Dental and Soft Tissue Surgery

Oral and Maxillofacial Associates provides dental and soft tissue surgery in Oklahoma. Call us at one of our five locations in Edmond, Midwest City, Norman, Lakeside, and Oklahoma City to schedule your specialist consultation.

As oral surgeons, we provide surgical services for both hard and soft tissues. Bone and teeth are considered hard tissue surgeries, while the gums, cheeks, tongue, and lips are considered soft tissues. Dental and soft tissue surgery procedures may include one or more of the following:

• • Full or Partial Tooth Extraction
  • Removal of Infected Bone or Teeth
  • Reshaping of the Bone
  • Soft Tissue Removal or Repair
  • Tooth Exposure for Orthodontics or Crown Placement

We offer the following dental and soft tissue surgeries at our practice:

Also known as a root tip surgery, an apicoectomy is performed to remove the tip of the root from a tooth to prevent further infection. This procedure is often performed if one or more endodontic treatments (root canals) have failed. A small incision is made in the gum and bone to access the root, then the tip is cleaned and sealed with a small filling.

The goal of dentistry is always to preserve your natural teeth, but when this cannot be accomplished, an extraction is needed to restore oral health and prevent the spread of infection. An instrument called an elevator is used to loosen the tooth from the socket, then it is removed with forceps.

Impacted teeth present a problem when it comes to orthodontic treatment. When a tooth has failed to fully pass through the gums, oral surgery may be needed to expose the tooth in order for an orthodontic bracket to be affixed to it so it can be moved into its proper position.

The frenum is a soft muscle that connects two oral tissues, like the gum and the cheek, the lips to the gums, or the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. Sometimes these muscles are too tight or cause other issues. A frenectomy is a simple procedure that releases the connection by cutting the frenum.

Apicoectomies are not painful, as your tooth and the area surrounding it will be numbed before we begin the procedure. Afterwards, you may experience swelling and soreness.

It’s important to allow yourself two to three days to rest after your surgery in order to allow a clot to form in the socket. The soft tissue surrounding the extracted tooth should heal within three to four weeks.

You will receive local anesthesia to numb the area, so you should not feel any pain during the surgery itself. Afterwards, it’s likely that you’ll experience some discomfort. We will provide you with aftercare instructions and medication if needed to help you manage any pain.

Frenectomies are usually needed to increase the range of motion of the tongue, to help dentures fit better, or to close the gap between two upper front teeth.

To schedule an appointment call 405-848-7994 (Oklahoma City), 405-292-8900 (Norman), 405-733-4296 (Midwest City), 405-341-4022 (Edmond), or 405-751-3312 (Lakeside).