Oral Surgery

Extractions

Although we make every attempt to preserve and restore natural teeth that have been damaged or diseased, sometimes there is no alternative except to remove the tooth. When this is necessary, we will explain the procedure, in detail, and give you the opportunity to ask any questions before the treatement.

After discussing any alternative options and receiving your consent to have a tooth extracted, the dentist will anesthetize the affected tooth or teeth and surrounding area. When the area is totally numb, we use instruments to mobilize and lift out the tooth as gently as possible. The procedure is normally brief, but may take longer depending on the condition of the tooth, the surrounding bone, and the location in the mouth.

At times it may be necessary to cut the tooth into pieces and/or remove a small amount of bone around it to release the tooth from its socket.

A patient can expect soreness and mild swelling for a few days after an extraction. We will recommend pain medication and/or antibiotics, as appropriate for each situation.

Bone recontouring (alveoloplasty)

Sometimes the removal of a tooth or several teeth can leave jagged bone with sharp points. The dentist may recommend a procedure called alveoloplasty in which these sharp areas are smoothed. This is especially important for patients who use dentures or partial dentures.

Biopsy

At each examination, the dentist carefully looks for any areas of the mouth that appear out-of-the-ordinary or unhealthy. If something is found that looks odd, he may recommend a biopsy to ensure that the spot is not dangerous. Most of the time, there is nothing to worry about. However, the earlier we detect irregular growths (including oral cancers), the better the outcome for their treatment.