There’s a lot a general dentist can do for you, ranging from preventive to restorative. But for the more complex dental issues you face, you’ll want to make sure you have an oral surgeon on your side. They have the same educational foundations as general dentists, but oral surgeons dedicate their careers to a single dental specialty. While oral surgeons only practice within the scope of their area of expertise, there’s a lot they can do for people facing serious oral health issues. Take a look at five reasons to turn to an oral surgeon for care instead of a general dentist.
TMJ Treatment
Your first thought for seeking relief from TMJ disorder may be to head to your primary care physician to find out what they can do and where they can point you. And to the surprise of many people, the direction they often point is towards an oral surgeon.
Formally, oral surgeons are referred to as “oral and maxillofacial surgeons” because they treat issues of the entire mouth and face. They are uniquely positioned to treat TMJ disorders. Because there is no singular treatment for this family of disorder, they offer a range of treatment options – many of them minimally invasive.
Facial Trauma
Like TMJ referrals, there tend to be a number of people surprised when they’re referred to dental specialists for treatment for facial trauma. Yet, oral surgeons are experts in treating broken jaws, dislocated jaws, knocked out teeth, facial bone fractures and soft tissue lacerations.
Tooth Extractions
It’s unlikely you’ll go straight to an oral surgeon if you need to have a tooth extracted. Generally, the best place to start is with a general dentist. And if the general dentist is uncomfortable performing the extraction, they’ll refer you to an oral surgeon.
Replacement Teeth (Dental Implants)
Oral surgeons aren’t just experts at pulling teeth. They’re also experts and replacing them. An oral surgeon can replace a single tooth, several or an entire mouth of teeth with the top solution for replacing missing teeth permanently: dental implants.
Bone Grafting
Bone loss in the jawbones can slowly suck the life out of a person’s smile. However, an oral surgeon can replace lost jawbone and help regenerate new bone tissue through bone grafting. Not only does this procedure add contour and definition to smiles, it can also greatly increase a person’s candidacy for dental implants.
Talk with an Oral Surgeon in Pittsburgh, PA
Take a moment to schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon in Pittsburgh, PA to learn more about how a specialist can help you get your oral health back on track.
TMJ Treatment
Your first thought for seeking relief from TMJ disorder may be to head to your primary care physician to find out what they can do and where they can point you. And to the surprise of many people, the direction they often point is towards an oral surgeon.
Formally, oral surgeons are referred to as “oral and maxillofacial surgeons” because they treat issues of the entire mouth and face. They are uniquely positioned to treat TMJ disorders. Because there is no singular treatment for this family of disorder, they offer a range of treatment options – many of them minimally invasive.
Facial Trauma
Like TMJ referrals, there tend to be a number of people surprised when they’re referred to dental specialists for treatment for facial trauma. Yet, oral surgeons are experts in treating broken jaws, dislocated jaws, knocked out teeth, facial bone fractures and soft tissue lacerations.
Tooth Extractions
It’s unlikely you’ll go straight to an oral surgeon if you need to have a tooth extracted. Generally, the best place to start is with a general dentist. And if the general dentist is uncomfortable performing the extraction, they’ll refer you to an oral surgeon.
Replacement Teeth (Dental Implants)
Oral surgeons aren’t just experts at pulling teeth. They’re also experts and replacing them. An oral surgeon can replace a single tooth, several or an entire mouth of teeth with the top solution for replacing missing teeth permanently: dental implants.
Bone Grafting
Bone loss in the jawbones can slowly suck the life out of a person’s smile. However, an oral surgeon can replace lost jawbone and help regenerate new bone tissue through bone grafting. Not only does this procedure add contour and definition to smiles, it can also greatly increase a person’s candidacy for dental implants.
Talk with an Oral Surgeon in Pittsburgh, PA
Take a moment to schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon in Pittsburgh, PA to learn more about how a specialist can help you get your oral health back on track.
