What is Dental Surgery?
The term "surgery" draws together all types of negative connotations, yet surgery is such a broad expression that it does not adequately describe what is involved in such procedures.

Fort McMurray Dental can assist you with wisdom teeth impaction and single tooth extraction along with multiple extractions required for denture placement. Our dental care is always based on prevention dentistry and will only resort to surgery as the very last option to treatment. As a means of assurance and before a decision is made that requires surgery a discussion of "all" probable alternatives are considered in order to save any possible existing teeth.


Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth eruption is usually expected to surface from the gums between the ages of 17 and 24. They are the last of the molar teeth and consist of four molars; one on each corner of the mouth. These molars are used for grinding food and for some individuals third molars never develop.


Impacted Teeth
Wisdom teeth often cause no problems. The problem that does arise is called impaction which is when there is insufficient spacing for the third molars to grow within the mouth. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause prolonged pain, swelling and infection or even damage to the next existing tooth. If the gum around the wisdom tooth is swollen the jaw may become stiff and sore. Infection of the third molars can cause bad breath and altered taste.

Through surgical extraction of one or more impacted wisdom teeth can relieve such problems. People who have impacted wisdom teeth without causing problems need not have them removed.

What are the alternatives to tooth extraction?
Having wisdom teeth removed is often the only way to permanently relieve painful symptoms. Although antibiotics can provide temporary relief, the symptoms can unfortunately return in the future.


The Operation
Countless clients have been under local anaesthesia to remove their wisdom teeth. Local anaesthesia allows the clients to be awake during the extraction, but the areas surrounding the third molar are completely numb. In addition to the local anaesthesia, sedative drugs can be given to help alleviate stress and provide relaxation during the procedure.


Tooth Extractions
A decision is make between you and your dentist to have a tooth extracted, and is done so for any one of a number of reasons. Several reasons could bring about the need for extractions such as, severely decayed teeth, while others are removed because they have suffered the effects of advanced periodontal gum disease. However, some need to be extracted because they have broken in a fashion that makes it impossible to repair. Teeth may also need to be removed due to the inappropriate positioning of the teeth within the mouth such as, impacted wisdom teeth or just in preparation for orthodontic braces.