A Guide to Oral Surgery in Wayne, NJ: What To Expect

One of the major goals of dentistry is to preserve your oral health and save your natural teeth. However, sometimes circumstances demand that you undergo a more intense course of treatment. In these cases, regular tooth extraction or cleaning may not be enough, and you may need to consider oral surgery. This is the point when many people start flop-sweating, as studies have shown tooth extraction and dental surgery are the procedures that cause the most anxiety among patients. For those nervous about oral surgery, Fine Dental Care in Wayne, NJ, is dedicated to making all our patients comfortable through modern techniques and technology, a warm, friendly environment, and a thorough, informative consultation.

The Importance of Oral Surgery

Patients with more advanced oral health issues may require oral surgery. One of the most common examples is extracting impacted wisdom teeth (meaning they haven’t broken through the gums yet) so they don’t push into your other teeth, causing pain and misalignment.

However, oral surgery encompasses more than just saving your teeth. Certain procedures, such as bone grafting, can help preserve your surrounding bone, tissues, and facial appearance. Advanced gum disease treatment may require a surgical procedure. Oral surgery can help in an emergency situation or when other treatment options aren’t enough. It’s not always our first option, but it’s an important tool in our dental toolbelt.

Oral Surgery Procedures

Oral surgery at Fine Dental Care covers many different kinds of procedures for patients in Wayne, NJ. For each procedure, we’ll give you specific instructions for preparing in the days beforehand and for aftercare and recovery.

Tooth Extraction

Teeth may need to be extracted for many reasons, such as damage, decay, and impacted wisdom teeth. If the tooth is mostly intact and easily accessible, we can quickly perform a simple tooth extraction, better known as “pulling a tooth.” However, we must perform a surgical extraction if the tooth is hard to access, already damaged, or still buried under the gums.

We’ll begin the extraction process by applying a local anesthetic. We also offer various sedation options upon request, from nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to oral conscious sedation. Dr. Fine will make a small incision in your gums to access the tooth and use specialized dental tools to detach it from the surrounding tissue and bone. Sometimes, the tooth may need to be broken into smaller pieces to be extracted.

Once the tooth is out, Dr. Fine will clean the area before suturing the incision to promote healing. For wisdom teeth, the only step left is to follow any post-procedure instructions, especially regarding blood clotting. If you had a non-wisdom tooth extracted, now would be the time to consider replacing your tooth or teeth with mini dental implants. They provide a quick, durable, and affordable way to replace your missing teeth, restoring oral functionality and aesthetics.

Bone Graft

Bone grafting is the process of taking bone from your body, a donor, or synthetic material and using it to enhance your jaw’s structural integrity and density. Some reasons you might need a bone graft are damage from an accident, a tumor removal, birth anomalies, or tooth loss. Bone grafting is also a common procedure to prepare for dental implants.

The procedure itself uses anesthesia, so you won’t feel anything. Once you’re comfortable, Dr. Fine will place the grafting material where bone density is deficient. He’ll then secure the site with a membrane to promote healing and integration of the graft to the bone. Recovery time is about 4-6 months, but we can’t place any implants until healing is complete.

Gum Disease Treatment

We can treat gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, with regular dental cleanings. However, periodontal disease, the more advanced stage, requires more intense procedures. When bacteria remain on your teeth and feed on sugars, carbohydrates, and saliva, they become sticky, film-like plaque. If you don’t remove the plaque, it will harden into tartar, and the bacteria will eventually spread underneath your gums, where you can’t brush or floss it away.

Once you reach this advanced stage of periodontitis, you may require a scaling and root planing procedure. Dr. Fine will make an incision along your gumline and move the tissue back and away from your teeth. He’ll then remove the plaque and tartar underneath the gums, clean and smooth your tooth roots to promote reattachment, and suture your gums back into place.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Dr. Fine

At Fine Dental Care, we understand that the thought of oral surgery makes many people nervous. If you require oral surgery in Wayne, whether it’s due to wisdom teeth or other dental issues, we’re here to listen to your concerns, answer any questions, and ease your mind. Dr. Bruce Fine and his experienced team are committed to delivering exceptional care, making your experience as comfortable and efficient as possible. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about our oral surgery options.

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