DENTOALVEOLAR PROCEDURE:

EXTRACTION OF A TOOTH OR RETAINED ROOT

Your surgeon usually needs to make an incision in the gum to remove the root or root. A small piece of bone may require removal to get to the tooth. The tooth may be divided into segments so it can be removed easily and safety.

Some teeth are easy to remove whilst others may be more difficult. Some difficult extractions may carry a significant risk injury to nearby nerves, however your surgeon will determine the risk/benefits profile of undertaking the extraction and discuss this in detail with you.

SOME DIFFICULT EXTRACTIONS ARE GENERALLY DUE TO:

• Adjacent teeth having crowns or large fillings.

• A major nerve (dentoalveolar nerve) near the tooth to be extracted.

• Roots that are large and curved, or that penetrate deeply into the jaw bone or that have been root filled.

• An un erupted or impacted tooth, or a tooth fused to the jaw bone (ankylosis)

THE INCISION IN YOUR GUM MAY REQUIRE CLOSURE WITH STITCHES.

Following extraction of a tooth, nearby teeth often move out of their normal position and tilt into the gap. This can procedure difficulty with biting and chewing. It may also predispose you to decay and gum disease around the tilted teeth as cleaning can be difficult.

Teeth are extracted less frequently these days because:

• Modern methods have improved the chances of salvaging a tooth

• Retention of teeth is usually better than extraction.

Sometimes extraction is the best treatment option. The aim is to achieve the best possible outcome over the long term whilst giving you the most satisfactory function and appearance possible.

Dentoalveolar procedures may include a combination of the following:

1. Partial or full tooth extraction

2. Removal of bone material

3. Reshaping of bone material

4. Soft tissue removal

5. Soft tissue repair