To achieve or maintain your best health, oral surgery may be recommended. At Brodine Prosthodontics, our oral surgery services are designed to handle these needs with precision, care, and a focus on your comfort. From tooth extractions to advanced procedures like a sinus lift, our prosthodontists are skilled in providing surgical care that is safe and effective. We use state-of-the-art technology and a compassionate approach to ensure your experience is as stress-free as possible.
Top surgical procedures offered at Brodine Prosthodontics include:
Tooth Extractions
While our primary goal is always to save a natural tooth, there are times when a tooth extraction is the best course of action to protect your oral health. A tooth may need to be removed if it is severely damaged by decay, fractured beyond repair, or if gum disease has compromised the bone supporting it. In some cases, extractions are necessary to prepare for orthodontic treatment or to address impacted wisdom teeth. The procedure itself is straightforward. After numbing the area with a local anesthetic to ensure you don't feel any pain, we will gently and carefully remove the tooth. We will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to ensure a smooth and comfortable healing process. Following an extraction, we will discuss various replacement options, such as a dental implant or bridge, to restore your smile's function and prevent future complications.
Bone Grafting for Dental Implants
A bone graft creates an environment wherein your body can grow back the bone that used to be there before there was a problem with your tooth. The bone graft particles come from an organ donor bank. That means that these particles came from somebody’s body that died; it’s called Cadaver Bone. These bone particles are ground up into 1-2 mm particle size and washed in chemicals, namely Hydrogen Peroxide and Acetone, which removes all of the cells from the bone so that you cannot have a rejection response. These particles are then sterilized by Gamma Irradiation. We receive a small vial of dry, white, sterile particles that are really not bone any more, but rather simply particles of mineral and collagen.
These particles function as a biological scaffold which holds a space into which your own new living bone will grow. As your body grows your own new living bone into this area, your bone cells will dissolve the bone graft particles, and eliminate them so what you have left in the end is your own new living bone.
There is one more material used in the bone graft process and it is called a collagen barrier. It comes from the Achilles Tendon of a cow, but looks like a piece of dry, white filter paper. It also functions like filter paper. The collagen barrier is placed over the bone graft particles before we put the gum back up over the entire area. The collagen barrier prevents the gum tissue from growing into the area where we want the bone to grow because the gum tissue grows much faster than the bone grows. The collagen barrier also dissolves and goes away over a 6 month period. So again, what you have left in the end, is your own new living bone.
Sinus Lift Surgery
For patients considering dental implants to replace missing back teeth in the upper jaw, a sinus lift may be a necessary procedure to ensure the long-term success of your restoration. The maxillary sinuses are air-filled spaces located just above your upper back teeth. When teeth are lost, the bone in this area can thin, making it difficult to place and securely anchor a dental implant. A sinus lift, also known as sinus augmentation, is a surgical procedure that addresses this issue.
During the procedure, the sinus membrane is gently lifted, and a bone grafting material is placed in the new space. The graft material acts as a scaffold, encouraging your body to grow new, healthy bone. Over several months, this new bone integrates with your existing jawbone, creating a solid and stable foundation. Once the bone has matured, we can place the dental implants with the confidence that they will be strong and lasting.
Have Questions About Oral Surgery?
If you are in need of oral surgery to support your restored smile or best oral health, it's natural to have questions and concerns. Our team is here to guide you through every step of the process, from your initial consultation to your complete recovery. We are committed to providing expert surgical care in a comfortable and supportive environment. To learn more about our oral surgery services or to schedule a consultation, contact our office today. We look forward to helping you achieve a healthy, pain-free smile!
