Oral Surgery and Implants
Oral Surgery and Implants
Extractions
An extraction is the removal of a tooth. There are many reasons why someone may need an extraction the following are just a few of those reasons:
- A severely decayed tooth that is no longer restorable.
- Extreme wearing of the teeth that can be due to severe clenching or grinding of your teeth.
- When someone has periodontal disease they may need an extraction due to severe bone loss making the tooth mobile and no longer restorable.
- Wisdom teeth are one of the most common reasons to have a tooth extracted and common with, but not limited to, young adults 17-25 years of age.
- Orthodontics may also require that you have a tooth or teeth extracted if your orthodontist does not think you have enough room in your mouth for a certain tooth.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is done when someone has severe bone loss due to periodontal disease or an extraction. The two most commonly used types of bone grafting material are human bone or cow bone. Our office uses cow bone in our bone grafting procedures and it comes in a sterile pouch. If bone grafting is not done, it can lead to further shrinkage of the bone. Bone grafting may be used to help grow more bone after an extraction for an implant or for making the area of a missing tooth under a bridge more aesthetically pleasing.
Implants
Implants have been used for decades to replace missing teeth and are very effective. It has been shown that about 95% of implants successfully adapt to the bone and it is very rare for one to fail. An implant is the best way to replace a missing tooth
due to the fact that it is most like your natural tooth and it also last for a very long time. With an implant you are able to floss around the area just like your natural tooth unlike a bridge where you have to use an additional appliance to floss under the bridge known as a floss threader. Also an implant is permanent and in your mouth at all times unlike a denture that you take out at night. It has been shown that when a titanium implant is placed the bone will actually begin to grow around the implant like it would to your natural tooth. There are two main sizes of implants:
- Standard Implants- these are used to replace missing teeth when there is an adequate amount of bone remaining in the area of the missing tooth. Some dentists may choose to place a bone graft to help support the implant if bone structure is missing. Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all your teeth.
- Mini implants- these implants are just like standard implants except they are smaller in diameter. They are more economically affordable and require less bone structure. However, mini implants do have some limitations due to its size.
Implants can also be used to support full dentures. Because of the support provided by implant they are highly retentive, but still removable. Dentures supported by two or four implants (overdentures) cost about 1/3 of the expense of a full mouth reconstruction using crowns and non-removable bridges
supported by implants.
In addition to saving money, removable dentures supported by implants have a high patient satisfaction rate because they are comfortable, functional and cosmetically pleasing to patients.
The doctors at Alpha Dental Care have provided custom solutions for many patients who have lost all their teeth.
If you are looking for a comfortable and cost effective alternative to full mouth reconstruction, please call us or fill out the form below for a consultation.