Oral surgery... what is it, and when does it make sense?
If you are experiencing pain, swelling or other symptoms related to your mouth, teeth, jaw or gums, your dentist in Toronto may diagnose your issue and recommend oral surgery.
This branch of dentistry that focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions related to the teeth, gums, mouth and jaw.
Tooth extractions and wisdom tooth removal are two common oral surgery procedures that are often performed to remove diseased, crowded or impacted teeth.
Your dentist can dedicate the proper care and attention to assessing your needs, diagnosing your issue and performing the procedure you require so you can enjoy healthy teeth and gums for years to come.
When do we recommend a tooth extraction?
While we always aim to save a natural tooth, in some cases, a tooth will be severely damaged due to gum disease, fracture or decay.
When a tooth cannot be saved with a root canal, your dentist may recommend tooth extraction to prevent further damage to the surrounding teeth and gums.
Local anesthesia is typically used to numb the area around the tooth to make the procedure painless. That said, if the tooth is impacted or if multiple teeth need to be extracted, your dentist may opt for general anesthesia.
The Problems With Wisdom Teeth
If wisdom teeth don't emerge properly, you may experience pain, infection and other problems that necessitate wisdom tooth removal.
Your dentist will typically administer local anesthesia to numb the area and make an incision in the gum area before gently loosening the tooth from the socket and removing it.
After your tooth is removed, the area will be cleaned and stitches will be placed if required. You'll then recover at home and come in for a followup appointment a week or so after your procedure so your dentist can check that the area is healing properly.