Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
When dental problems go beyond what routine care can address, oral and maxillofacial surgery provides the advanced solutions your smile needs. At Mt. Hermon Dental Care, we offer a range of surgical treatments to address complex issues affecting the teeth, jaw, and surrounding structures, helping you restore your oral health and function with confidence.
What Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Can Do
Oral and maxillofacial surgery covers a broad range of procedures designed to treat conditions that affect the teeth, gums, jaw, and facial structures. Whether you need a tooth removed, a jaw issue corrected, or dental implants placed, surgical treatment can resolve problems that cannot be addressed through non-surgical means alone. Oral surgery can:
- Remove damaged, impacted, or problematic teeth
- Place dental implants to replace missing teeth
- Treat infections and abscesses that have spread to surrounding tissue
- Correct jaw alignment issues affecting bite and function
- Perform bone grafting to restore lost bone volume
- Biopsy and treat abnormal tissue in the mouth
- Expose impacted teeth for orthodontic treatment
- Reconstruct the jaw and facial structures after injury or disease
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extraction is one of the most common oral surgical procedures and is recommended when a tooth is too damaged, decayed, or compromised to be saved through restorative treatment. While preserving natural teeth is always our first priority, there are situations where extraction is the best course of action to protect your overall oral health and prevent problems from spreading to neighboring teeth.
Simple extractions are performed on teeth that are visible in the mouth and can be removed in a straightforward procedure under local anesthetic. Surgical extractions are needed when a tooth has broken off at the gumline, has not fully erupted, or is positioned in a way that makes it inaccessible without a small incision. In either case, we take every step to ensure you are comfortable throughout the procedure and provide clear aftercare instructions to support a smooth recovery.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Wisdom teeth are the last molars to develop, typically emerging in the late teens or early twenties. For many patients, there is not enough room in the jaw to accommodate them properly, which causes them to become impacted, meaning they are unable to fully erupt through the gumline. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, damage to adjacent teeth, and crowding, making removal the most practical solution in the majority of cases.
Wisdom tooth removal is a routine oral surgical procedure performed under local anesthetic, with sedation available for patients who prefer a more relaxed experience. We evaluate the position and development of your wisdom teeth using digital x-rays and recommend removal when the risk of leaving them in place outweighs the benefit of keeping them. Removing wisdom teeth before problems develop is generally simpler and involves a faster recovery than waiting until symptoms appear.
Dental Implant Placement
Dental implant placement is a surgical procedure in which a small titanium post is inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. The implant serves as a stable and permanent foundation for a custom crown, bridge, or denture and is the most advanced tooth replacement solution available in modern dentistry. Because titanium is biocompatible, the implant fuses naturally with the surrounding bone over time through a process called osseointegration.
Implant placement is performed under local anesthetic right here in our office. The procedure itself is straightforward, and most patients are surprised by how manageable the recovery is. After a healing period of several months to allow the implant to fully integrate with the bone, a custom restoration is attached to complete the replacement tooth. The result is a natural-looking and fully functional tooth that can last a lifetime with proper care.
Bone Grafting
When a tooth has been missing for some time or lost due to advanced gum disease or infection, the jawbone in that area often loses density because there is no longer a root to stimulate it. If there is not enough bone volume present to support a dental implant, a bone grafting procedure is performed first to rebuild the necessary structure before implant placement can take place.
Bone grafting involves placing grafting material in the area of deficiency, which encourages the body to generate new bone tissue over time. The material may come from your own bone, a donor source, or a synthetic substitute, depending on the extent of the bone loss and your individual situation. Grafting has become a routine part of implant dentistry and is performed comfortably in our office, with most patients finding the recovery far more manageable than they anticipated.
Treatment of Oral Infections
Oral infections that have spread beyond a single tooth into the surrounding tissue or jaw may require surgical treatment to eliminate the source of the infection and drain any accumulated pus. Left untreated, a spreading dental infection can become a serious health risk, making prompt intervention essential. Surgical treatment is typically combined with antibiotic therapy to ensure the infection is fully resolved.
After the infection has been treated, we will evaluate the affected teeth and surrounding structures and recommend the appropriate restorative or replacement options to rebuild what was lost. Our priority is always to eliminate the infection as quickly and completely as possible and then work with you to restore your oral health and function once healing is underway.
