Oral Surgery

Tooth Extraction

Your dentist may use oral surgery to repair a tooth damaged by decay or injury. He will take all possible measures to try to save the tooth, because losing it will have a major effect on your looks and dental health.

Some of the reasons why a tooth may have to be removed are: Orthodontic correction, infection or abscess, severe decay, fractured teeth or roots, impacted teeth, malpositioned teeth or advanced periodontal disease.

Wisdom Teeth

Third molars (or wisdom teeth) are the last to appear in the mouth. By the time a wisdom tooth appears all the space is usually taken up. When there is not enough space in the jaw for the wisdom tooth, it may be unable to emerge or become misaligned. It is then called an "impacted" wisdom tooth.

Oral surgery or extraction may be needed if:

• The mouth is too small for the wisdom tooth to grow
• A wisdom tooth appears only partially
• A misaligned wisdom tooth is likely to damage adjacent teeth
• A fluid-filled sac or cyst forms, damaging the surrounding bone and roots - when this happens the flap of gum tissue covering the emerging wisdom tooth may create a pocket in which bacteria grow, leading to infection and swelling, known as pericoronitis.

Dry Socket

After extraction a clot forms; this is necessary for proper healing of the wound. If the clot is disturbed, it may lead to bleeding and a painful condition known as dry socket, the most common tooth extraction complication. The loss of the blood clot exposes the bone to air, food and water, leading to pain and an offensive odor. This may happen two days after extraction and last for about five days.

Care after Tooth Extraction

After oral surgery or tooth extractions, do not disturb the wound. Do not brush your teeth for at least 8 hours. Do not smoke for 12 hours. Do not spit or drink through a straw, and avoid rinsing for 24 hours. Keep a gauze pad pressed to the wound. If the bleeding continues, pressing a tea bag on the wound may help.

Take analgesic tablets for pain relief and apply an ice pack to reduce the swelling. A diet of soft, cold food like ice cream or yogurt may be suitable for the first day.

For a complimentary examination appointment to see if you have any conditions that might require oral surgery, please contact us online or call 650-965-1234.

We'll answer any questions you may have, and give you a free written estimate regarding costs and insurance benefits before you leave.

Call us today!

Dr. Burch