Dentoalveolar Surgery
Dentoalveolar surgery covers a broad spectrum of minor surgical procedures provided by Dr. Wolfrom. Among these procedures are:
Dental Extractions
Teeth may need to be removed for a number of reasons, usually due to extensive decay or gum disease, which results in painful, abscessed, and/or loose teeth. After a tooth is removed, the surrounding bone of the extraction socket undergoes resorption, which is a loss of bone height and width. This process can be minimized by preserving the socket with a bone graft, and it facilitates replacing the tooth with an implant, bridge or partial denture.
We will provide you with postoperative instructions, extra gauze, and a prescription for pain medication and antibiotics (if indicated) after your treatment is completed. If you prefer to be sedated, a preoperative appointment to review your medical history and to perform a physical examination is needed.
Pre-Prosthetic Surgery
The preparation of your mouth before the placement of a complete or partial denture is referred to as pre-prosthetic surgery. Some patients require minor oral surgical procedures before receiving a partial or complete denture that helps to improve comfort, fit and function. A denture sits on the bone ridge, so it is very important that the bone is the proper shape and size. If a tooth needs to be extracted, the underlying bone could be sharp and uneven. For the best fit of a denture, the bone and tissue might need to be reshaped or removed.
One or more of the following procedures may need to be performed in order to prepare your mouth for a denture:
- Removal of excess bone or tori
- Bone ridge reduction
- Removal of excess gum tissue
- Skin Grafts and Vestibuloplasty
- Frenulum Removal
Frenulum Removal
A frenectomy is the surgical removal of a frenulum, which are thin bands of tissue found under the tongue and underneath the center of the lips.
There are two primary locations in the mouth where a frenum is found which are under the tongue and underneath the center of the lips. In certain cases, this tissue may interfere with speech development in children, cause recession of the gum tissue in adults, interfere with orthodontic closure of teeth, or prevent the proper fabrication of a denture. In the event that the tissue, or frenum, is attached too close to the tip of the tongue or too far down the gums between the front teeth, a frenectomy may be performed.