Dental oral surgery is an integral part of a dental practice. This type of dental surgery involves aesthetic modification or reconstruction of the skin, mucosa, bones, jaws, teeth, and gingiva of the mouth. Dental surgeons may also specialize in orthognathic surgery including corrective jaw surgeries. These oral surgeries can range from dental extractions when a tooth is impacted to dental implants where a bone graft may be needed.
Oral maxillofacial surgery is a surgical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and operative treatment of diseases and injuries to the maxillofacial area, which includes dental, oral, and plastic surgery. Since oral surgeons are trained in both dental surgery and maxillofacial surgery, they are uniquely qualified to treat dental problems that arise within the maxillofacial region. Maxillofacial surgeons can also provide dental and facial trauma counseling.
In addition to dental extractions, dental implants, and orthognathic surgery, dental surgeons may also treat cancerous and precancerous lesions of the oral cavity. While many dentists perform gum surgeries as part of their practice, some gum specialists go beyond gum disease treatment and perform gum reconstruction, gum transplants, and gum augmentation.
