What Role Does an Oral Surgeon Play in Orthodontics?
By Ramin Shabtaie | Published on November 3, 2010 | 0 Comments
Unlike other areas of medicine, nearly all of the specialties within dentistry are intertwined in one way or another. As a dentist and oral surgeon in Los Angeles, Dr. Ramin Shabtaie explains that part of his practice involves preparing patients’ mouths for orthodontic treatments. There are also instances, he continues, where during an orthodontic procedure, an oral surgeon’s assistance is needed. In some situations, the ideal smile is often times the creation of numerous dental experts as opposed to just one specialist.
For instance, some patients do not have enough room in their jaws for their teeth. When crowding is too severe, there may be no choice other than to remove some of the teeth. This decision, Dr. Shabtaie says, is ultimately a joint one made between the orthodontist and the oral surgeon.
Many times, a patient’s orthodontist will have already developed a treatment plan and can tell which areas of the mouth require tooth extractions. The oral surgeon will then do a brief consultation to confirm the desired treatment plan before removing the necessary teeth. Once the extractions are performed, the orthodontist is able to continue with the treatment plan to align and straighten the rest of the teeth.
Other times, Dr. Shabtaie says, the patient may be suffering from an impacted tooth that is vital to the aesthetics and function of the mouth. This happens most regularly with canine teeth that generally erupt at the age of 12. Sometimes, he says, the teeth get trapped inside the jaw bone.
In order to make sure that an impacted canine tooth erupts into the correct position, the oral surgeon will need a way to access it. Once the surgeon is able to reach the tooth, he will place a bracket around it that is attached to a short chain. That chain, Dr. Shabtaie explains, is accessible to the orthodontist so that he can pull the tooth out of the gum and into the right position. While some patients may be concerned about the visibility of the chain, he explains that it is only for the orthodontist’s use and won’t be visible to others. Afterward, once the tooth is in its proper place, the orthodontist can easily remove the chain.
Additionally, there are times where a tooth is positioned in such a manner that it has started to grow the wrong way inside the mouth. In this type of situation, it’s important to create anchorage. The oral surgeon makes this possible by placing temporary screws in certain positions of the jaw. The orthodontist is then able to use those screws as anchors to which he can attach brackets and move those difficult teeth into the correct position. While this may seem complex, it is actually a minimally invasive procedure and is usually painless for the patient, especially compared to other possible alternatives.
In fact, when you have the right specialists invested in your oral health, achieving a straight, enviable smile isn’t as difficult as you may have thought.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.