Simple Extractions

The extraction (removal) of a tooth may be called for for many reasons. Most often a patient will need a tooth out because they have a toothache (and have opted not to save the tooth with root canal treatment) or have broken the tooth beyond repair. Sometimes extractions are necessary because room needs to be made for other teeth due to crowding (perhaps for future orthodontics). Whatever the reason, we make our patients as comfortable as possible.

Surgical Extractions

The surgical extraction (removal) of a tooth may be called for for many reasons. One reason for a patient needing a surgical extraction is because of an impacted tooth. An impacted tooth, most often a wisdom tooth, is a tooth which is unable to erupt naturally due to its abnormal position below the soft tissue (gums). Another reason for needing a tooth surgically extracted is because either decay or a fracture has caused a lack of solid tooth structure to grasp. To gain access to the tooth that needs to be removed, we will often have to make an incision in the tissue or even section the tooth into pieces so that we can remove the tooth without difficulty. Often, sutures are necessary to promote quicker healing at the extraction site. Whatever the reason the tooth needs to be removed, we make our patients as comfortable as possible.

Frenectomy

All patients have frenums. A frenum is the muscle fiber (cord) that stretches from and attaches the cheek, lips and or tongue to the gums. One example of a frenum is the cord that stretches from the center of the inside of the lip to the gums between the two front teeth. If the frenum is attached in the wrong place, too much tension is put on the gum tissue, which can then create a space between the teeth. By performing a frenectomy, a portion of the frenum would be removed, thereby relieving the tension, often allowing the teeth to reposition themselves so they touch normally.