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Of all the endless ways people choose to express dislike towards a certain thing, ?its like pulling teeth? should (in all reality) not be used. True, as recently as 50 years ago, the (now simple) task of extracting a tooth was dreaded by all. Without any type of numbing medication, I would dread it, too! However, with all of the advancements mankind has made since the days of gripping the armrest and waiting for it to end, extracting an unwanted tooth is like ? ?A walk in the park?.

In this article, I will discuss 3 of the most common types of oral surgery. Further, I will explore how these operations have developed over time. Also, I will touch base on how these procedures are performed. Recovery time will also be discussed.

Tooth extraction is the most common type of oral surgery. The reasons to extract a tooth could be any one of the following:

• Severe decay of the tooth
• Advanced stages of gum disease
• Positioned incorrectly in the mouth (most commonly associated with impacted wisdom teeth)
• The tooth has been damaged beyond repair
• Preparation for braces in which the mouth requires more room

In order to perform the removal of the unwanted tooth, the dentist will first numb the tooth, as well as the jawbone and gums surrounding it. Afterwards, the dentist will expand the socket and separate the tooth from its ligaments until it is loose enough to be removed. This is done (in most cases) by grasping the tooth with a tool called extraction forceps. After gripping the tooth, it is rocked back and forth, as well as in a circular motion. This loosens the socket and forces the tooth to separate from its ligaments. Usually, this procedure takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and the patient is awake. After the extraction, the patient may feel soreness and discomfort for several days. Eating solid food may be painful as well. After 3 of 4 days, however, most patients are completely fine and resume a normal diet. Tooth extraction may seem like a minor operation. However, in many cases it means the difference between a healthy mouth and multiple problems later in life.

Another common form of oral surgery results from the discovery of oral cancer. Oral cancer can pertain to the lips, mouth and/or throat. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 1 person dies every hour from oral cancer in the United States alone. 75% of oral cancer is caused by tobacco use and drinking in excess. Other causes include radiation and overexposure to sunlight. Oral cancer is highly curable if it is detected in its early stages, (making annual trips to the dentist even more important) however, early signs of oral cancer can go unnoticed. Some symptoms include:

• Any type of lesion on the lips or in the mouth that does not clear up after 2 weeks.
• Difficulty swallowing for a prolonged period of time.

In order to treat oral cancer, surgery is necessary. Any and all lesions are removed and a biopsy is performed to determine wether or not the tissue is cncerous. In some cases, surgery alone can cure oral cancer. In more advanced cases, radiation and other forms of further treatment are necessary. The easiest way to prevent oral cancer is to avoid the regular use of tobacco and alcohol. Applying sunscreen to the mouth when going outside can also prevent oral cancer.

The third type of oral surgery to be discussed results from a condition known as cleft lip and palate. Cleft lip and palate is a birth defect occurring on the upper lip and the roof of the mouth. In the case of cleft lip, an unusual opening forms in the middle of the upper lip while the baby is developing. In cleft palate, an unusual opening forms in the roof of the mouth (also known as the palate) while the baby is developing. Cleft lip repair is usually performed 6-12 weeks after the baby is born. Cleft palate repair is held off for 9 months to 1 year in order to take advantage of the changes the palate makes while the child grows. During both procedures, the tissue surrounding the defect is trimmed and sewn together with several layers of stitches. These sutures are small and fine to minimize the appearance of scarring as much as possible. In the case of cleft palate repair, tissue from the roof of the mouth may be moved to cover the open palate. In some cases, more than one surgery is necessary to complete the palate closure. Before the development of this operation, people that suffered from cleft palate were subject to relentless teasing. In most cases they were seen as ?hideous? and ?unnatural? when in all reality they were just like everyone else. Eating and breathing were also difficult for people suffering from this type of birth defect. Infection was also a much greater possibility because of the open lip, which could not prevent dirt and other matter from entering the mouth and traveling up the open palate. Thankfully, this once ?hideous? birth defect can now be treated promptly, leaving the patient looking just like any other person with nothing more than a small scar above the lip.

In conclusion, oral surgery has definitely come an extremely long way from the days of wrapping a string around an unwanted tooth, tying the end to a doorknob, and slamming the door. In the future, I am sure that even more advancements will be made in the future that will make any oral procedure even more simple and pain-free.