Oral surgery refers to any surgical procedure performed on your teeth, gums, jaws or other oral structures. This includes extractions, implants, gum grafts and jaw surgeries. Oral surgery is usually performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a periodontist. These are dental specialists who have advanced training in oral surgery procedures.

Why is oral surgery performed?

You could need oral surgery for a number of reasons. Your dentist might recommend it if you have:

• Extensive tooth decay.
• Badly broken teeth.
• Gum disease.
• Impacted teeth.
• Missing teeth.
• Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD).
• Bone loss in your jaw.
• Sleep apnea.
• Oral cancer.
• Benign oral pathology (noncancerous lumps or bumps).