Oral Surgery

Also known as: surgery of the mouth, oral and maxillofacial surgery.

What is oral surgery?

Oral surgery refers to any type of surgery that is needed to correct problems with the mouth or teeth. It’s used for problems ranging from teeth removal to repairing facial damage to treating obstructive sleep apnea.

What happens during the procedure?

The exact nature of the procedure can vary widely from person to person. It might involve removing diseases or damaged teeth, or setting fractured jaw or cheek bones. Surgery can also be used to open up the air passages in order to treat sleep apnea.  

Is any special preparation needed?

Specific preparation will vary based on the exact nature of the surgery. Patients may need to avoid food, drink and medication for a specific amount of time before and after the treatment.

What are the risk factors?

Pain, inflammation, bleeding, swelling and infection are potential side effects of oral surgery.

Reviewed by: Teresa E Lozano, DDS, MD

This page was last updated on: June 24, 2021 03:48 PM