Oral surgeons are dentists with specialized training in treating various dental conditions affecting the face, mouth, and jaw. General dentists are primary healthcare providers in dentistry, performing routine dental procedures.
When a general dentist’s skill is limited for handling such cases, patients are usually referred to oral surgeons for surgical management of complex issues of mouth, jaw, or face. After finishing dental school, oral surgeons receive 4-6 years of training to be qualified to treat complex oral diseases.
Introduction to Oral Surgeons and Dentists
General dentists are primary healthcare providers in dentistry, performing preventive and restorative routine dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, X-rays, and routine exams for dental problems, dental fillings, root canals, veneers, bridges, crowns, dentures, and simple tooth extractions.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained to treat various facial, mouth, and jaw conditions, and are often referred to patients with treatment needs beyond the scope of standard dentistry.
They perform complex tooth extractions, provide reconstructive dental surgery, soft tissue biopsies, tumor removal, jaw realignment surgery, soft tissue repair, or placing implants.
Education and Training
Dental school requirements: According to ADA, both general dentists and oral surgeons require a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, followed by 4 years of dental school.
Along with clinical practical experience, this program covers anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, and oral surgery. General dentists can start practicing after passing their licensure exam.
Specialized training for oral surgeons: Oral surgeons, also known as oral and maxillofacial surgeons, complete an additional four to six-year surgical residency, accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
They also undergo training in oral pathology, anesthesia, and other related areas. Compared to a general dentist, an oral surgeon’s expertise and skills are far more due to their extensive specialized training in complex dental issues.
Scope of Practice
Dental services provided by dentists: A general dentist acts as a patient’s primary source for dental care, performing routine examinations, cleanings, and simple procedures like crowns or fillings.
Complex dental problems, however, can be outside the scope of a dentist’s training, in which case an oral and maxillofacial surgeon might need to be consulted for their expertise.
Surgical procedures performed by oral surgeons: Oral surgeons deal with several issues, related to wisdom teeth, impacted teeth, congenital malformations, jaw misalignment, facial injuries, and bone loss in the jaw.
In addition, they also treat chronic medical conditions such as temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), sleep apnea, cleft lip or cleft palate, nerve repair & head and neck cancer.
Collaboration & referrals between General dentists and Oral surgeons
General dentists and oral surgeons focus on the different aspects of dentistry, but they collaborate regularly to provide the best treatment and care to their patients.
Common procedures performed by dentists
Dentists are your primary healthcare providers, performing routine dental procedures including regular exams, diagnosing and treating usual problems, repairing and restoring teeth, and preventive care.
Restorative dentistry: Crowns, bridges, Teeth whitening, Root canal treatment, simple extractions, gum disease treatment.
Preventive care: Routine exams & cleanings, Fluoride treatments, and X-rays(if needed).
Complex surgeries and treatments offered by oral surgeons
Maxillofacial surgeons carry out complex surgical procedures on the face, jaw, and mouth. They receive extensive additional training after dental school to treat challenging cases requiring advanced surgical skills, and they frequently work in hospital settings.
Oral surgeons carry out complex surgical procedures such as
- Extraction of impacted wisdom teeth: Wisdom teeth are the third and last molars that come out in the late teens or early twenties. Sometimes they become impacted or stuck because there isn’t enough space in the jaw for them to erupt properly. Oral surgeons remove impacted wisdom teeth to avoid issues such as infection, crowding, or damage to neighboring teeth.
- Corrective or reconstructive jaw surgery treats abnormalities of the jawbone that might cause issues with speaking, eating, or facial appearance. It might involve restructuring the jaw, placing bone grafts to restore its structure, or repositioning the jaw.
- Dental implants: Dental implants are small, cylindrical titanium screws that are surgically placed into the jawbone. These implants act as replacement tooth roots, providing a strong foundation for the crowns, bridges, or dentures.
- Facial trauma repair: Oral surgeons may perform reconstructive procedures to restore the function and appearance of the face after accidents or other injuries. This might involve repairing damaged face contours, repairing fractures, or reconnecting tissues.
- Oral pathology (biopsies and tumor removal): Oral surgeons diagnose and treat oral conditions affecting the tissues of the mouth, jaw, and face. Oral pathology includes biopsies and tumor removal. This involves surgically removing cysts or tumors and collecting tissue samples for biopsies, which are used in diagnosis.
- Sleep apnea surgery causes breathing to stop and start during sleep repeatedly. Oral surgeons may perform procedures that reposition the jaw or enlarge the airway to improve breathing and stop episodes of sleep apnea.
- Cleft lip and palate repair: Birth abnormalities such as cleft lip and palate develop if the roof of the mouth or upper lip disconnects from one another. Corrective procedures are performed by oral surgeons in stages throughout childhood to close clefts and improve their appearance and function.
Examples of cases requiring the expertise of each professional
Examples of cases where a dentist’s skill is needed
- Routine exams and cleanings
- Fillings for repairing and restoring tooth decay or damage
- Crowns or bridges for broken or cracked teeth
- Treatment for gum disease
- Teeth whitening
- Dentures
- Simple extractions
- Root canal treatment
Cases where an oral surgeon’s skill is needed
- Impacted wisdom teeth causing pain or displacement
- Jaw misalignment causing difficulty speaking or chewing
- Accident-related facial injuries
- Dental implants are required to restore lost teeth.
- Abnormal growths or tumors in the mouth
Choosing the Right Professional for Your Needs
Oral surgeons and dentists play an equally important role in their respective domains, to preserve oral health.
Your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon if he assesses your condition requiring that expertise. Oral surgeons have the skills and expertise to handle such complex procedures more precisely and intricately to resolve any problems that might arise.
Conclusion
While they specialize in different areas, oral surgeons and dentists play an important role in maintaining good oral health.
Routine dental care is carried out by dentists, who also treat common conditions including gum disease and cavities.
Complex procedures including wisdom tooth extraction, jaw surgery, facial trauma, and dental implant placement are the areas of expertise for oral surgeons.
Dental professionals provide routine care and preventative treatment, whereas oral surgeons do complex procedures accurately.
Understanding the differences between these experts enables you to make knowledgeable choices about dental health, including regular dental examinations, and clear communication.
