw and Facial Reconstruction

Treatment of Jaw Fractures – Application to repair jawbone fractures resulting from trauma using plates, screws, or wires.

Facial Bone Traumas – Covers the treatment of fractures occurring in the patient's facial bones, such as the cheekbone or nasal bone.

Aesthetic and Functional Surgery

Orthognathic Surgery – Surgical treatments applied to correct deformities in the patient's jaw area.

Smile Design Surgery – A set of treatments applied for the repair and reshaping of gums and to achieve an aesthetically flawless appearance.

How Does the Process Work in Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery?

A patient who consults a dentist with a health problem related to the oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery branch is first thoroughly examined and evaluated. In the initial examination, the patient's complaints are assessed. Imaging technologies are utilized. A definitive diagnosis of the disease is made with examinations such as digital X-rays, three-dimensional dental tomography, and panoramic X-rays.

After a definitive diagnosis is made, the most appropriate treatment plan is prepared for the patient. Treatment can be performed under general anesthesia, sedation, or local anesthesia, depending on the patient's condition. The surgeon decides on the most appropriate anesthesia method to ensure the patient has a comfortable treatment experience and successful treatment of the disease.

After treatment, to support and accelerate the patient's recovery process and prevent possible complications, the patient must strictly follow the doctor's recommendations and not miss control appointments.

When Should One Consult Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery?

The most common reason for consulting oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery is impacted teeth causing pain and infection. Those who have experienced tooth loss and want to undergo dental implant treatment, bone surgeries, sinus lift, and bone graft treatments also need to consult oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery. The treatment of masses, tumors, and lesions occurring in the mouth is also performed by dental surgery. Apart from these, making the jawbone suitable for prostheses before placement is also considered within the scope of oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery. Routine dental check-ups enable early diagnosis and timely treatment of possible problems.