Oral Pathology and Biopsy
Changes in the soft tissues of the mouth, including unusual lumps, sores, discoloration, or areas that fail to heal, should always be evaluated by a dental professional. While many such changes are benign and harmless, some may indicate a more serious condition that requires prompt attention. A biopsy involves removing a small sample of the affected tissue and sending it to a laboratory for analysis to determine the nature of the change.
We screen for signs of abnormal tissue at every comprehensive exam and will recommend a biopsy any time we identify something that warrants further investigation. Early detection of oral cancer and other pathological conditions dramatically improves treatment outcomes, which is why we take every unusual finding seriously and act on it without delay.
How Much Does Oral Surgery Cost?
The cost of oral surgery varies significantly depending on the type of procedure, the complexity of the case, and whether sedation is used. A straightforward extraction will differ considerably in cost from implant placement with bone grafting or jaw surgery. Many dental insurance plans provide partial coverage for medically necessary surgical procedures. We will review your specific situation, outline the treatment recommended, and provide you with a clear estimate before any procedure begins so you can plan accordingly and make an informed decision about your care.
Why Addressing Surgical Issues Is Better Than Waiting
Oral surgical problems rarely improve on their own. An impacted wisdom tooth that is causing crowding will continue to do so. A damaged tooth that cannot be saved will continue to deteriorate and affect the surrounding teeth. An infection that has spread will keep spreading without intervention. Surgical treatment resolves these problems definitively and prevents the complications that come from leaving them unaddressed. Acting when a problem is identified rather than waiting for it to worsen always leads to a simpler procedure, a faster recovery, and a better long-term outcome.
What Should I Expect After Oral Surgery?
Recovery after oral surgery depends on the type and extent of the procedure performed. Most patients experience some degree of swelling, tenderness, and mild discomfort in the days following their procedure, all of which can be managed effectively with over-the-counter pain relief and the application of ice to the outside of the face. We will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions specific to your procedure before you leave our office.
Frenectomy
A frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure used to release a frenum, the small band of tissue that connects the lip or tongue to the gum. When this tissue is too thick or too tightly attached, it can restrict the movement of the tongue or lip, cause a gap between the front teeth, contribute to gum recession, or interfere with breastfeeding in infants. A frenectomy resolves these issues by releasing or removing the restrictive tissue.
The procedure is quick and straightforward, performed under local anesthetic in our office with minimal discomfort and a fast recovery. For infants and young children, a frenectomy can make a significant difference to feeding, speech development, and oral function. In older patients and adults, it is often performed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment or to address recession or spacing concerns that the frenum is contributing to.
A lingual frenectomy addresses the tissue beneath the tongue that causes tongue-tie, a condition in which restricted tongue movement affects speech, eating, and oral function. Patients with tongue-tie often struggle with certain sounds, have difficulty licking their lips or moving food around the mouth, and may experience jaw tension or discomfort. Releasing the tissue restores normal tongue mobility and can have a profound effect on quality of life.
A labial frenectomy addresses the tissue connecting the upper or lower lip to the gum. When this tissue is overly prominent, it can create a gap between the upper front teeth that orthodontic treatment alone may not be able to fully close. Removing or repositioning the frenum allows the teeth to be brought together more effectively and prevents the gap from reopening after orthodontic correction.
Recovery from a frenectomy is typically minimal, with most patients experiencing only mild soreness for a day or two following the procedure. We will advise you on any dietary modifications to support healing and let you know what to expect in the days following your appointment. Most patients are back to their normal routine very quickly and find the procedure far less involved than they anticipated.
Whether a frenectomy is being recommended for a child or an adult, the goal is the same: to remove a physical restriction that is limiting function and causing or contributing to other dental or health concerns. It is a small procedure with the potential to make a meaningful difference, and we are happy to evaluate whether it is appropriate for your situation during your next visit.
Comprehensive Surgical Care Close to Home
At Mt. Hermon Dental Care, we are committed to providing the surgical care you need in a comfortable and familiar environment. If you have been told you need oral surgery or have concerns about a condition that may require it, contact our Scotts Valley office today to schedule a consultation.
