Oral or maxillofacial surgery may be necessary in people suffering with tooth or jaw problems. Some people may have problems with impacted teeth, particularly wisdom teeth. Others may require dental implants. These are tooth root substitutes that hold false teeth in position. A screw must surgically put into the jawbone. Individuals with certain jaw or facial injuries or disorders may also need oral surgery. The surgeons who specialize in these disorders use certain equipment, much of which is similar to that of any other surgeon.
Function
Anesthesia is one of the key tools an oral surgeon will need prior to even beginning any surgery. The surgeon may have an anesthesia or medical gas systems. A patient may see a big machine, masks, tanks, hoses, monitors, and a number of other accessories. You may see equipment to be used for ventilation as well. In some cases, sedation may be used. The method of anesthesia is determined by the surgeon and may depend on the type of surgery being performed.
Identification
There will be surgical tables on which the patient will lay in order to have the procedure done. Surgical lamps will also be present in the operating room. There will likely be instruments to monitor the vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature as well.
Types
Oral surgeons have a number of instruments which may be used during surgery. Some of these include dental scalpels, which are used to for cutting. Bone chisels are used to cut through bone. Forceps and root elevators are used in tooth extraction. Root elevators are used to loosen teeth and may be used to remove them as well. Forceps are used to grip and remove the tooth. Curettes are instruments resembling spoons which are used in dissecting bones, and also in removing tissues or growths.
Warning
As with any surgery, oral surgery also poses a risk. Surgeons generally will have a defibrillator in the operating room, in case an emergency should arise. This machine is used in case of cardiac arrest to shock the heart into a normal rhythm.
Considerations
Some oral surgeons use a non-invasive method called a Piezosurgery, which uses ultrasonic waves, rather than a scalpel, to cut through dental bone. This method is said to cause less pain and injury to sensitive tissues, and the device is able to isolate precisely where the cut needs to be made. In addition, recovery time is quicker, and there is less risk of infection.
