Minor Oral Surgery Techniques

Question 1

What are some general principles of oral surgery

Answer 1

Max access with minimal trauma

Bigger flaps heal just as fast as slow

Wide based incision - vascularity to wound margins

Minimise trauma to papilla

Flap margins and sutures lie on sound bone

Consider surrounding tissues e.g. mental nerve in lower arch

Question 2

What are the types of debridement?

Answer 2

Physical

Irrigation

Suction

Question 3

What is physical debridement? What tool?

Answer 3

Bone file or handpiece
- removes sharp bony edges

Mitchells trimmer or Victoria curette
- removes soft tissue debris

Question 4

What is irrigation in debridement?

Answer 4

Sterile / slaine water into the socket and under the flap

Question 5

How can suction be used as debridement?

Answer 5

Aspirate under the flap
- removes debris
- allows to check for retained apices

Question 6

Aims of suturing?

Answer 6

Approximate tissues - bring them together, but not under tension! - cover bone

Compress blood vessels

Achieve haemostasis

Question 7

What two types of suture are there? Give an example

Answer 7

Monofilament or multifilament, resorbable or non-resorbable

Monocryl - monofilament resorbable

Prolene - monofilament non-resorbable (less scarring)

Question 8

How may haemostasis be achieve perioperatively?

Answer 8

LA with vasoconstrictor

Use bone wax

Diathermy - cautery

Question 9

How is haemostasis achieves postoperatively?

Answer 9

Bite on gauze - pressure

Give more LA with vasoconstrictor

Surgicel

Sutures