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Certain types of dental procedures fall under the category of oral surgery. This means that unless a general dentist has had some specialized training after becoming a dentist, he or she cannot perform that particular treatment. A specialist is needed, or a dentist with the required training. This is why if you need some dental procedures that you will get a referral to a qualified oral surgeon.
A dentist that is qualified to perform more complex surgeries – general dentists can perform some – will have some specialized training after getting a dentist degree. This training will range from four to six additional years of training in surgical practices.
While dental extractions are being performed every day, it is the task of a specialist. This is because complications can arise during the surgery that a regular dentist is not trained for, or may not have the required specialized equipment. Also, some extractions will require that a patient receive general anesthesia (or a patient may desire it), and only a specialist or an anesthesiologist can supervise it.
Saving a tooth is always preferred to extraction because it is simpler and will save you money. Even more important is because nothing works as good as your natural teeth. Sometimes, however, teeth may need to be extracted if they:
After tooth extraction, the missing tooth should be replaced as soon as possible. This will help prevent two different problems:
The best way to prevent both of the above things from occurring is to get artificial teeth immediately from Champion Dental. One system that will work the best is to get a dental implant, which will prevent both problems. An implant can be installed at the same time a tooth is extracted. A dental bridge will only prevent drifting, but both methods will help preserve your smile.
Wisdom teeth often need to be removed after they come in – or while they are trying to come in. This usually occurs between the ages of 17 and 25.
One of the main reasons for wisdom tooth removal is that the jaw is too small and there is not enough room for them to fully erupt. This problem will cause a lot of pain, could damage other teeth and is apt to cause a misalignment of nearby teeth while it tries to make room.
Although some wisdom teeth do not cause problems, they will sometimes come in crooked. They can grow in sideways, or angled toward the next tooth. They can also grow and be encased in bone. When this happens, there is no possibility that it will grow in right and it will only cause more trouble with other teeth if left to grow. This requires wisdom teeth removal.
As teeth grow, the roots of the teeth expand downward and can come close to the nerve that runs under them. This can make surgery very difficult because there is a risk of damaging or even severing the nerve. Wisdom teeth roots reach their full length after about age 35, which means that an extraction (if needed) should be done before about age 26 for greater safety.
A wisdom tooth extraction can be conducted one at a time or they can be removed all at once. If they are not apt to cause a problem, extraction is not necessary. Champion Dental provides wisdom tooth removal when needed.
Oral cancer is a serious disease that can quickly become fatal if not treated early. Although many lesions and sores in your mouth will not be cancerous, you certainly do not want to take any unnecessary risks. This cancer spreads fast and almost 50 percent of those diagnosed with this cancer will die within five years.
The longer it takes for a questionable mouth sore, lump, discoloration, or other unexpected problem to be diagnosed, the greater your potential risk. Early treatment is most desirable and will give you the best outcome if there is cancer present.
It is recommended that if you have a spot or sore in your mouth that lasts more than two weeks that you go to your dentist soon. The dentist can provide biopsy services to get the diagnosis started. Unknown to most people, it is the dentist who will spot oral cancer more often than any other medical service provider.
The dentists at Champion Dental can perform several types of biopsies. These will usually follow a progression, and the first one will probably be a brush biopsy. The tissue will be examined under a microscope and if there appear to be cancer cells, other biopsies will be taken.
In addition to a brush biopsy, Champion Dental can also perform two other types of biopsies when necessary. They include:
After oral cancer has been identified, you can expect treatment to be given as soon as possible. In some cases, lesions may only be pre-cancerous and removal of them will mean that you do not have cancer at all.
The type of treatment you receive will depend on what stage of cancer you have when diagnosed. There are four stages of oral cancer. Because it is usually painless in the early stages, it is often not found until it has reached advanced stages. Symptoms of oral cancer include:
The first oral cancer treatment will usually involve surgery to remove the cancer. The tumor will be removed and possibly some tissue around it, as well as lymph nodes in your neck if it is believed they have been affected. This surgery is apt to affect your appearance and your ability to talk and eat. It will be followed by reconstructive surgery.
Radiation therapy may be next, or chemotherapy. An oral cancer treatment involving radiation may come from an external beam or from seeds or wires that are placed near the surgical site. Chemotherapy may also be given after the radiation, especially if you have more advanced cancer. In some cases, it may be given in place of it. Targeted chemotherapy and other high-tech methods are available.
When you need to find a dentist that performs oral surgery, you can find one at Champion Dental. Dr. Kumar T. Vadivel, DDS, FDS RCS, MS, a Board Certified Periodontist, can provide you with extractions, wisdom teeth removal, biopsy services, and oral cancer treatment. His office also provides full dental care for the whole family. You can contact his office today to set up a consultation or to get more information about oral surgery and what is involved.
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