Is It Time for You to Visit an Oral Surgeon?
For many people, visiting the local dentist is enough to solve most oral health problems. However, what do you do when you come across a problem that a general dentist can't fix? That's when it's time to visit an oral surgeon.
Oral surgeons are dental specialists who have done at least four years of dental school and a four-year residency at a hospital. This gives them extra time to hone their craft and makes them the perfect option when you run into a dental problem that's beyond the scope of a general dentist.
That said, how do you know when it's time to see an oral surgeon in Maryland? Let's take a closer look at what oral surgeons offer and some problems that they typically solve. With a little help from your general dentist, you should be able to determine if it's time to seek the expertises of this type of specialist.
An Oral Surgeon: Do You Need One?
Generally, this question is easy to answer by either visiting your local dentist or setting up a consultation with an oral surgeon. If your regular dentist can't perform the work that you need, you'll be referred to an oral surgeon in the area.
For example, some general dentists will extract wisdom teeth. When the wisdom teeth become impacted, though, cutting into the gums is required to remove them. The extra work involved in removing these teeth is something best left to an oral surgeon.
If you're in need of an oral surgeon, consider giving us a call. Even if you haven't spoken to your general dentist yet, we can schedule a consultation. During your first visit, we can help you determine if oral surgery is the right choice for you.
Visiting an Oral Surgeon for Jaw Problems
Oral surgeons don't just handle impacted wisdom teeth. Many people visit oral surgeons to deal with jaw pain as well. Unfortunately, a number of issues can cause jaw pain, so it's often hard for a general dentist to pinpoint the problem.
Thankfully, an oral surgeon should be able to quickly identify and fix the problem. Let's take a closer look at some of the main jaw-related problems that cause people to seek help from an oral surgeon.
Temporomandibular Joint Pain
One of the most common types of pain that people get in their jaws stems from the temporomandibular joint. The pain that you experience from your TMJ typically radiates throughout your whole face and makes it difficult to sleep, eat or live a happy life. Fortunately, you can get it taken care of if you visit us.
Dentures That Don't Fit Right
Another common problem that people have is ill-fitting dentures. This problem can arise after getting dentures that used to fit properly because the jaw changes.
As you get older, the jawbone that your dentures sit on can start to deteriorate. This causes not only your jaw to jut out but also your dentures to stop fitting properly. By visiting an oral surgeon, you can have your jawbone restored and get your dentures fitting like they should.
Jaw Growth That's Uneven
Sometimes, your jawbone can start to grow unevenly. While this isn't a common problem, it does happen to some individuals. This results in them having a hard time chewing, speaking and even breathing normally. If you're in this situation, restoring normal growth to your jaw should be a top priority.
Oral Surgeon Tips
Before your oral surgery appointment, there are a few tips that you should keep in mind that might make the whole experience better.
Firstly, you should call your surgeon's office to determine if you'll need any medication after surgery. If you will, you might be able to have the staff call in your prescription ahead of time so that your pharmacy can have the medication available for pickup after your surgery.
When it's time to pick up your prescription, you might want to get a family member or friend to help you. Chances are, you aren't going to feel like doing much driving the first day or two after your surgery. Having a friend pick it up for you is a good option.
Likewise, you might want this same friend or family member to take you to your appointment and bring you home. This will ensure that you make it home safely after your surgery, especially if it involves you being put under general anesthesia.
Follow These Tips Before and After Surgery
Leading up to your surgery, your oral surgeon will provide some instructions that you need to follow the day before. Typically, this involves avoiding certain medications and not eating after a certain time. For example, if you're going to be under general anesthesia, you should avoid eating about eight hours before your surgery.
When your surgery is done, you may not feel much like eating. In some cases, you may be unable to eat solid food for a few days. A good tip is to load up on some Boost and Ensure supplement drinks. These can provide a lot of the minerals and vitamins that your body needs to heal. While these drinks aren't good for the long term, they work wonders the day or two after surgery.
It's Time to Reclaim Your Oral Health
If you're ready to reclaim your oral health with surgery, it's time to give us a call. We provide oral surgery options for people living in Maryland.
If you aren't sure whether or not oral surgery is the right call, reach out to us. We can set up a consultation to determine if oral surgery is the right move. Let us help you feel better about your smile again.
