Oral Surgery

Our Specialist Oral Surgeon

Dental Implants

What does this treatment involve?
Implants can either be used to replace missing teeth or to support fixed bridges or dentures. You should discuss this treatment with your Dentist to see whether it is right for you. Your Dentist may carry out this treatment or they may refer you to a specialist. If you and your Dentist decide that you should have this treatment, here are the following stages of treatment that you will have to go through:

• The implant will be placed into your jaw bone, whilst you are under a local or general anaesthetic.
• The implant is then screwed or pushed into the gum. It is then stitched up, so that the gum heals over the implant.
• Over a period of several months, the bone underneath the gum will grow around the implant to hold it firmly in place.
• When the post is secure, the second section of the treatment will involve adding an extension. Attaching the extension, will require a small cut in the gum above the implant.
• The implant may be fixed permanently and in such cases, there is sometimes a gap below the tooth, so that the implant can be kept clean. Alternatively, it may be attached in a certain way that will allow you to remove and clean it.
• Implants are a good option for improving the appearance of your mouth, as they replace missing teeth and it will not be evident that you have implants in your mouth. However, they are not suitable for everyone.

Extractions

What is an extraction?
When your Dentist refers to the term extraction, it simply means to take a tooth of your mouth. This may be necessary if a tooth is very decayed, damaged or has become loose due to gum disease. Sometimes children's teeth are taken out to give new or remaining teeth enough room to grow.

What does this treatment involve?

• Your Dentist will have to decide the best way to take the tooth out, as some teeth are relatively more difficult to take out, depending on their size, shape, its position within the mouth or the shape of their roots.
• Your Dentist might also discuss other treatment you need. You may need an immediate replacement denture or if you already wear a denture, it can be made with a new tooth at the same visit.
• There is no need for concern, as you will feel no pain whilst the tooth is being extracted. Although, you may feel some pressure as the tooth is eased out.
• After the extraction your Dentist will give you a pad to bite on in order to stop the bleeding. Your dentist will also give you advice on how to look after your mouth, so that it heals properly and does not get infected.

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

What are they?
Wisdom teeth appear at the back of the mouth, generally from the late teens onwards. Most people have four wisdom teeth, but it is not unusual to have fewer or even none. As they are the last teeth to form, there sometimes isn't room for them. This can cause them to come through at an angle, pressing against the teeth in front or the bone behind. If you think that you have a problem, you should tell your Dentist.

What will my Dentist do?

• Your Dentist can use x-rays to indicate where the wisdom teeth are in the jaw and how much room there is for them to come through. They can also show how simple or difficult it may be to take a wisdom tooth out. Your Dentist might refer you to a specialist to have your wisdom teeth removed. 
  
• When wisdom teeth come through, the surrounding gum becomes inflamed and sore, which is called 'pericoronitis'. It is usually better to remove a wisdom tooth after you have had pericoronitis, as they often continue to cause trouble. 
  
• Sometimes it is necessary to remove all wisdom teeth in hospital under general anaesthetic. If so, you may need to take two or three days off work. 

What are the benefits of removing wisdom teeth?

• Pericoronitis can reoccur and continue to cause problems. Therefore, having your wisdom teeth removed will prevent pain and infection. 
  
• Also, when there is restricted room for the wisdom tooth to grow in, it can press against the teeth in front. Therefore, removing wisdom teeth can stop any damage to the teeth in front.

Post Extraction Advice

It is important to look after your mouth after you have had a tooth taken out, so that you can speed up the healing process and prevent infection. Here is some general advice for looking after yourself.

• After an extraction a clot will form in the hole left by the tooth. It is important not to disturb the clot, as it may cause the socket to start bleeding again. Therefore, for the first 24 hours, you should avoid exercise for the rest of the day. Also, do not smoke, drink alcohol or eat hot food.
  
• Six hours after the extraction, add half a teaspoonful of salt to a glass of warm water and gently rinse your mouth. This will keep the socket clean and prevent infection. This process should be repeated after meals and before bed for up to a week.
  
• To keep your mouth clean, you should continue with your normal daily routine of brushing your teeth with toothpaste.
  
• After an extraction it is quite common for small pieces of bone to work their way out of the socket and for there to be some swelling or discomfort.
  
• If the bleeding does not stop you can either use clean cotton handkerchiefs or some gauze, which your Dentist may supply you with.
  
• Roll some small firm pads into a size that will fit over the socket.
  
• Remain sitting up and use the gauze or handkerchief to clean away any blood around the socket.
  
• You should then place a pad across the socket and bite down on it for 10 to 15 minutes. If it has not stopped bleeding you should apply another pad.
  
• If the bleeding has not stopped within two hours, you should contact your Dentist.

Apicectomy

What is an Apicectomy?
If you have a painful infection (an abscess) at the end of a tooth root, your dentist may recommend an 'Apicectomy' in order to clean the infected area to save the tooth. It will also usually be carried out on a tooth which has already been root-filled.

What will this treatment involve?

• Your dentist will usually perform this treatment under a local anaesthetic to numb the area around the infected tooth, so that the procedure is painless
• Your dentist will then cut a small flap of gum to one side to uncover the infected area, so that the infection can be cleaned out.
• A small filling will be applied to the end of the root canal to prevent further infection and then the gum will be stitched back in place.
• After the treatment your will need to keep the area clean. For the first day, you should use half a teaspoon of salt in a glass with warm water to rinse your mouth. It is recommended that you do this several times a day, especially after meals.

What are the benefits of an Apicectomy?
Although there may be some initial discomfort afterwards caused by swelling and bruising, it usually only takes about a week for an Apicectomy to heal. It will also stop the pain caused by the infected area and save a tooth, which would otherwise have to be taken out.

Sedation

Currently we provide sedation for extractions with our Specialist Oral Surgeon for an additional cost of £100. For nervous or anxious patients, sedation is a safe and effective solution.

Please ensure you bring somebody with you and eat a light meal a few hours before treatment.

For more information contact the Practice