Your dentist might have recently recommended that you visit an oral surgeon. You might have never been treated by one of these surgeons before, and you might be a bit curious about what types of surgeries they perform. Different oral surgeons have different specialties, of course, so this varies from surgeon to surgeon. A few examples of some of the more common surgeries that these professionals perform are outlined below.

Wisdom Tooth Extractions

You might assume that you can simply go to the dentist to have your wisdom teeth removed, and in many cases, this is true. However, there are some situations when wisdom tooth removal is a bit more complicated. For example, if your dentist sees on an X-ray that your wisdom teeth are impacted—which means that they are stuck in the jaw—then they might recommend that you see an oral surgeon to have them removed.

Dental Implant Surgery

If you are missing a tooth, you might have decided that you are interested in getting a dental implant. This can be a great way to restore your smile and quality of life, but you might need to see an oral surgeon to get your dental implant. After the surgery has been completed successfully and after your oral surgeon has done a follow-up examination, however, your regular dental team should be able to help with things like polishing the dental implant and looking out for signs of damage or wear.

Corrective Jaw Surgery

There are various times when people need to have corrective jaw surgery. You might have been born with a misaligned jaw, for example. If this is the case, then your jaw might cause pain and discomfort, and it can seriously impact your teeth, too. You might not think there is much that can be done with a misaligned jaw or other similar issues, but an oral surgeon can often help. Oral surgeons also help with surgeries to help people who suffer from TMJ disorders.

Cosmetic Surgeries

Some oral surgeons focus solely on surgeries that need to be done for medical or dental reasons. However, some oral surgeons provide a variety of cosmetic surgeries that relate to the jaw and mouth, so if you are interested in changing your appearance, then you might find yourself meeting with an oral surgeon at some point.

For the procedures listed above and more, you may need to meet with an oral surgeon. You can also inquire about other types of surgeries that your oral surgeon performs regularly.