Brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist help you protect your oral health, but certain issues require specialized care. Your dentist may recommend undergoing oral surgery for a variety of reasons, including tooth extractions, correcting a breathing problem, and recovering from an injury. Here, the team at Oral Surgery Associates of Alaska in Anchorage discuss five conditions they routinely treat at their state-of-the-art facility.

1. Impacted Teeth

When permanent teeth don’t emerge from the gums, an oral surgeon may need to remove them to protect the surrounding teeth and soft tissue from shifting or infection. Teeth extraction surgery takes place in a controlled environment and typically requires the use of general anesthesia.

2. Missing Teeth

If you want to get dental implants to replace missing teeth, an oral surgeon will work with your dentist to complete this restorative procedure. Your surgeon will insert the implants into your jawbone; once they heal, your dentist will apply the permanent prosthetic crown.

3. Jaw Irregularities

Orthodontic appliances are designed to straighten crooked teeth, but correcting jaw misalignment may require oral surgery. Congenital irregularities like a cleft palate can also be repaired surgically. 

4. Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are a variety of ways to treat sleep apnea, but oral surgery may be the most effective if your condition is moderate to severe, and noninvasive methods have not provided relief. Your surgeon may recommend repositioning your jaw or modifying the soft tissue in your mouth and throat to open your airways.

5. Facial Trauma

Oral surgeons are skilled at repairing facial injuries ranging from severed nerves to fractured jawbones. If you sustain this type of trauma in an accident, your urgent care provider will refer you to an oral surgeon once your condition has stabilized.

If any of these conditions are affecting your life, oral surgery may be the most effective solution. You can count on the experts at Oral Surgery Associates of Alaska to provide high-quality care every step of the way, from your initial consultation to your final follow-up appointment. Visit their website to learn more about the procedures their staff performs and call (907) 561-1430 to schedule a consultation today.