Routine extractions and some minor oral surgery is carried out by all of the dentists at the Practice. More complex oral surgery is usually carried out by Simon Moore who visits the Practice on a weekly basis. This includes,
- Removal of impacted wisdom teeth
- Difficult extraction cases.
- Titanium Implant Placement
- Apicectomies and retrograde root fillings.
- Treatment of pathology of the jaw and mouth requiring surgical intervention.
Some of these procedures are carried out using intravenous sedation if the case is suitable and it is the patient’s preference.
Is it necessary to remove wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are a valuable asset to the mouth when they are healthy and properly positioned. Often, however, problems develop that require their removal. When the jaw isn’t large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, they can become impacted (unable to come in or misaligned) Wisdom teeth may grow sideways, emerge only part way through the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone.
Extraction of third molars is generally recommended:
- When wisdom teeth only partially erupt;
- When there is a chance that poorly aligned wisdom teeth will damage adjacent teeth;
- When a cyst (fluid-filled sac) forms, destroying surrounding structures such as bone tooth roots.
The most common complication of the partial bony impaction is that the flap of gum tissue which partially covers the erupting third molar, creates a pocket where bacteria that are present in the mouth can grow and cause an infection known as pericoronitis. The swelling and infection can become very serious. The treatment for pericoronitis is extraction of the third molar tooth.