IMPLANT DENTISTRY

• Augmentation Procedures
• Removal of "Hopeless Teeth"
• Management of Peri-Implant Diseases

Removal of "Hopeless Teeth"

In cases where teeth have been diagnosed as "hopeless", Dr Patterson may recommend an extraction. In some cases, gum disease can lead to periodontitis, or loss of supporting bone, and can affect the health of surrounding gum tissue. In this case, it is often best to remove the damaged tooth and replace it with a dental implant. In some cases, severe decay, infection or a broken tooth may also need to be removed. During this process, Dr Patterson will do an x-ray in order to decide on the best possible procedure.

There are two common types of extraction:

• Simple extraction
  This procedure is performed when the tooth that needs to be removed is visible in the mouth. In order to remove the tooth, Dr Patterson will loosen it with a special tool called an elevator before removing it with a forceps.
• Surgical extraction
  This procedure is more complicated than a simple extraction and is often performed in cases where a tooth has been broken at the gum line. In order to remove the tooth surgically, Dr Patterson will make a small incision in the gum before sectioning the tooth into multiple pieces, in order to remove the tooth without damaging the surrounding bone.