Protecting Your Health
At Shaftsbury Dental Center, we’ll do everything we can to save your tooth before deciding if oral surgery is necessary. If we determine that a surgical procedure is the best option, we’ll ensure that your treatment is comfortable and safe.
Our Shaftsbury dentists feature wisdom teeth extractions, tooth extraction site preservation, and bone grafting. Learn more about our oral surgery options and how we can get your oral health back on track.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are typically removed because the patient’s jaws aren’t large enough to accommodate them. If they don’t grow in properly, they can cause infections, swelling, and other teeth to shift out of proper alignment.
If your wisdom teeth don’t emerge out of the gums correctly, they’ll become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause problems such as overcrowding, infections, or diseased tissue.
Problems With Impacted Wisdom Teeth
You’ll likely need to have your impacted wisdom teeth extracted if they’re causing any of the following problems:
- Pain
- Trapping food and debris behind them
- Infection or gum disease
- Tooth decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth
- Damage to a nearby tooth or surrounding bone
Extraction Site Preservation
After you’ve had a tooth extracted, it’s important to consider what will be done with the empty space. Socket preservation involves treating the bone underneath the extraction site. If nothing is done with this space, the jawbone will begin to deteriorate and change shape as it heals, causing your teeth to shift out of alignment. Over time, this can create problems with your bite and affect your ability to speak and chew.
At Shaftsbury Dental Center, we offer a few options for patients who need to fill an empty space after tooth extraction. Before your extraction, our Shaftsbury doctors will discuss your options and create your customized treatment plan, ensuring that you get the comprehensive care you need. We can fill your extraction site with a dental implant or dental bridge, depending on your preferences and unique situation.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is the replacement or augmentation of missing parts of the jawbone or around the teeth. This is a common procedure that’s used frequently for dental implants and other periodontal procedures. It can include packing the tooth socket with a powdered, granular bone graft material (called a socket graft or ridge preservation) at the time of your tooth extraction.
Post-Op Oral Surgery Care
The first few days or sometimes weeks after your oral surgery are the most crucial for a successful recovery. Our dental team will provide you with post-op instructions to ensure proper healing and avoid any complications. With the right care, our patients often experience a healthy recovery and can return to their normal activities a few days after surgery.
Third Molar (Wisdom Teeth) Extraction
Extracting wisdom teeth is a short surgical procedure that can be completed in one visit to our Rutland dentist. Dr. Carmack will make a small incision in your gums to access and remove your wisdom teeth all while ensuring your experience is as painless as possible. Our dentist will then apply stitches and gauze to promote healing and provide you with post-operative care instructions to help avoid complications.
Ridge Augmentation
For more severe cases of jawbone deterioration, Dr. Carmack may recommend a ridge augmentation. While this process is similar to bone grafting, ridge augmentation aims to reform and reshape your jawbone following a graft. Ridge augmentation procedures can also help recontour bone affected by degradation due to missing teeth.
Full-Arch Extractions and Rehabilitation
Removing teeth affected by decay or infection is important to your overall health. This also allows enough space to place a natural-looking restoration, typically supported by a dental implant. For severe cases of tooth decay or damage, full-arch extractions and rehabilitation can help. These procedures can rebuild your beautiful and functional smile and restore your oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Safe and Comfortable Procedures at Shaftsbury Dental Center
If you’re in need of oral surgery to restore your oral health, Shaftsbury Dental Center will make sure you get the care you need. We feature effective, comfortable, and safe surgical procedures. To schedule an appointment with one of our Shaftsbury dentists, contact us by calling (802)-442-7300 or by filling out our convenient online contact form below.