Extractions, wisdom teeth & implants in Johns Creek
We'd always rather save a tooth than remove one. When a tooth can't be saved, or a wisdom tooth is better out than in, here's what removal and replacement involve.
When does a tooth have to come out?
When there's not enough left to rebuild: a fracture below the gumline, decay that has destroyed too much of the tooth, or gum disease that has taken the bone holding it. Before recommending an extraction, we look at whether a root canal, a crown or gum treatment could save it.
Many extractions are done here in our office with local anesthesia. You feel pressure but not pain, and you go home with instructions for the first few days. Tell us about any medications and medical conditions beforehand; a few change how we plan.
Not sure whether a tooth can be saved? Text us to set up an exam.
Text usDo my wisdom teeth need to come out?
Not always. If they come in straight, with room, and you can keep them clean, they can stay.
Most jaws don't have room, though. A wisdom tooth stuck against the tooth in front of it or inside the bone is hard to clean and tends to cause:
- Infection in the gum over a partly erupted tooth, which can be very painful
- Decay or gum disease in the molar next to it
- Pressure and pain as it tries to come in
- Less commonly, cysts in the bone around the tooth
How we check and remove wisdom teeth
We check wisdom teeth on a panoramic X-ray, usually in the mid-teens, to see where they are and which way they're heading. Taking them out earlier, before the roots are fully formed, generally means an easier procedure and a quicker recovery. We'll tell you plainly whether yours look like a problem.
A tooth that's through the gum comes out like any other extraction under local anesthesia. One buried in bone needs a small incision and sometimes sectioning the tooth. At the consultation we go over what your case involves, your options for staying comfortable and where the procedure is best done.
What's a dental implant?
An implant is a replacement root. A titanium post is placed in the jawbone, the bone heals around it over a few months, and then a crown is attached. It looks and works like a tooth and doesn't depend on the neighboring teeth the way a bridge does. Implants are often recommended for:
- A single missing tooth, without grinding down the teeth on either side for a bridge
- Several missing teeth, as separate implants or as supports for a bridge
- Loose dentures: two or more implants can anchor a denture so it stays put
- Bite problems and jaw strain from teeth drifting into an empty space
How the implant process works
The process takes several months, mostly waiting for bone to heal. First, X-rays and impressions to check the bone, gums and spacing. Then the implant is placed while the area is numb. Some implants have the post built in; others need a short second procedure after healing. Once the implant is solid, the crown is made and fitted over one or two visits.
Implants last many years, though the crown on top can wear and need attention like any restoration.
Why would I need a bone graft?
An implant needs enough bone to hold onto. Bone shrinks after a tooth is removed, and gum disease, infections and injuries take bone too. If there isn't enough at the implant site, we rebuild it first.
More about bone grafts
A graft adds bone to the area, from your own jaw, a donor bank or a processed substitute, and your bone grows into it over a few months. Sometimes a membrane keeps the gum tissue out while the bone fills in. A graft placed at the time of an extraction keeps the socket from collapsing, which makes a later implant simpler.
Planning starts with a panoramic X-ray, and occasionally a CT scan. Any active gum disease nearby is treated before grafting.
What happens after surgery?
Some swelling and soreness for a few days is normal. We'll give you instructions for the first week: what to eat, how to keep the area clean, when to use ice and what to avoid. If something doesn't seem right, call. We'd rather hear from you than have you wait it out.
Related care
Questions about an extraction or implant?
Text or call. We'll check your benefits before you commit to anything. We're at 9700 Medlock Bridge Road, Suite 108, next to Starbucks, across from the Regal theater.