Oral Surgery in Calgary

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Our wisdom teeth are located at the very back of our mouths and are the third and final set of molars to erupt, typically during our late teens or early twenties. Though some individuals have enough room in their mouths to allow their wisdom teeth to grow naturally for many patients wisdom teeth can cause problems. Some wisdom teeth are not able to protrude through the gums when they erupt, causing them to become fully or partially impacted.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause severe structural damage to your jaw and other teeth, and partially impacted wisdom teeth, which are partially covered by gum tissue and incredibly difficult to clean, can become a breeding ground for bacteria. In both cases, the wisdom tooth will need to be removed.

Routine x-rays, which are typically performed during a dental exam, can show your dental team where your wisdom teeth are and help them decide what treatment is required. By performing wisdom teeth extractions and other oral surgery procedures, Riverwalk Dental can offer you a comprehensive suite of dental services to meet your needs.

If your dental team determines that your wisdom teeth need to be removed, they will discuss your treatment options and schedule you in for surgery. They will also discuss what to expect before and after your surgery, and how you can properly care for your teeth and gums afterward.

Extractions

When a tooth becomes broken or damaged due to injury or decay repairing the tooth isn’t always possible. If that is the case, then the tooth will need to be removed. However, there are a variety of other reasons besides damage and decay that may warrant a tooth extraction. These include:

• Extra teeth are preventing other teeth from properly erupting.
• Orthodontic treatments, such as braces that require extracting a tooth to make enough room for the other teeth being moved into place.
• Some medications weaken the immune system, making us more susceptible to infections. If a tooth becomes infected, it may need to be removed.
• Patients that require radiation treatments to their neck and heads may need to have teeth in the field of radiation extracted.

Individuals undergoing an organ transplant may need to have a tooth extracted if there is a chance that the tooth may become infected after the transplant. Individuals who have undergone an organ transplant have a high risk of developing an infection because they must take medication to suppress or decrease their immune responses to prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplanted organ.

Extraction Site Preservation

When a tooth is removed, you and your dental team will need to decide what to do with the space left over. If the tooth you had removed is not a wisdom tooth, then the tooth will need to be replaced to ensure that problems such as bite issues and periodontal issues do not occur. Tooth extraction can also impact your ability to speak and chew.

There are several options for replacing your extracted tooth. These include dental implants, a fixed bridge, or a removable partial denture. Your dentist will examine your mouth and recommend the best course of action.

Bone Grafting

Bone grafting, where a piece of bone is taken from one part of the body and grafted onto a different site, can be used to accommodate dental implants or other restorative dental devices. Bone grafting is also used during some periodontal procedures.

Orthognathic Surgery

Orthognathic surgery is used in conjunction with a variety of orthodontic treatments to ensure that the mouth possesses the necessary structure orthodontic treatments required to succeed. Orthognathic surgery is typically performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a craniofacial surgeon with an orthodontist assisting.

Orthognathic surgery is typically performed on the jawbones and includes modifying the bones of the mandible or maxilla before properly re-aligning them. Incisions are typically made inside the mouth, not on the skin, and once the surgery is complete, the teeth must be wired shut so that the jaw can heal correctly.

Facial Trauma

Facial trauma can require surgery to repair the damage and ensure that your mouth and jaw heal properly. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specially trained to perform a variety of surgical procedures on the face.

Surgical procedures for facial trauma can be performed at a local hospital or outpatient surgical centres like Riverwalk Dental. Facial traumas include lacerations (cuts), fractured or broken bones, or tooth loss.

Oral Pathology

Oral pathology is a specialized field of dentistry that is used to identify and treat diseases of the mouth and maxillofacial region. Diagnosing these diseases is done using a variety of radiographic, microscopic, and biochemical tests in addition to other in-office exams.

Oral pathologists also provide biopsy services for dentists and can offer a diagnosis based on their findings.

Oral surgery can be intimidating for some patients, causing stress and emotional discomfort. The team at Riverwalk Dental is here to address your concerns and answer your questions. For more information about the oral surgical procedures we perform here, or to request an appointment, please contact us today.