What is Minor Oral Surgery?

Minor oral surgery is the surgical treatment of dental problems that involve the jaws, teeth, gums, mouth, lips and soft tissues in the oral cavity and the neck area. This type of surgical treatment is used to address functional (and sometimes cosmetic) needs which have been affected by diseases or injuries.

Types of minor oral surgery

A wisdom tooth extraction is needed to remove a tooth that is impacted (not fully grown out from under the gum line). The surgery involves making an incision on the gums, to gain access to the impacted tooth, so it can be removed.

Dentoalveolar surgery refers to surgical procedures used to correct issues with the teeth, gums, jawbone, and other bony and soft tissues located in the mouth.

An apicoectomy is a surgical procedure that places a filling at the end of the tooth root and removes any infected tissue from around the tip of the tooth. The goal is to contain any bacteria that may be remaining totally within the canal system. This procedure is usually performed after a traditional root canal has failed.

A tooth hemisection refers to the sectioning of a molar tooth and the removal of an unrestorable root which may be affected by periodontal disease. The procedure is performed to retain the original tooth structure and maintain dental prostheses, such as dental implants, crowns and bridges.

A dental cyst is a sac of fluid-filled tissue in your gums and/or jawbone. Benign tumours are tumours which are non-cancerous. Cyst and benign tumours are removed by Prof. Hendricks, through a window in the bone under a local anaesthetic.

An abscessed or infected tooth is a pocket of pus that forms in different areas of a tooth as a result of a bacterial infection. Surgical treatment involves cutting open the abscess and draining it, or removing the affected tooth.

A complicated tooth extraction means that the affected tooth cannot be removed by simple prying and pulling. It involves removing a tooth that is impacted inside the jaw, using incisions.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), occurs when the jaw bone is exposed and begins to starve from a lack of blood. The bone then begins to weaken and die, and may cause pain.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) may occur in patients taking antiresorptive medications that are used for osteoporosis and cancer treatment. More advanced cases will require surgery to rebuild the jawbone.

Aftercare

After the procedure, leave the initial gauze pad in place until about three to four hours after the procedure. You may apply an ice bag to the affected area immediately following the procedure, but only for 10 minutes at a time. Rest for 24 hours after the surgery and limit your physical activity for a few days. To avoid dislodging the blood clot, spit, rinse, or use a straw for 24 hours after the surgery. After 24 hours, rinse your mouth with a lukewarm saltwater solution. While recovery may differ based on the type of surgery and location, you can expect to heal in 7 to 10 days.