Surgical Procedures for Disease Treatment
- Osseous Flap Surgery, Open Flap Debridement, Distal Wedge, Pocket Reduction
- Functional Crown Lengthening (pre-restorative)
- Mucogingival defect corrections
- Regeneration of Lost Bone (Guided Tissue Regeneration – Bone Graft)
- Root Amputation & Hemisection
- Surgical Tooth Extractions, Wisdom Teeth & Impactions
- Pre-prosthetic Full Mouth Clearance for Dentures (dentist or denturist makes denture)
- Pre-prosthetic surgery
- Alveoloplasty & Exostoses/Torus Removal
- Gingivoplasty/ Vestibuloplasty
- Biopsy of Oral Pathology Lesion
- Emergency care, Incision & Drainage of Abscess or Infection
Pocket Reduction
Osseous surgery is used to reshape deformities and remove pockets in the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth. It is a common necessity in effective treatment of more advanced periodontal diseases. The ultimate goal of osseous surgery is to reduce or eliminate the periodontal pockets that cause periodontal disease. Despite the word “surgery” the procedure is reported to feel more like a thorough cleaning.
Regeneration of Lost Bone
As periodontal disease progresses, pockets of degenerated bone develop in the jaw. These pockets can promote the growth of bacteria and the spread of infection. To address these pockets, Your Last Name(s) may recommend tissue regeneration. During this surgical procedure, the pockets are cleaned thoroughly, and a membrane is installed between the soft tissue and the pocket in the bone. Some of these membranes are bio-absorbable and some require removal. The membrane covers the pocket so that fast-growing soft tissue is blocked, and slower-growing bone can begin to grow, or “regenerate” itself.
Surgical Tooth Extractions, Wisdom Teeth & Impactions
Wisdom teeth (or third molars) are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum, and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to successfully erupt.
In general, dental and medical professionals that wisdom teeth should be removed in the following instances:
- infections and/or periodontal disease
- cavities that cannot be restored
- pathologies such as cysts, and tumors, and
- damage to neighboring teeth
These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the teeth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain, and periodontal disease. The pressure from the erupting wisdom teeth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted teeth usually resolves these problems. Assessment in your adults and early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure.
Wisdom Teeth Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.
Alveoloplasty
The preparation of your mouth before the placement of a prosthesis is referred to as pre-prosthetic surgery.
Some patients require minor oral surgical procedures before receiving a partial or complete denture, in order to ensure the maximum level of comfort. A denture sits on the bone ridge, so it is very important that the bone is the proper shape and size. If a tooth needs to be extracted, the underlying bone might be left sharp and uneven. For the best fit of a denture, the bone might need to be smoothed out or reshaped. Occasionally, excess bone would need to be removed prior to denture insertion.