Oral Surgery in Roanoke, VA
Oral surgery is often performed in a dental office setting, under local anesthesia, with minimal recovery time. Oral surgery can range from routine procedures such as tooth extractions and implant placement to more complex jaw realignment surgeries and emergency care for facial trauma. While Dr. Sidrys is not an oral surgeon, he completed a hospital residency where he was extensively trained in basic oral surgery.
Oral Surgery Procedures +
Procedures and conditions treated include:
- Tooth Extractions.
- Dental Implants.
- Oral Diagnosis & Biopsies.
- Corrective Jaw Surgery.
- Snoring & Sleep Apnea.
- TMD.
- Facial Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery.
- Cleft Lip/Palate.
What to Expect +
Before your oral surgery is performed, x-rays will often be taken to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning. A step-by-step explanation of the procedure, along with your anesthesia options, will be discussed, and you should feel free to ask any questions you have.
Your recovery experience will depend on what procedure you are having as well as your general state of health. It’s always important to let your healthcare providers know what medications you are taking (both prescription and over-the-counter), any chronic health conditions you have, and whether you smoke. This will help ensure your safety and comfort — always the paramount concern.
Oral Surgery topics
Sinus Surgery
When the area has been completely numbed, an incision will be made in your gum to expose the bone that used to contain your missing tooth or teeth. A small opening will be made in the bone to reveal the membrane that lines the sinus. This membrane will be raised and the space beneath it will be filled with bone grafting material.
The gum is then stitched back up. In some cases, the implant(s) can be placed directly into the grafting material before the gum is closed, eliminating the need for a second surgical procedure later on to place the implant. Often, however, the surgical site is allowed to heal for approximately 6-7 months before an implant is placed.
Oral Cancer Screening
The screening includes a visual assessment of your lips, tongue, and the inside of your mouth, including a check for red or white patches or unusual sores. You may be palpated (pressed with fingers) to detect the presence of lumps and swellings, and your tongue may be gently pulled aside for an even better view.
A special light, dye, or other procedure may also be used to help check any suspect areas. If anything appears to be out of the ordinary, a biopsy can be easily performed.
Wisdom teeth
Once you have been appropriately anesthetized, the gum tissue at the extraction site may need to be opened if the tooth is impacted. The tooth itself will then be gently removed. When the extraction is complete, you may need to have the site sutured (stitched) to aid healing.
After the procedure is over, you will rest for a short time before going home. Depending on what type of anesthesia you have had, you may need another person to drive.
Facial Trauma & reconstructive surgery
One method involves wiring the upper and lower jaws together to let them heal in the correct alignment; alternatively, plates and screws may be used to permanently reattach the bones.
Restoring breathing, controlling bleeding, and checking for neurological damage are top priorities. After that, as much of the reconstructive surgery as possible is accomplished in one operation.
Headaches & Migraines
Sometimes eating softer foods for a few days can reduce stress on the muscles and joints. Ice and/or moist heat can help relieve soreness and inflammation. Gentle stretching exercises, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, and muscle relaxants can also provide relief.
Finally, a custom-made nightguard to wear when you sleep might be recommended.
Cleft Lip & Palate Repair
Cleft palate treatment involves rebuilding the roof of the mouth, including soft tissue, muscle and bone. The initial surgery is often performed between the ages of 6 and 18 months. Like cleft lip surgery, it relies on specialized “flap” techniques to reposition soft tissues and close the gap.
Before or after surgery, your child may need to wear a special appliance such as an obturator (artificial palate) or a nasal alveolar molding device (NAM), a type of retainer.
Extraction
Reasons for tooth extraction:
- Trauma or disease.
- Orthodontic treatment.
- Impacted wisdom teeth.
- Baby teeth.
Once sedated, when the tooth is being removed, steps are taken to ensure the bone that surrounds it isn’t damaged. Sometimes, in the process of removing a tooth, a small amount of lab-processed bone-grafting material is placed into the socket to help preserve the bone volume there. This is particularly important when the extraction is going to be followed at some point by the placement of a dental implant, which needs to fuse to existing bone, or orthodontics, which gently moves teeth through bone.
Sedation Dentistry
On the day of your treatment, you may need to have someone drive you to and from your appointment as certain medications take time to wear off.
Ways to Relieve Anxiety
Oral Sedation — Oral sedation (given by mouth) is a popular option for many people precisely because it does not require the use of needles.
Inhalation Conscious Sedation — Nitrous oxide is administered through a nasal hood, which resembles a small cup that is placed over your nose. The oxygen mixed with nitrous oxide provides a light-headed or even euphoric feeling.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is a minor surgical procedure that is normally done in a dental office. An incision is made in your gum to gain access to the bone beneath it, and then grafting material is added. Most often, the grafting material is processed bone minerals around which your body will actually deposit new bone cells.
The grafting material itself can come from your own body, but very often, it is bone from an animal or human donor that has been treated by a laboratory to make it sterile and safe.
Blood Thinners & Dental Procedures
Anticoagulants are among the more widely used pharmaceuticals today, particularly for heart patients. Some common prescription anticoagulants include heparin, warfarin (Coumadin and generics), clopidogrel (Plavix) and dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa).
Regular aspirin and NSAIDs (like Advil) also have anticoagulant properties. The purpose of anticoagulant medications is to keep the blood from clotting (clumping together) as readily as it normally does; this reduces the chance of a clot forming inside a blood vessel, which could lead to a stroke or heart attack.
Oral Diagnosis & Biopsies
Oral cancer is perhaps the most significant disease to look for in an examination. Some other oral diseases that may be screened for include:
- Fibroma
- Leukoplakia
- Lichen Planus
- Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
- “Pregnancy Tumors”
In addition, some systemic diseases (such as diabetes, Crohn's disease, and heart disease) may produce effects that can be observed in the mouth.
Corrective Jaw Surgery
Conditions that can be successfully treated with corrective orthognathic surgery include the following:
- Open bite, protruding jaw, or receding chin
- Congenital defects such as a cleft palate
- Malocclusions (bite problems) resulting from underbites or severe overbites
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, when more conservative methods fail
- Difficulty swallowing, chewing, or biting food
- Chronic jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain and headache
- Unbalanced facial appearance from the front or side
- Inability to make the lips meet without straining
- Chronic mouth breathing and dry mouth
- Facial trauma