Extractions Including Wisdom Teeth

Some General Dentists extract (remove) teeth, but Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are trained for 4 or more years after dental school to do this and much more complex surgical procedures. The goal is to remove the teeth as gently as possible and with the least amount of stress on the patient.

Ithaca Oral Surgery and Implant Center, our goal is also to restore the socket where the tooth was, or, if the patient does not have grafting or does not need grafting, to preserve as much bone as possible. In many situations, we use ultrasound or Piezosurgery to gently make space around the tooth to make the extraction less traumatic. Piezosurgery, similar to the ultrasound hygienists use to clean teeth, actually cuts bone by sound waves. We perform other surgeries with this as well.

Some teeth are completely showing in the mouth, or fully erupted. Others, are impacted, or covered by gum tissue or bone. In some cases, they are completely or mostly covered by bone. It is highly recommended to consult with an Oral Surgeon for most extractions. We will first see you on consultation and explain the risks and benefits of any surgery, as well as gather your medical and dental history. This is important for your surgery and you should try to be as thorough as possible in providing this information.

It is important to know that unlike a common cold that may resolve, decayed or infected teeth will generally cause increasing dental and medical problems if untreated. In some cases, by waiting too long, you may also lose valuable jawbone associated with the teeth if you do not have surgery in a timely fashion.

Our goal, as above, is to preserve as much bone so that it can be used to accommodate an implant, a denture or a bridge in the future. We frequently see patients that have had extractions in the past and have lost a great deal of bone without grafting.

As with any surgery, Dr. Noren will explain the risks and benefits of each surgical procedure so that you can understand your options. Feel free to call us anytime with questions.

If you are on osteoporosis medications or ever have been, you should definitely let us know so that we can inform you of any risks related to those medication