Oral Surgery
Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction refers to the removal of a tooth using specially designed dental forceps and levers under local anesthesia. This procedure is one of the most common surgical measures in the head area. In most cases, erupted teeth can be removed using levers and forceps without requiring surgical intervention. However, for severely damaged teeth or brittle tooth roots, it is often necessary to open the gum to expose the root.
- Cavities have advanced to the point where the tooth can no longer be preserved.
- The tooth has become loose due to a periodontal disease (periodontitis).
- An inflammation of the tooth nerve has reached the jawbone and does not heal.
- A large jaw cyst has formed at the root tip.
- The tooth is broken in an unfavorable way and is no longer stable.
- Before radiation therapy for cancer, the teeth must be treated.
- When there is insufficient space in the jaw, removing a tooth creates room for the remaining teeth.
Before a tooth extraction, an X-ray should always be taken to accurately assess the local conditions. However, the procedure should be postponed in the following situations:
- Shortly after a heart attack.
- During ongoing chemo- or radiation therapy.
- With severely impaired blood clotting, such as due to heavy blood thinning (INR test).
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Removing wisdom teeth is one of the most frequent surgical procedures in dentistry. If wisdom teeth have already erupted, they can usually be extracted without complications, without requiring surgery. However, waiting too long can be risky, as there is often insufficient space in the jaw. This can cause the wisdom teeth to displace the rest of the teeth or become impacted in the jawbone.
Removing wisdom teeth can be challenging because these teeth often have angled roots and are difficult to access in the back of the mouth.
In some cases, it is necessary for the dentist to cut through parts of the bone or remove a piece of bone (osteotomy). This is required for teeth lying in the jaw or for removing remaining tooth roots.
- Lack of space in the jaw.
- Impairments or damage to neighboring teeth.
- Inflammation of the bone and mucosa in the area surrounding the affected wisdom tooth, especially for partially erupted teeth.
- Formation of cysts in the area of retained (impacted) teeth, originating from the soft tissue around the tooth crown.
- Facial nerve pain, such as trigeminal neuralgia.
Root Tip Resection
A tooth consists of enamel, dentin, the pulp (tooth's interior), its supporting structure, and the tooth root.
Inside a tooth is a nerve responsible for sensitivity to pressure and temperature. Through the root tips, this nerve connects to the body's blood and nervous system.
Advanced cavities can cause inflammation of the tooth nerve. If left untreated, the nerve dies and is eventually broken down by bacteria. If a root canal treatment at this stage does not heal the inflammation, there are two treatment options:
- The tooth can be surgically removed (extraction).
- Alternatively, a root tip resection (RTS) can preserve the tooth.
The RTS is a small surgical standard procedure usually performed under local anesthesia, so you won't feel any pain during the procedure. The root tip and surrounding inflamed tissue are removed. The tooth's interior is then cleaned, and the remaining cavity is sealed to be bacteria-proof.