Unlike dental checkups and cleanings, which you should attend consistently, you might never have a need for dental surgery. When it comes to your dental health (like with your general health), dental surgery is only called for when a routine dental treatment will not suffice. Depending on your exact needs, such circumstances may include removing impacted wisdom teeth, placing dental implants, performing biopsies to detect oral cancer, and more.
Removing Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Your wisdom teeth are the last four molars that erupt at the ends of your dental ridges. The addition of wisdom teeth brings the total number of teeth in a typical adult mouth to 32. Unfortunately, many adult’s dental ridges only have room to comfortably hold 28 teeth. When your wisdom teeth try to erupt, the lack of space can cause them to become impacted against the molars already present. Because other teeth or your jawbone may be in the way, extracting impacted wisdom teeth may require oral surgery.
Placing Dental Implants
When you’ve lost a tooth, or more than one tooth, replacing it is the best way to preserve your oral health afterwards. Dental implants are the most comprehensive replacements because they are the only option that replaces the roots of your lost teeth. The secret to their success is their biocompatibility—your jawbone accepts the implants as compatible and bonds to their surfaces once they’ve been placed. Planning for and placing dental implants is significantly complex, and is best performed by an oral surgeon.
Detecting Oral Cancer
Your general dentist should perform a routine oral cancer screening during your dental checkup that involves carefully searching for abnormalities that might indicate the disease. An oral surgeon, however, can perform a soft tissue biopsy (a scientific examination of a sample of suspicious oral tissues). A biopsy will allow us to determine if oral cancer is present, and to what extent, to help you and your specialist devise an appropriate treatment plan.
ABOUT YOUR CERRITOS ORAL SURGEON:
Shawn Hofkes, DDS, is highly qualified to address complex issues, including the diagnosis and treatment of destructive gum disease. To schedule your appointment or consultation with Dr. Hofkes, contact us today by calling 562-584-4082. We proudly serve patients of all ages from Cerritos, Lakewood, Long Beach, Buena Park, and all surrounding communities.
