Many of us have at some time experienced the occasional tooth pain, but these pains can be signs of far worse problems ahead. When this happens, different types of oral surgeries are performed to fix these issues and prevent others from happening. Here are a few of the more common conditions that you might run into down the road.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Having wisdom teeth removed is the most common oral surgery in the United States. 90% of the population grows an extra pair of molars in the back of their mouth. While these teeth can reside inside the gums or erupt through and fit in properly, the majority of people with wisdom teeth experience discomfort when these extra molars attempt to fit into a space that has no room for them. This can lead to extreme pain, jaw displacement, and over-bites. The good news is that there is a simple surgery to have them removed with the assistance of a dentist or oral surgeon. The procedure lasts roughly an hour and the recovery is not that much longer, save for some minor pain in the gums in the days or weeks to come.
Jaw Displacement
Another common oral surgery has to do with the jaw. The jaw can easily grow too much or shift out of place due to improper tooth growth or physical impacts to the area. These displacements can cause difficultly moving the jaw and excruciating pain if it goes uncorrected. Fixes for this include breaking the jaw and letting it grow back into place, shaving excess bone from the jaw, and applying bone from another area of the body or a similar substance to bone onto the jaw. This will ensure proper alignment of the jaw and ease any discomfort.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the lungs are not receiving enough oxygen when a person is sleeping due to complete or partial blockage of the throat. While there are a number of different reasons for this disorder, excess tissue in the mouth or throat can be a contributing factor. Sleep apnea results in frequently waking up and never getting quality REM sleep. This can lead to reduced energy, depression, and general fatigue. A dental surgeon can easily remove excess tissue that is blocking the airway, leading to better quality and amounts of sleep.
These are only a few problems that may need to be addressed with oral surgery. If you think you are experiencing any of these problems, or any others in the mouth, contacting your dentist or doctor can be a good first step to determining whether oral surgery is right for you.
Source by Abigail Aaronson
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