Oral Surgery in Whatcom County
Dental implants, gum grafts, bone grafts, and tooth extractions including wisdom teeth removal.
Extractions
If a tooth has been badly damaged due to breakage, decay, infection or gum disease, it may need to be extracted. The area is thoroughly numbed and the tooth is removed either whole or in parts. Sutures are sometimes placed to help the area heal more quickly.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a safe and reliable way to replace missing teeth. A small titanium implants posts are placed in the bone where the missing tooth roots were. After some time for healing, a new tooth, multiple teeth or even dentures can be placed on the implants.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth, or 3rd molars, usually develop in the mid to late teens. Unfortunately, most people do not have room in their jaw for them to fully erupt. The result is often, painful, infected, impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth. It is best to remove these when they are in a position where they come out easiest and heal the fastest.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is usually used to create a proper place for dental implants. When a tooth is lost, the gums and bone around the extraction socket shrinks as it heals. This may leave inadequate bone for an implant. Bone grafting techniques can be used to grow new bone so an implant can be placed.
Gum Grafting
Gum recession can occur around teeth due to gum disease, aggressive brushing, clenching and grinding, decay and even genetics. Many of these areas can be repaired with gum grafting techniques. Healthy tissue is removed from a donor site such as the palate, and then sutured in the recession area. The tissue grows back in both areas.