The ADA defines Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as “the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions.”
Commonly Performed Oral Surgeries at Belmont Dental:
At Belmont Dental Associates, our providers perform several types of oral surgery procedures. Some of the most common among them are the following:
- Dental Extractions: Dental extractions are the removal of broken, decayed, or infected teeth. During this procedure your dentist will first give you an injection of local anesthetic to numb the area. Once the area is numbed your dentist will then begin to remove the tooth or teeth using special instruments to separate the tooth from the gum tissue. This procedure is usually fairly simple. If you have a tooth or teeth that are impacted, meaning they have not fully erupted through your gums yet, which most commonly occurs with 3rd molars or “wisdom teeth” the procedure can be more difficult. In this case you would be referred to an oral surgeon for a surgical extraction where you will be put under general anesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable for you.
- Implant placement: Dental implants are widely known for being the most trusted and durable, natural-looking restorations for missing teeth. During an Implant oral surgery you can expect your dentist to first numb the area using a local anesthetic then, your dentist will make a small opening in your gum and bone to properly fit the titanium cylinder or “implant” using a specialized dental drill. Once the implant is placed it will need to heal for about 3-4 months so the bone can completely integrate with the implant. After the healing period the implant crown or “cap” can be fabricated and seated on top of the implant.
- Bone graft: To undergo a dental implant procedure to replace missing teeth, the patient should have the optimum jaw bone density to support the implant. However, bone deterioration and subsequent bone loss can occur when a natural tooth is extracted or lost. So, before a dental implant, we may perform a bone graft where granulated bone taken from an external source is used to rebuild damaged or defective bone.
Get comprehensive dentistry services from Belmont Dental Associates by Dr. Robert W. Bury and Dr. Taylor B. Bury. For more details and appointments, call us at (717) 848-1463, book online, or visit us at 3210 E Market Street, York, PA 17402.
