Your Winnipeg Invisalign® Provider
Here, our Winnipeg dentists explain what reconstructive oral surgery is and when would we recommend it as a treatment option.
What's reconstructive oral surgery?
People are getting into accidents daily- sometimes from falls, work accidents, sports injuries, car accidents, or facial trauma. A tooth or mouth injury can be stressful and sometimes scary because in some situations it can even impact your long-term oral health.
Your dentist or oral surgeon might suggest this type of dental surgery to help restore the function and appearance of your smile. There are two different categories of facial reconstruction surgery: soft tissue injuries and fractures.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are for trauma to the skin or gums, including cuts on the lips, tongue, or inside of your cheek. These might also include lacerations to the soft or hard palate.
Fractures
If the tiny bone tissues in your mouth become injured - including your teeth, upper or lower jaw, or facial bones - they might have to be reconstructed.
If you have severe facial injuries to your forehead or nasal cavities you may need a larger reconstructive surgery.
As you can imagine, obtaining a jaw defect from trauma or earlier surgery (e.g. ablative tumor surgery) can drastically affect the quality of your life regarding appearance and function – everything from eating and swallowing to speaking, appearance, and self-confidence are impacted.
You might need facial reconstructive surgery if you get any of the dental services below:
- Jaw surgery
- Wisdom tooth removal
- Bone grafting
- Dental implants
What does reconstructive surgery consist of?
Facial injuries, knocked-out teeth, and other traumatic injuries to the face and neck can leave patients struggling to eat, speak, chew and live a good quality of life. Dentists use reconstructive surgery procedures to replace damaged or missing teeth, correct issues with the jaw joint and treat gum and jawbone damage. Depending on your injury or circumstance, dental implants or other treatment options may be used to repair the bone structure and jaw alignment.
Maxillofacial Reconstruction
Maxillofacial reconstruction can entail a range of procedures, from bone grafting to bone transplants with blood vessels for larger, more complex defects. This dental surgery can correct a wide range of defects, diseases, and injuries in the face, neck, head, and jaws, as well as the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial area.
Rehabilitation
After a certified dental professional has completed the reconstructive oral surgery, the oral cavity (teeth and gums) must be rehabilitated and lost teeth and gums will be replaced so you can speak, eat and swallow normally again.
Dental professionals can be uniquely qualified to provide comprehensive surgical care and guide you through every stage of treatment, including:
- Dental implant placement
- Microvascular reconstruction
- Ablative resection
Even though reconstructive oral surgery can seem intimidating, our dentistry team at Odyssey Dental Care is available to answer any questions you have and can help alleviate any of your concerns during your treatment.