Oral Surgery

Minor oral surgery procedures like extractions and biopsies help you maintain optimal oral health. Dr. Brown and the team at Dean L Brown, DDS, in Woodland Hills, California, provide comprehensive dental care that includes these procedures. Call today or use an online tool to book a consultation and find out if you’re a candidate for oral surgery. 

What does oral surgery involve?

Oral surgery refers to any operation performed on your teeth, gums, jaw, or other oral and facial structures. Dr. Brown has the training and skills to complete oral surgeries, tooth extractions, and biopsies.

If you need more complex oral surgery for procedures like a bone graft, gum graft, or mouth reconstruction, the team at Dean L Brown, DDS, can refer you to trusted providers in the area and manage your follow-up care.

Why would I need oral surgery for a tooth extraction?

Sometimes, teeth need to be extracted to prevent complications. Decay, illness, and trauma can lead to a need for a tooth extraction. 

Specific reasons that Dr. Brown would recommend a tooth extraction include:

• Risk of infection from an unsuccessful root canal
• Advanced gum (periodontal) disease
• Extra or crowded teeth
• Risk of infection during an organ transplant or chemotherapy
• No room for wisdom teeth (third molars)

A surgical extraction is required when a tooth has not fully grown into the mouth or if it is broken off at the gum line. If a tooth is intact and above the gum line, Dr. Brown may extract it with a tool called an elevator and no surgery is required. 

How is oral surgery for a tooth extraction done?

To perform a surgical extraction, Dr. Brown makes a small cut in the gum. He then lifts the tooth out. In some cases, he breaks the tooth into sections to make it easier to remove. 

You’re given a local anesthetic before surgical extractions. 

When is oral surgery for a biopsy necessary? 

If Dr. Brown finds abnormal-appearing tissue during a routine exam, he may recommend a biopsy to ensure these abnormalities aren’t cancer or a tumor. Biopsies can also identify autoimmune diseases or bone infections. 

Depending on your case, Dr. Brown may remove just a piece of tissue for evaluation, or he may remove an entire lump. 

The staff sends the biopsy off to a lab for analysis. You should get results and recommendations for the next course of action in a few days. 

If you need minor oral surgery, contact Dean L Brown, DDS, by phone, or use the online tool to book an appointment.