Common Oral Surgery Procedures

Various oral surgery procedures may be indicated to facilitate function of an oral appliance (partial or full denture), enhance the boney anatomy for improved aesthetics, improve periodontal health, and promote ideal healing after dental extractions or in preparation of dental implants.

• An alveolectomy is a reduction of maxillary or mandibular (jaw) bone that may be necessary during removal of teeth or to create an anatomy more conducive to a removable or fixed oral appliance. A moderate recontouring of the bone is often referred to as an alveoloplasty.
• An oral torus is a dense formation of bone commonly found inside the lower jaw or the midline of the palate (torus mandibularis or torus palatinus). The boney protuberance may be a single bump or a cluster of bumps, similar to grapes. Unless the torus, or tori, interfere with the function of an appliance, contribute to periodontal disease, or inhibit movement of the tongue (rare), no treatment is indicated. As their appearance is typically symmetrical and located bilaterally, biopsy is rarely indicated.
• An exostosis is a protuberance of bone commonly found on the buccal (cheek) side of the maxillary (upper) ridge. Like tori, an exostosis is dense, benign bone and requires no treatment.
• A frenectomy is a surgical procedure that removes or loosens a band of muscle tissue that is connected to the lip, cheek or floor of the mouth. It is indicated if the tissue restricts lip or tongue movement, or in conjunction with orthodontics.
• An apicoectomy is a dental procedure in which the end of a tooth root is removed. Performed by an endodontist or oral surgeon, it is often indicated in select teeth after a conventional root canal procedure fails or the antimony of the root prohibits an adequate seal by conventional procedures.
• A hemisection or root amputation is performed by a periodontist due to tooth fracture or periodontal disease. An attempt is made to retain most of the root support of a strategic tooth, rather than sacrificing the entire tooth. The procedure is less commonly done today with the common utilization of dental implants.
• Crown lengthening is a periodontal surgical procedure to expose the clinical portion of a tooth or teeth. It may be indicated for improved aesthetics (gingivoplasty) or to facilitate a dental restoration on a fractured or decayed tooth.
•  Incision and drainage (I & D) is a procedure performed to relieve pressure from a dental abscess. In select cases, a rubber drain is sutured in place to maintain an opening if additional suppuration (pus) or tissue exudates (fluid) is anticipated.

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