Oral Surgery and Implants

EXTRACTION

A normal extraction is the removal of a tooth which is still visible above gum level. We start by numbing the tooth and gum and then carefully loosen the tooth and remove the entire tooth by making use of a dental forceps or a dental elevator.

SURGICAL EXTRACTION

A surgical removal is a bit more complex and is used when the tooth is not visible above gum level (broken at the gum line) . A incision in the gum is sometimes made to get better access to the tooth which is then surgically removed.

WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL

This is the process by which the wisdom teeth are surgically removed. During the procedure your dentist/surgeon will make an incision in the gum (and remove any overlying bone) to get access to the teeth. These teeth will either be sectioned or removed in whole.

WHAT IS AN IMPLANT

A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically positioned into the jawbone to replace the “root” of the missing tooth. After healing (integration in the bone) the implant will be restored with a crown, bridge or denture.

The advantage of implants is that they give the option of being restored individually and doesn’t need to be anchored to other teeth like bridges or dentures.

What are the other advantages of an implant?

Resemble natural teeth and is fixed: Implants function like natural teeth. They are strong and stable and can blend in with your natural teeth. They feel and act as your natural teeth would and are completely fixed compared to dentures that can slip and slide out.
They offer a better long-term solution: Replacing missing teeth with dentures or a bridge is not always ideal long term. Bridges make use of anchor teeth which means natural teeth need to be cut to act as anchors. Should any of these anchor teeth fail it would deem the bridge unusable. Dentures also make use of natural teeth to clip onto and is not completely stable as they can slip out or become loose over time. Implants have a longer shelf life if maintained and have the potential to last longer.

Am I a candidate for an implant?

If you have a missing tooth/teeth implants can be an option. We do an assessment and take x-rays to confirm if there is adequate space. Next, we will refer you to one of our specialists.

Referral to a specialist.

We work in close association with two specialists to whom we will refer you if it is found that you are a possible candidate for an implant. They will do thorough examination of the area as well as to take a Computed Tomography (CT) scan. This will help them to identify areas of bone loss and carefully see the shape of your sinuses and nerve location to make accurate assessments for your treatment. A quote will be done based on these results and discussed before commencement of treatment.