Sometimes when you visit the dentist for a routine exam, we might find out you need something else done to your teeth. Some dentists will then refer you to an oral surgeon to have the procedure done.
It’s not unusual for a general dentist to send you to another doctor to have, for example, your wisdom teeth pulled. In a day of “one-stop-shopping,” that’s kind of frustrating, isn’t it?
At Aberdeen Smiles in Aberdeen, SD, our experienced dentists can diagnose a problem and do the procedure themselves. Both Dr. Valerie Drake are eminently qualified to diagnose your problem and to fix it, even if surgery is required.
Aberdeen Smiles is dedicated to helping our patients solve their dental issues with as little stress as possible. That’s why we offer all of our oral surgery procedures under one roof.
If, as we said, we find an issue with your teeth that needs to be corrected surgically, we’ll let you know. Then we’ll do the surgery ourselves. Here are the surgical procedures that we perform in our office:
Tooth Extraction
You may need a tooth removed for many reasons, including:
- Severe tooth decay. You might have a tooth that is too decayed to be saved with a filling,crown, or root canal.
- A broken tooth. If a tooth is severely broken, nerve endings could be exposed. We might suggest an extraction to keep you from feeling severe pain.
- A crowded mouth. One of the goals of orthodontia is to align the teeth. That may not be possible if you’re teeth are too crowded. When your mouth is too crowded, there’s just no room for adjustment. In that case, we would need to extract a tooth in order to make room.
- A tooth that won’t come through. Sometimes a tooth won’t be able to break through the gums because there’s no room in your mouth for it. In that case, we might recommend pulling it.
- Infection or risk of infection. Bacteria in the mouth can enter the pulp (the center of the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels) and lead to infection. If that condition can’t be treated with root canal therapy and antibiotics don’t work, we might recommend extraction.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Your wisdom teeth are the third set of molars in the back of your mouth. They are the last teeth to come into your mouth and they usually come in when you’re between 17 and 25 years old. There are a few reasons why we might recommend removing your wisdom teeth:
- They’re impacted. Because they’re the last teeth to come in and because they’re so far back in your mouth, sometimes wisdom teeth don’t come in normally. Sometimes they will be impacted, which means they’re trapped in your jawbone or gums. Impacted wisdom teeth are common and can be very painful.
- They come in at the wrong angle. When your wisdom teeth come in at an angle, they can press uncomfortably on your other teeth.
- Your mouth isn’t big enough. When your jaw doesn’t have the room for an extra set of molars, it can crowd your other teeth.
Your wisdom teeth may have cavities or decay. Wisdom teeth are way back there and are sometimes hard to reach with a toothbrush. Dental floss can be particularly challenging because it’s hard to get the floss that far back in your mouth. This means that plaque and bacteria can easily form there, which could lead to gum disease.
Bone Graft Surgery
A bone graft is a surgical procedure that’s done to fix problems with the bones in your jaw. Bone grafting is needed if your jawbone isn’t thick enough to accommodate dental implants. A bone graft can create a solid base for the implant.
This surgery will involve building up your bone mass by grafting new bone tissue or bone-like tissue to the area. This promotes new bone growth and will help you get that full, beautiful smile you want.
Dentists You Can Trust
You will be in good hands at Aberdeen Smiles.
Dr. Valerie Drake holds a Fellowship from both the Academy of General Dentistry and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, as well as a Mastership from the same organization.
Call Aberdeen Smiles today at 605-277-9049 or use our convenient online form to make an appointment. You don’t have to live with unnecessary pain!