Reasons for Extractions

Tooth extractions are a common procedure and usually go quickly and comfortably. But removing a tooth is not recommended lightly. At Enid Dental Care, now under the operation of Dr. Stephanie Herbst, we believe that patients should be fully informed about their health options, which is why we want them to know what kinds of issues would lead to an extraction.

In most cases, extractions are done in response to dental overcrowding. Modern peoples’ jaws do not usually grow large enough to accommodate the wisdom teeth (the backmost set of molars). As a result, the wisdom teeth commonly get stuck while erupting or force other teeth out of the way, ruining their alignment. Other teeth can be impacted, too, and although they wouldn’t usually be extracted, baby teeth might be removed if they don’t fall out and premolars are sometimes removed prior to orthodontic treatment.

There are a number of ways to save teeth that have been infected or injured, but sometimes they or the surrounding gum tissue are so compromised they need to be removed. This could happen if a tooth is cracked at the root. An implant that has become loose also needs to be removed, so patients with artificial teeth need to be especially vigilant about brushing.

Dr. Stephanie Herbst operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Patients at Dr. Dennis Morehart’s practice benefit from the experience and expertise of a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry. That means that Dr. Morehart is knowledgeable about oral surgery and the complications that can arise. To set patients’ minds at ease, we want to explain more about something they may have heard of: osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

The death of exposed jaw bone tissue is extremely rare but there is a small chance of it happening in people who are on bisphosphonate medications. These medications are used to prevent bone resorption. They are often taken in pill form for osteoporosis and through an IV to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy on people with cancer.  Cases of ONJ typically result from the much stronger IV doses.

In the absence of extreme periodontal disease or other infection, the only way jaw bone tissue would be exposed is as the result of a tooth extraction. For this reason, it is wise for patients to get dental work done before starting cancer treatments and to make sure all their medical care providers are fully informed of what the others are doing. But if ONJ does set in, it can be treated with antibiotic rinses.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Tooth Sectioning

Recently, we described some of the reasons why a person might need to have a wisdom tooth removed. At Enid Dental Care, we always carry out extractions with maximal effort to keep the patient safe and as comfortable as possible. For that reason, wisdom teeth sometimes need to be cut into sections while being extracted.

The wisdom teeth are large and often unable to erupt fully. They can be trapped partially or completely beneath the gum line, in which case incisions will need to be made through which they can be removed. However, the wisdom teeth are also anchored by strong ligaments and have thick roots. Attempting to pull or elevate them out all at once may be impossible or require a great deal of force, which could hurt the patient or break the tooth accidentally. To avoid this problem, after the patient has been numbed, the tooth will be cut using a dental drill. The extraction site is bathed continuously with water to prevent heat damage and the smaller sections of the tooth can be removed with less force and through smaller openings.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.