Alveoplasty is an oral dental surgery performed to polish the jawbone. This surgery is performed on those parts of mouth from where teeth have been extracted or lost. Albeit, alveoplasty can be conducted solo but mostly it is performed during the tooth extraction. It is mostly done by oral dental surgeons usually albeit some dentists also are capable of performing this surgery.
Why Use Alveoplasty?
A socket is left behind when teeth are removed from the jawbone. It will leave high and low points in the bones of your mouth even if the gums have healed completely. It may create problem in denture fitting.
Just to make the surface of jaw smooth and fine to accept any type of dental procedure alveoloplasty is done. This process is done to smooth the lumps in the jaw bone, taper the ridge of the jaw, or flatten the ridge of the jaw.
This surgery is mostly performed only when more than one tooth is removed. The socket created by one tooth often fills without any surgery.
In addition to smoothening the jawbone, alveoplsty can also expedite the recuperation proves after multiple teeth removal. The gums are stitched over the hole in alveoplasty, which expedites the healing process.
Quick healing is necessary for people having cancer. They get radiation therapy on various parts of their body and may require tooth extraction. Under these circumstances radiation dries up the saliva thus reducing blood flow to the jaw. It may increase the possibility of tooth decay. Radiation cannot be performed until the sockets have healed completely.
Alveoplasty Preparations
It differs from individual to individual. Some individual may require rinsing with mouthwash before surgery or may be suggested to take antibiotics and pain drugs too. Dental surgeons may plan out a schedule for patients of their jaw just to help them know from where to discard the bone and the quantity of the bone. Your dentist may take your teeth and jaw impression to create a cast. It loss just like a denture although it’s of clear material, and work like a guide to the surgeon.
Process of Alveoplasty
Alveoplasty is done in your dental surgeon’s office after applying local anesthesia on you or an intravenous sedation may also be used with local anesthesia. If you would require general anesthesia the surgery may be performed at the hospital. If you are going to extract your teeth too then removal process would be performed first followed by alveoplasty.
Dentist will create an incision within the gum cells to get access to the bone. For this a rotary drill is used to discard necessary bone and after this a filler to facilitated to smoothen it. Once the bone has been polished, your surgeon will clean the area to remove bone particles and other debris from there. If a cast is required then your dental surgeon will put the gum cells over the bone and place the stent above it. As the cast is similar to denture in shape, it will help the surgeon to ascertain if the right quantity of bone has been removed. In case the cast is misfit then the more bone will be discarded till the cast fits appropriately. After this process the gum tissue will be replaced and finally the incision will be stitched closed.
Post Surgery Precautions
Once this surgery is performed, the affected area will remain sore for a week. In the initial few days, you should rely on painkillers. Once this stage is crossed you can switch over to counter drugs. At the initial stage you can apply ice packs on your face to get relief from swelling and pain.
Your dentist would prescribe antibiotics to ward off infection in the operated area, particularly if you are old and have removed more than one tooth. You may also be advised to use an antibacterial rinse to clean your mouth to be on the safe side. A saline solution would also be recommended for cleaning your mouth.
You would be asked to stay on soft foods and avoid hot foods until your stitches have completely healed. You should also stay away from using straw for drinking purposes as it may stimulate bleeding. After one of two week, your physician would examine your dental status to monitor the recuperation process and to ensure that there are no traces of any infection.
Risks Associated with Alveoplasty
Some of the widely known risks that the procedure of alveoplasty can bring:
- You may witness excessive bleeding, albeit it is a rare complication. The operated area will ooze blood in the initial 24 hours. It should gradually stop over time.
- Risk of infection is quite normal as there is lots of bacteria within your mouth and cleaning is a bit tough for some initial days. To avoid this, dentist would prescribe antibiotics to prohibit infections.
- It may happen that the stitches break loose leading to the opening of the wound. In this situation the operated bone would be exposed which would require immediate medical attention.
- The nerve responsible for sensation to the chin and lips may be traumatized, although it is a rare complication, especially if this surgery is performed on your lower jaw. In case the nerves are hurt your chin and lip may become numb even the effect of local anesthetic subsides. Under these circumstances, it may take few months to recuperate completely as the nerves healing process is a bit slow.
When to Contact Dental Surgeon
If you have undergone this surgery, you can immediately call your surgeon if you are experiencing:
- Continuous and excessive bleeding and catapulting swelling even after first day of surgery
- Symptoms of infection i.e. fever, chills, inflammations
- Weakening of the stitches along with an exposition of the associated bones
This oral surgery can provide your mouth and facial seizure with a new lease of life, the only motive of this post is to help you understand the actual process of the surgery and develop a sense of confidence if you ever happen to undergo this process. It will allow you to face the surgery with confidence.
