Oral surgeons, also known as maxillofacial surgeons are called upon to perform many different procedures; the oral surgeon in Colorado Springs will deal with the teeth, gums, jaw as well as the face. On a routine basis dentists can perform many procedures as well, but oral surgeons are usually called upon to perform far more complex procedures which can include birth defects, facial reconstruction, jaw bone grafts and the extraction of wisdom teeth.
An oral surgeon will often be called upon to deal with patients who have suffered a facial injury or they have a deformed face. The oral surgeon can help in cases such as this by reconstructing the mouth and facial regions. There are a number of oral surgeons who are also skilled in plastic surgery and as such they can help those who were born with a cleft lip or palette.
One of the more common issues faced by an oral surgeon in Colorado Springs is the extraction of wisdom teeth. The surgeon can remove these teeth which may be damaging to other teeth, the jaw or the gums. It is not just wisdom teeth that can be problematic to extract, often a tooth has become severely impacted or damaged to the point where it must be surgically removed. In these cases where a tooth or teeth have been removed the oral surgeon is often called upon to replace the missing teeth with dental implants. Dental implants stop any adjacent teeth from moving to fill the space and they maintain the look of a complete set of teeth.
Some people are born with problems with their jaw. If the jaws are not equally matched the individual will find it difficult to speak and eat, jaw problems can also lead to a poor fit for dentures. TMJ, temporomandibular joint disorders can cause excruciating head and facial pain, oral surgeons can alleviate many of these problems by reconstructing the jaw.
Many people suffer from sleep apnea or snoring, an oral surgeon in Colorado Springs can help eliminate these problems surgically. In many cases it is the oropharynx which is located in the back of the mouth which is at fault, the oral surgeon can tighten it with the use of a laser, this reduces night time breathing problems considerably. A laser can also be used to trim tissue from the palette which helps reduce or eliminate snoring.
Impacted wisdom teeth can be the cause of infection, disease or damage to adjacent teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth are extracted by an oral surgeon in Colorado Springs. If you have reason to believe you wisdom teeth need to be removed you are invited to contact Lehman Drive Dental.
