Oral surgeons provide essential services to help people with certain dental conditions. Oral surgery may be needed to preserve a tooth or to remove and replace a damaged tooth. Here, the team of skilled dentists at Zen Dental Hawaii in Honolulu share a few scenarios in which oral surgery could be the solution.

3 Dental Problems Oral Surgery Can Resolve

1. Impacted Wisdom Teeth

While not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, impacted ones—those unable to emerge from the gums because they are blocked by other teeth—result in painful complications. A wisdom tooth extraction may be necessary, during which a dentist will surgically remove the impacted teeth. This will reduce discomfort, while also preventing other teeth from becoming misaligned from overcrowding.

2. Extensive Decay

If you suffer from extensive decay, a root canal may be the solution. This treatment accesses the inner chamber of a tooth to remove damaged or decayed tissue. Once the tissue is removed, the dentist will fill in the tooth with a sturdy material to stabilize it. This option manages to preserve the tooth rather than replace it.

3. Missing Teeth

In some cases, a tooth may not be able to be saved. A dental implant can fill in any gaps using an artificial tooth, which is placed on a metal post surgically attached to the jaw bone. To receive an implant, your jaw bone must be healthy enough to withstand the implant. Over time, the apparatus and bone will fuse together as a permanent solution to missing teeth.

To find out if oral surgery could help you, consult the knowledgeable dentists at Zen Dental Hawaii. In addition to general and cosmetic dentistry, this locally owned practice provides comprehensive oral surgeries like root canals, crowns, extractions, and more. Call (808) 532-5888 to schedule an appointment, or visit them online for more information about oral surgery options.