Your dentist, orthodontist and endodontist have many skills, but there are some problems that need a specialist. That’s where a clinic, such as Desert Valley Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, comes into play. Problems addressed by an oral surgery center may be related to dentistry, speech development, or injury.
Typically, our most common procedures deal with damaged jaws, damaged or impacted teeth, and/or unwanted tissue. In many cases, these are one-time procedures. In others, a long-term goal, such as bone regeneration, requires further treatment to accomplish the final goal. As a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Richard Hansen is well-qualified to handle office-based oral surgeries.
What is Oral Surgery?
Oral surgery is a medical procedure that is performed on the teeth, mouth tissues or jaw. Typically excluded by medical insurance, affordable oral surgery often relies on dental insurance reimbursement. To find out which insurors work with our office, talk to our staff. We may not have all of the answers, but we can help you understand which questions to ask your dental or medical insurance provider. We also provide payment plan options that can make the costs of oral facial surgery more manageable. The most frequent procedures at our office fall into one of the following categories:
Wisdom Teeth Replacement
Dental oral surgery is required to remove impacted wisdom teeth or to prevent this problem. Removing unnecessary teeth relieves overcrowding and helps existing teeth stay straight. Generally these patients are in their late teens. The third molars must be carefully disconnected from the bone. After a recovery period, the patient shouldn’t have any further problems.
Dental Implants
To restore a tooth, the main method is a dental implant. During oral surgery, a metal post is planted in the jawbone. Once that is accomplished, the mouth will begin to fuse the post with the patient’s gum and bone.
Jaw Surgery
There are a variety of reasons that a patient may need jaw surgery. It may be needed to correct jaw function after an accident. It may be necessary to correct naturally occuring gum damage or to restore a jawbone damaged by TMJ. Bone grafting allows the surgeon to replace a damaged section and promote tissue regeneration.
Labial and Lingual Frenectomy
There are several types of surgical procedures that may be used to correct a problem with the patient’s mouth tissues. A lingual frenectomy is used to correct speech problems in children. The surgeon removes tissues that are obstructing normal speech. These are generally too close to the tongue’s tip. A labial frenectomy address gum problems that are interfering with denture fit.
More Questions?
If you have more questions about oral surgery, we invite you to talk to our knowledgeable staff. A consultation with Dr. Hansen can tell you more.