Are you currently dreading an upcoming event? Okay, that’s a vague question – and most of us have something on the books that we’re just not looking forward to (whether it’s a dull meeting or an ill-advised book club). But when it’s a dental procedure that you’re facing down, the general attitude tends to be a negative one. Dental anxiety is a rampant problem, but it’s not one that you need to just grin and bear.
When you have a surgical treatment coming up, you may be tempted to head for the hills. If this sounds familiar, Summit Dental can help. With the aid of some personal research, open communication, and dental sedation, you’ll be ready to handle this surgery. Better yet, the sooner you get the problem taken care of, the sooner your mouth will be healthy and happy once again.
Oral Surgery in Oakland
Summit Dental offers a varied range of dental treatments, so that we can provide all that our patients need under one roof. The fewer specialists you have to visit, the more comfortable and at home you will feel. And when you’re used to visiting our office for your general dental care, you won’t experience a spike of nerves when you’re here for a root canal or an extraction. We do whatever we can to treat patients’ infected, useless, or otherwise problematic teeth, and provide them with long-term restorative solutions. Below, we’ve detailed a few of the procedures available at Summit, and what you can expect from each one. Read up on the possibilities of treatment to feel better about the reality of the procedure (remember – oral surgery is often much less scary than you imagine!).
Root Canal
Too
th decay begins at the outermost layer of a tooth (its enamel). If it is caught in time, the cavity can be filled before it moves deeper in the tooth. But if it’s allowed to progress, the cavity will affect the tooth’s dentin, and then its pulp. Once decay has reached the pulp, the entire tooth has become infected. At that point, either the tooth’s pulp or the entire tooth will need to be removed. Dentists strive to be as conservative as possible, so we try to choose a root canal as treatment for infection if the case allows.
A root canal removes the tooth’s pulp, replacing it with cement to preserve the tooth. While root canals have a bad reputation, they’re only slightly different in practice from the procedure behind a standard filling. You will receive local anesthesia prior to the root canal, and shouldn’t feel discomfort. After the root canal, the treated tooth will be technically dead. It will not experience pain again, and you’ll be free of the discomfort you experienced during the period of injection (which patients find to be a significant relief).
Tooth Extractions
Sometimes, a tooth has just got to go. The reasons vary – the tooth may be hopelessly infected, it may be impacted, or it may pose other risks of developing problems. Extractions can be simple (the tooth has erupted and is readily accessible) or surgical (the tooth has not erupted or is partially obstructed by gum tissue). No matter the type, we offer the extraction – even for wisdom teeth. You will be numbed and potentially sedated (if you prefer) for your extraction, and will not feel anything other than some pressure as the tooth is removed.
Dental Implant Surgery
Hoping to replace teeth in an incredibly secure way? We’ll likely recommend dental implants. These titanium tooth roots are placed in the jaw bone, where they connect with natural bone and form foundations for restorations. While the implant surgery can require moderate patient commitment, the results are well worth the investment – you’ll likely have those implants with you for the rest of your life.
If you ever have questions about a procedure, don’t hesitate to contact us.