Dental Extractions
What Is It: Tooth removal.
Procedure Description: Using exodontia instruments, a tooth is removed due to it’s inability to function for the patient.
Why You Would Need It: Tooth removal is completed for numerous reasons, including decay, periodontal disease or over-crowding.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
What Is It: Often times, wisdom teeth or third molars have limited jaw bone space in which to develop. By removing the wisdom teeth during their development, problems seen with more mature teeth in older patients can be prevented.
Procedure Description: Depending on the needs of the patient, many options can be pursued for care. Some patients are treated under a local anesthesia only. Others are supplemented with nitrous oxide. Still others use oral sedation or even IV sedation to have their wisdom teeth removed. What might be best for you depends on what type of extractions are needed and your level of anxiety about the treatment. Discerning what might be best is discussed in detail to make sure all else goes smoothly.
Why You Would Need It: In most circumstances, an examination of the wisdom teeth in the early to mid-teenage years is prudent. Things that are looked for include whether the wisdom teeth are even there (might be congenitally missing), the position of teeth and arch length available (most people do not have the appropriate jaw size to accommodate the third molars) and pathology that can be associated with the wisdom teeth. Symptomatic or painful teeth are also reasons patients come in to be evaluated.
Alveoplasty
What Is It: Contouring of the alveolus, or bone that houses the roots of the teeth, to much more easily accept a removable prosthetic like a denture.
Procedure Description: The bone that would support a prosthetic is altered to more easily and comfortably accept a prosthesis.
Why You Would Need It: You would need that procedure if you have lost some or all of your teeth and are planning to have a prosthesis delivered to replace those teeth. The procedure creates a more round, regular surface of bone that is more comfortable to the patient that is wearing the prosthesis.
Limited Soft Tissue Grafting
What Is It: Gingival grafts are typically performed to cover exposed root surfaces where recession has occurred or widen the zone of attached tissue — thicker tissue normally around the necks of the teeth.
Procedure Description: Using the patient’s own tissue (autograft) or donated tissue (allograft) through several approaches, the soft tissue is supplemented to assist in covering the root surfaces, or the tissue is thickened to restore health of the tooth and support structures interface.
Why You Would Need It: Soft tissue or gum grafting protects your teeth from gum recession while improving the appearance of your smile. Gum recession occurs when the tissue around your teeth begins to erode and move farther away from your teeth, exposing more of the tooth. A patient is often first alerted to the problem when darker root surfaces show in their smile or the exposed tooth root becomes sensitive during meals and toothbrushing.