Oral surgery refers to a branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders, injuries and defects involving both hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. This includes procedures such as wisdom teeth extraction, cleft lip and palate repair, jaw surgery, root canal therapy, tooth removal, dental implant placement, and treatment for oral cancer among others. Oral surgeons are specialists who have undergone additional training beyond dental school to perform these complex procedures that require anesthesia or sedation.