What is oral reconstructive surgery, and when would we advise getting it done? Our Penticton dentists give some information and warning signs of potential patient needs.
What is reconstructive oral surgery?
Accidents happen every day – from falls to incidents at work, sports injuries, car accidents or facial trauma, an injury to your teeth and mouth can be scary and stressful. They can also impact your oral health long-term.
This dental surgery procedure may be suggested by an oral surgeon to improve the appearance and functionality of your smile. Soft tissue injuries and fractures are the two main subgroups of facial reconstruction surgery.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries cover trauma to the gums or skin, such as cuts on the tongue, lips or inside of your cheek. These may also include lacerations to the hard or soft palate.
Fractures
If the tiny bone tissue in your mouth is injured - including the teeth, upper or lower jaw or facial bones - they could need reconstruction.
If you’ve suffered severe facial injuries to the forehead or nasal cavities you might require a larger reconstructive surgery.
As you might expect, developing a jaw defect as a result of trauma or prior surgery (such as ablative tumour surgery) can significantly reduce your quality of life in terms of appearance and function. This includes issues with speaking, eating, and swallowing as well as appearance and self-confidence.
You might require facial reconstructive surgery if you receive any of these dental services:
- Wisdom tooth removal
- Dental implants
- Jaw surgery
- Bone grafting
What does reconstructive surgery involve?
Patients who have suffered facial injuries, teeth that have been knocked out, and other traumatic injuries to the face and neck may find it difficult to chew, eat, or speak normally. Reconstructive surgery techniques are used to treat gum and jawbone problems, replace missing or damaged teeth, and fix jaw joint problems. Dental implants or other treatment options may be used to restore the bone structure and jaw alignment, depending on your injury or situation.
Maxillofacial Reconstruction
A variety of procedures, from bone grafting to bone transplants with blood vessels for larger, more complex defects, can be used in maxillofacial reconstruction. The face, neck, head, and jaws, as well as the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region, can all be treated with this dental surgery to treat a variety of defects, diseases, and injuries.
Rehabilitation
The oral cavity (teeth and gums) must be rehabilitated, and missing teeth and gums will be replaced, so you can speak, eat, and swallow normally once more. This is done by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Eckhardt Dental Centre is uniquely qualified to provide comprehensive surgical care, guiding you through every stage of treatment, including:
- Ablative resection
- Microvascular reconstruction
- Dental implant placement
Though reconstructive oral surgery can sound intimidating, our dental and oral surgery team at Eckhardt Dental Centre is here to answer any questions you may have and address concerns throughout treatment.