What are minor oral surgeries?

Minor oral surgery is a specific branch of dentistry that encompasses certain surgical procedures such as tooth extractions, wisdom teeth removal and apicectomy (surgical extraction of the tip of the tooth’s root).

What types of minor oral surgeries are performed?

• An apicectomy is the surgical resection of the tooth's root tip or the apex. The procedure is performed if cysts and infections continue to recur after the root canal. A local anaesthetic is usually administered when carrying out an apicectomy. Surgery involves lifting a flap of gum tissue and removing the tip of the tooth's root, nearby bone, and infected tissue. The region is disinfected and cleaned, and the tip of the tooth's root is shaven by a few millilitres. Sometimes, a filling is inserted in the root to close the end of the tip. Dissolvable stitches are used to close the edges of the gum tissue.
• A tooth extraction: An oral surgeon or dentist can carry out a standard tooth extraction. A tooth extraction is the removal of the tooth from the bone’s socket. An extraction may be needed when there's irreparable damage to the tooth, and there's no chance of saving the tooth.
• Wisdom teeth removal: This surgery removes one or several wisdom teeth right at the back of the mouth due to issues that may arise in the future. Wisdom teeth develop much later than other teeth. These types of teeth may begin to develop during the teenage years or early twenties but can result in issues much later in life. Wisdom teeth need to be removed when there’s not enough space in the mouth to accommodate these teeth. These teeth should be removed if they result in the following:
  1. Swelling and pain in the mouth
  2. Gum infections
  3. Food gets stuck in the mouth
  4. Decayed teeth
  5. Gum disease
  6. Dental abscesses