Oral Surgery
Why Do Certain Teeth Need to Be Removed?
There are several reasons why a tooth may need to be extracted. Typically a tooth requires removal due to breakage or severe tooth decay; here are some other reasons:
- Having extra teeth that are blocking the emergence of additional teeth
- Having teeth which are in the way of dental surgery or preventing effective alignment
- Having severe gum infection which is affecting the integrity of underlying supportive bone structures
Wisdom teeth OR 3rd Molars are the very last teeth to come through at the back of your mouth, and generally erupt into the mouth from the age of 18 onward. Most people have 4 wisdom teeth. However, some people do not develop all their wisdom teeth and can be missing one or more.In many cases there is not enough space at the rear of the mouth/jaws for wisdom teeth to fully erupt and be functional. This causes the teeth to become ‘impacted’. If this occurs, the removal of the teeth is recommended before any discomfort or pain from infection eventuates.
All our surgical procedures can be performed under a local anaesthetic.
Simple Extractions
Simple extractions are performed on visible teeth, meaning they have broken free of the gum. Usually, simple extractions involve the use of a local anesthetic, and when it is properly placed the procedure is pain-free. After your dentist has “frozen” the area that is being worked on, the tooth to be removed is gently elevated and then extracted with dental forceps. After sliding the tooth free, a cotton swab is then set in place to promote clotting. The procedure is then complete.
Surgical Extractions
Wisdom teeth often require surgical extraction because there is not enough room for them to emerge from the bone or gums. Such extractions involve an incision and exposure of the impacted teeth. Once the tooth has been removed, the incision is closed and quickly begins to heal. Swelling may occur, and it may be necessary to take pain medication following the procedure.
