Dentoalveolar Surgery

Dentoalveolar surgery is the surgical treatment of disorders of the teeth and their supporting hard and soft tissues. It involves the removal of broken down or diseased teeth and roots. It also involves the removal of underlying pathology within the jaw bones.

Surgical removal of teeth (extraction) – seriously decayed, infected or broken teeth may require referral to a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery for removal. Patients may also require referral because their medical history can make tooth removal by a dentist more complicated, eg anticoagulation or previous treatment with bisphosphonates – drugs for osteoporosis/ breast cancer.

Removal of impacted or ectopic teeth – teeth which have developed out of their normal position or lie at an unusual angle in the jaw can be considered impacted and/or ectopic. Removal of these teeth is often not straightforward. Wisdom teeth and canine teeth are the most commonly impacted/ectopic teeth requiring surgical removal.

Removal of developmental abnormalities of the teeth and jaws ─ these conditions include the development of extra (supernumerary) teeth and malformed teeth. Jaw bone abnormalities can include areas of additional bone formation (bony exostoses or tori) and abnormalities in bone development.

Removal of benign cysts of the jaw – a cyst is a pathological cavity within the jaws. There are several different types of jaw cysts. Treatment is usually surgical but is dependent on the actual type, site and size of cyst.

Removal of benign tumours – this involves the surgical management of non-malignant tumours of the jaws and soft tissues.

Pre-orthodontic surgery – in addition to the removal of impacted or ectopic teeth, which can interfere with the alignment of teeth when braces are used, ectopic or buried teeth can be uncovered by removing the overlying bone and gum tissue. The tooth can then be brought into a normal position using an orthodontic appliance e.g gold chain or bracket. This is a common procedure for canine teeth in the upper jaw.

Apicectomy - This is a procedure performed on teeth that have developed an area of infection or small inflammatory cyst around the tooth and its root. Most of these affected teeth have previously had a root canal done by the dentist. If left untreated, the area of infection can grow causing an abscess, facial swelling, bone loss and possibly loosening of the tooth.

During an apicectomy, the infective tissue is thoroughly cleaned from around the tooth and the last 2-3mm of the root tip are removed and smoothened. A filling is placed to seal off the root tip. Although this procedure is extremely effective, the signs and symptoms can return and in a small number of cases the tooth may need to be removed. The space created can be filled by a dental implant if there is sufficient bone available.

To schedule an appointment or for further information please contact us or call 07 5527 8858.