EXTRACTIONS

ooth Extractions: 

Sometimes a tooth cannot be saved with a root canal, crown, or filling. When the tooth is significantly infected or cracked, it is better to remove the tooth. Often wisdom teeth need to be extracted if they are impacted and damage surrounding teeth.  

What is an extraction?

It is a procedure that involves removing the tooth and sometimes its surrounding infection from the jawbone. The procedure is done under local anesthesia so the patient is numb.

Benefits of Bone Grafting/Socket Preservation:
What is bone grafting?
It is a technique to rebuild missing bone. It may help to prevent bone loss or to create new bone. Removing teeth, dental infections, trauma, and periodontal disease often compromise the strength and quantity of the bone, causing it to degrade and break down. For example, after extracting a tooth, the surrounding bone often atrophies and gets reabsorbed (shrinks). Bone grafting may help to counteract this natural process and adds volume to the jaw where bone loss occurs.

Are bone grafts painful?
During the procedure, the patient gets local anesthetics to numb the area. After the procedure, there may be slight swelling and discomfort for a few days, but this is easily treated with over the counter pain medications. While it generally takes 3-6 months for the bone graft to integrate with patient's surrounding bone, the patient will not feel anything/notice the graft after the initial healing.

Benefits of Bone Grafts
Repair/rebuild bone-This helps to restore the jaw structure to its original and healthy form.
Supports teeth and gums- Sound bone is the main structure that holds the soft tissues (such as lips and gums) and teeth in place. Bone grafting may strengthen and rebuild bone surrounding teeth adjacent to where a tooth extraction occurred, therefore helping to prevent the teeth from becoming mobile. Implants/Dentures-If you plan on replacing a missing tooth, it is imperative to have sufficient bone. Bone graft material may allow for ample bone for implants.