What Is an Oral Surgeon? If your dentist has referred you to an oral surgeon, it usually means your case calls for training beyond what a general dental practice provides. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the specialists who manage surgery of the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face. At Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin in Austin, that is the whole of what we do. Why Your Dentist Referred YouA referral is not a sign that something has gone wrong. General dentists refer for straightforward reasons: a tooth positioned against a nerve, a root that has fractured beneath the gumline, a jaw that lacks the bone volume to hold an implant, or a lesion that needs a biopsy. Recognizing when a case belongs with a specialist is good dentistry, not a complication. Most patients are seen, treated, and returned to their regular dentist for ongoing care. How Oral Surgeons Are TrainedOral surgeons complete dental school like every dentist. From there the paths diverge sharply. An oral and maxillofacial residency runs four to six additional years in a hospital setting, covering anesthesia, general surgery, emergency medicine, and the surgical management of the head and neck. Many surgeons, including those in six-year programs, also earn a medical degree during residency. By the time an oral surgeon enters practice, surgery is not an occasional part of the job. It is the job. You can read about the training and background of our surgeons on their individual pages. What Board Certification MeansCertification by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) is voluntary and comes after residency. It requires passing written and oral examinations and demonstrating competence across the full scope of the specialty. Diplomate status is the formal term for a surgeon who has completed it. Certification is a floor rather than a ceiling. Surgeons who hold it are also expected to keep pace with continuing education as techniques and technology change. Is an Oral Surgeon the Same as a Dental Surgeon?The terms are often used loosely, but they are not equivalent. A general dentist may perform minor surgical procedures within the scope of general practice. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon has completed a hospital residency in surgery and performs it daily, including cases involving anesthesia, the facial bones, and the nerves and sinuses that sit close to the roots of the teeth. What Oral Surgeons TreatThe specialty covers a wider range than most patients expect. Complex and Surgical ExtractionsRoutine extractions are handled by general dentists. Teeth that are impacted, broken below the gumline, or positioned near the sinus or a major nerve call for surgical technique and imaging most general practices are not equipped for. Related procedures include alveoloplasty to smooth the bone after removal and socket preservation to maintain the site for a future implant. Wisdom TeethThird molars are the most common reason patients are referred to an oral surgeon, particularly when they are impacted, angled into neighboring teeth, or causing recurring infection. More detail is on our wisdom teeth removal page. Dental Implants and Bone GraftingPlacing an implant means placing a fixture into living bone. Oral surgeons manage the cases where that is not straightforward, including patients who need bone grafting or a sinus lift before an implant can be supported. Our dental implants section covers the options in depth, and computer-guided placement allows the position to be planned before surgery begins. Facial Trauma and ReconstructionInjuries to the facial bones, jaw fractures, and soft tissue damage from accidents fall squarely within the specialty. See facial trauma surgery and facial reconstruction after injury. Reconstruction following tumor removal or for congenital differences such as cleft lip and palate is also part of the field. Oral PathologyOral surgeons diagnose and treat disease of the mouth and jaws, including cysts, benign growths, severe infections, and suspicious lesions requiring biopsy. Anything unusual that has not resolved in two weeks is worth having examined. Our oral pathology page explains what evaluation involves. Impacted and Exposed CaninesWhen a canine fails to erupt, an oral surgeon works alongside your orthodontist to expose and bracket the tooth so it can be guided into position. See impacted canines for how the procedure works. Soft Tissue ProceduresThe specialty also covers soft tissue work including frenectomy and gum grafting, as well as apicoectomy when a root tip requires microsurgical treatment. Jaw Joint and Bite ConcernsPain in the joint where the jaw meets the skull has many causes, among them grinding, arthritis, injury, and bite misalignment. Oral surgeons evaluate these problems and manage many of them without surgery, as described on our TMJ treatment page. Corrective jaw surgery for bite irregularities such as overbite and underbite is performed by some surgeons within the specialty; where a case calls for it, we coordinate a referral to a surgeon who focuses on that work. What to Expect at Your First VisitAn initial consultation is an evaluation, not a procedure. We review your history, take any imaging needed, explain what we find in plain language, and outline the options along with their costs. You leave knowing what is recommended and why, with time to decide. Many oral surgical procedures are performed in our Austin office rather than a hospital, using local anesthetic or sedation appropriate to the procedure and to you. If cost is a concern, our financing page explains the options available. To learn more about the care our surgeons provide, contact Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin at (512) 547-6852 or request an appointment online. |
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