Our goal is to save all of your natural teeth, however this is not always possible. Deep cavities, severe periodontal disease and large tooth fractures can condemn a tooth. In addition, impacted wisdom teeth can create a lot of trouble to surrounding structures. When a tooth is extracted, it is recommended to place a bone graft in the area. This helps to preserve the bone remaining in preparation for a dental implant.
What will happen if I don’t get a bone graft when my tooth comes out?
After tooth removal, loss of stimulation in the area leads to a loss of surrounding bone volume. There is about 25% loss of bone around an extraction site within the first year alone. Over the subsequent years, it is expected to lose an additional 4mm of bone height!.
Placing a bone graft at the time of tooth extraction is imperative for placing an implant in the future. Bone grafting is also highly recommended when placing anterior bridges. Grafting these areas helps to preserve the architecture of your gums. This will allow us to make you the most natural looking bridge possible.
Do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?
Lack of space is the primary reason that wisdom teeth begin to cause problems. By the time wisdom teeth grow in, most adults already have a full complement of teeth. As a result, there is not enough room left to allow the wisdom teeth to erupt. They will often become trapped in a position that they can not be cleaned.
Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to a variety of problems. Adjacent teeth become susceptible to cavities and localized gum disease as they can not be properly cleaned. Another concern is crowding caused by the pressure that the wisdom teeth place on the adjacent teeth. For these reasons it is best to remove malpositioned wisdom teeth before they become a problem. Please contact us as soon as possible if you begin to notice any symptoms related to your wisdom teeth.