Your teeth are designed to last a lifetime. However, people are living much longer than they ever have before. That means your teeth are being pushed farther and farther. Sometimes, a tooth can get so damaged as to need removing, or you have a tooth that fell out for any number of reasons. To help with either, Dr. McDonald can perform oral surgery procedure for you.
What Happens When A Tooth Needs To Be Removed?
At our dental office, we always do whatever we can to save a tooth. But there are times when leaving it in just isn’t safe anymore. For example, if a tooth has an infection so severe that the tooth is all but dead, there’s a much greater chance that tooth will crack sooner or later. If a tooth removal is needed, we can do 95 percent of these cases in our Alma, MI dental office. We begin by numbing the area with a local anesthetic. Sedation dentistry is also an option at this point, if necessary. Then we carefully loosen the tooth using a special tool before finally removing it.
Dr. McDonald on Teeth Extractions
Will My Wisdom Teeth Need Removing?
Your third molars are called “wisdom teeth” because they come in when you are an adult (and supposedly wise). Unfortunately, this means there are usually problems. Some try to come in under your second molars, while others never fully come in and get impacted. Because of the risks for tooth decay and gum disease associated with these, most wisdom teeth have to be removed.
How Do Implants Help My Smile?
If you had a tooth removed, or if one came out because of gum disease or an accident, you really need to get it replaced. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to have problems with that space in your smile. Bone will deteriorate underneath. Nearby teeth can shift without the tooth as a placeholder. Food can more easily collect there, increasing your chances of gum disease and tooth decay on nearby teeth. A dental implant mimics the natural tooth by placing a dental crown atop a titanium root implanted in your jawbone. This keeps your jawbone healthy while providing a strong, long-lasting solution to the missing tooth.
What If My Jawbone Is Thin Or Weak?
Dental implants are surgically implanted in your jaw. That means the bone tissue there must be healthy and thick enough to safely take the implanted root. In cases where the jawbone isn’t strong enough, there are two options:
- Use a mini dental implant: These are dental implants with a much smaller titanium root, so they can get implanted where regular ones cannot.
- Get a bone graft: Dr. McDonald can add healthy bone tissue to the site, and once healed, it should be thick and strong enough for the implant.
With our oral surgery procedures, you can get rid of failed teeth and replace them with healthy options. Call us today at (989)-773-2133 or fill out our online form if you have any questions.