What Dental Procedures Require an Oral Surgeon?
In cases that require the extraction of a tooth, the placement of an implant or other such surgical interventions, it may become necessary to perform oral surgery. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons receive additional, specialized training and are licensed in both IV Sedation and General Anesthesia, as well as certified in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
Additionally, if the procedure in question is a tooth extraction(s), it is important to keep in mind that a licensed Oral Surgeon has the experience and knowledge that you want; during their required residency program, an Oral Surgeon will (on average) perform well over 1,000 tooth extractions!
Dentists do not necessarily have the same level of specialized training and, more than likely, do not perform tooth extractions as a routine part of their practice.
Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.D.M.) vs. Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)
Dentists, as discussed above, lack the advanced qualifications that Oral Surgeons receive during their post-graduate residency programs. In fact, they will often utilize a simple, local anesthesia during the extraction procedure (the same anesthesia you'd receive during the filling of a simple cavity). By contrast, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are the only health care professionals who are trained and certified to administer all levels of sedation, from a lidocaine-based local anesthesia all the up to a general anesthesia.
When you're in need of a dental procedure that requires oral surgery, as always, your comfort is our utmost concern. We have the resources to refer you to a nationally-recognized Oral Surgeon whom oftentimes will even come to us, allowing you to undergo the procedure right here in our Brandon dental office.
If you have any questions about any of the information discussed above, contact our office and one of our friendly, highly-knowledgeable dental professionals will be happy to assist you!
