Oral Surgery Procedures
Our dentists provide a variety of oral surgery procedures to help improve our Ladner patients' oral health.
Why might oral surgery be part of my treatment plan?
When bone or gum tissues are deficient or diseased, in most cases we can replace these tissues and enhance both the function and aesthetics of your smile. There are many oral surgery methods available to put back what has been lost: synthetic graft materials, bone and skin from tissue banks or borrowed tissue from elsewhere in the mouth.
When diseased excess tissues need to be removed, we can use our diode surgical laser to perform various soft tissue procedures with a limited need for anesthetic and no need for stitches.
Tooth Extractions
A tooth extraction is a procedure by which a tooth is removed from the jaw. Your dentist will only perform an extraction if less invasive alternatives will not be effective.
A tooth extraction may be the best choice in cases where the presence of the tooth in question is causing crowding in the mouth, as wisdom teeth often do. It may also be performed in preparation for orthodontic treatment, if the tooth has not erupted in the correct position or is stuck under the gum line, or if there is an infection or risk of infection.
Dental Implants
Dental Implants are titanium artificial tooth roots that are implanted in the jaw. When capped with a dental crown, they look, function and feel just like natural teeth.
While bridges may have to be replaced 2-3 times in one's lifetime, dental implants can last for life, thus saving money and time in the long run. For patients with ill-fitting dentures, dental implants can be placed to anchor the denture and prevent it from moving and/or causing discomfort.
Other Oral Surgery Options:
- Exposure of un-erupted teeth
- exposure of impacted teeth
- Periodontal (gum) therapeutic surgery
- Periodontal plastic surgery
- Removal of cysts
- Removal of tumors and abscesses
- Removal of excess soft tissue including frenectomies
- Diagnostic biopsies
- Soft tissue grafting
- Bone grafting
- Surgical crown lengthening
Root Canals & Endodontics
When the soft tissue or "pulp" at the centre of a tooth becomes infected, a root canal is performed to save the tooth. It's always preferable to keep the original tooth rather than extracting it, because this can lead to other dental problems, such as the rest of the teeth drifting out of position. Root canal therapy is the process of removing the infected, injured or dead portion of pulp and replacing it with inert material.
When specialized care is required, we refer patients to the Endodontic Specialists DMD Endodontics & Microsurgery in Langley and Surrey for root canal therapy and advanced endodontic treatment.