Dental surgery
Dental surgery is any of a number of medical procedures that involve
artificially modifying dentition; in other words, surgery of the teeth, gums
and jaw bones.
Types
Some of the more common are:
• Endodontic (surgery involving the pulp or root of the tooth)
o Root canal treatment
▪ Pulpotomy — the opening of the pulp chamber
of the tooth to allow an infection to drain; usually
a precursor to a root canal
▪ Pulpectomy — the removal of the pulp from the
pulp chamber to temporarily relieve pain; usually
a precursor to a root canal
o Apicoectomy — a root-end resection. Occasionally a root
canal alone is enough to relieve pain and the end of the
tooth, called the apex, is removed by entering through
the gingiva and surgically extracting the diseased
material.
• Prosthodontics (dental prosthetics)
o Crown (caps) — artificial covering of a tooth made from a
variety of biocompatible materials, including CMC/PMC
(ceramic/porcelain metal composite), gold or a
, tin/aluminum mixture. The underlying tooth must be
reshaped to accommodate these fixed restorations
o Veneers — artificial coverings similar to above, except
that they only cover the forward (labial or buccal) surface
of the tooth. Usually for aesthetic purposes only.
o Bridge — a fixed prothesis in which two or more crowns
are connected together, which replace a missing tooth or
teeth through a bridge. Typically used after an extraction.
o Implant — a procedure in which a titanium implant is
surgically placed in the bone (mandible or maxilla),
allowed to heal, and 4–6 months later an artificial tooth is
connected to the implant by cement or retained by a
screw.
o Dentures (false teeth) — a partial or complete set of
dentition which either attach to neighboring teeth by use
of metal or plastic grasps or to the gingival or palatal
surface by use of adhesive.
o Implant-supported prosthesis — a combination of
dentures and implants; bases are placed into the bone,
allowed to heal, and metal appliances are fixed to the
gingival surface, following which dentures are placed
atop and fixed into place.
• Orthodontic treatment
o Implants and implant-supported prosthesis — also an
orthodontic treatment as it involves bones
Dental surgery is any of a number of medical procedures that involve
artificially modifying dentition; in other words, surgery of the teeth, gums
and jaw bones.
Types
Some of the more common are:
• Endodontic (surgery involving the pulp or root of the tooth)
o Root canal treatment
▪ Pulpotomy — the opening of the pulp chamber
of the tooth to allow an infection to drain; usually
a precursor to a root canal
▪ Pulpectomy — the removal of the pulp from the
pulp chamber to temporarily relieve pain; usually
a precursor to a root canal
o Apicoectomy — a root-end resection. Occasionally a root
canal alone is enough to relieve pain and the end of the
tooth, called the apex, is removed by entering through
the gingiva and surgically extracting the diseased
material.
• Prosthodontics (dental prosthetics)
o Crown (caps) — artificial covering of a tooth made from a
variety of biocompatible materials, including CMC/PMC
(ceramic/porcelain metal composite), gold or a
, tin/aluminum mixture. The underlying tooth must be
reshaped to accommodate these fixed restorations
o Veneers — artificial coverings similar to above, except
that they only cover the forward (labial or buccal) surface
of the tooth. Usually for aesthetic purposes only.
o Bridge — a fixed prothesis in which two or more crowns
are connected together, which replace a missing tooth or
teeth through a bridge. Typically used after an extraction.
o Implant — a procedure in which a titanium implant is
surgically placed in the bone (mandible or maxilla),
allowed to heal, and 4–6 months later an artificial tooth is
connected to the implant by cement or retained by a
screw.
o Dentures (false teeth) — a partial or complete set of
dentition which either attach to neighboring teeth by use
of metal or plastic grasps or to the gingival or palatal
surface by use of adhesive.
o Implant-supported prosthesis — a combination of
dentures and implants; bases are placed into the bone,
allowed to heal, and metal appliances are fixed to the
gingival surface, following which dentures are placed
atop and fixed into place.
• Orthodontic treatment
o Implants and implant-supported prosthesis — also an
orthodontic treatment as it involves bones
