If you have had your wisdom teeth removed then you have already undergone oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (also known as OMS) encompasses any surgery pertaining to the jaw, mouth, gums and teeth. These surgeries are corrective, and often unable to be performed by your general dentist. At the Coast Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Centre our surgeons completed up to an additional six years’ worth of hospital-based surgical and anaesthesia training, so you can rest assured you are in safe hands.

What can oral and maxillofacial surgery correct?

OMS surgeries correct a wide variety of problems, including but not limited to:

• Dentoalveolar surgery: removal of impacted teeth, tooth extractions
• Reinsertion of teeth
• Insertion of bone fused dental implants
• All-on-4 surgery (also known as “teeth in a day”)
• TMJ dysfunction (temporomandibular joint dysfunction)

Why should I remove my wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth extraction can prevent your teeth from erupting incorrectly, causing pain and discomfort. Frequently wisdom teeth will grow sideways, only partially emerge from the gum, or fail to emerge at all; remaining trapped beneath the gum and bone (known as impaction). Impacted or poorly positioned teeth can cause pain and issues such as infection and illness.

More information on wisdom teeth removal can be found here.

When can my tooth be reinserted and what are dental implants?

If your tooth has been knocked out in one piece, sometimes the tooth can be reinserted. It’s recommended you pick the tooth up by the crown only (touching the root will damage it, if possible clean the tooth with saliva before transporting it in a mild salt water solution or milk. The sooner your dentist can perform the reinsertion, the better the chance of survival for your tooth.

If your tooth can’t be reinserted into its socket, implants may be suggested. Implants are small titanium screws which insert directly into your jaw bone where your tooth was lost. Over three to six months the screw will fuse to the bone, creating a strong and functional “root” to support a dental crown, removable denture, or similar.

For more information view our dental implant page.

What is All-On-4 surgery?

The all-on-4 procedure (or “teeth in a day”) is an effective option for treating total or partial tooth loss, and involves the placement of a prosthesis for the upper or lower dental arches, anchored by four dental implants.

Further information can be found on our All-on-4 page.

What is TMJ dysfunction?

TMJ dysfunction affects the temporomandibular joint (located just in front of the ears), and could be the cause of your chronic headaches and jaw pain. If you suffer one or more of the following, you could suffer TMJ dysfunction:

• Grinding/clenching of teeth
• Sore, stiff jaw muscles upon waking up
• Frequent head and neck aches
• Pain when opening the mouth or chewing

For more information on TMJ dysfunction, visit our page here.

What is oral and maxillofacial surgery and how can it benefit me? From Coast OMS

At Coast Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Centre we are dedicated to providing our patients with as much knowledge as we can while providing exceptional care. If any of these treatments sound like they may benefit you, contact us today on 0487 200 315 to arrange a consultation.