Sometimes, oral surgery is necessary to get your teeth and gums into the best possible condition and prevent future problems. Dr Holmes is extremely experienced at tooth extractions, implant-related procedures and soft-tissue surgery – so you can rest assured your experience will be free of fear and discomfort.
Wisdom teeth & surgical extractions
As an experienced oral surgeon, Dr Holmes regularly carries out wisdom teeth removals and surgical extractions, among other procedures.
Wisdom teeth are the most common indicator for oral surgery – often there isn’t enough room for them to erupt properly, so they become impacted, grow sideways, and push against your existing back teeth. Oral surgery might also be required if a tooth has broken at the gum line, either through injury or decay. In all cases, the dentist will need to surgically remove the problem tooth, a procedure known as a complex extraction.
Minor oral surgery
Some of the more minor surgical procedures carried out by Dr Holmes include pre-prosthetic and soft-tissue surgery.
• Pre-prosthetic surgery may be required if you are having a dental implant, bridge or denture fitted. Your dentist may need to prepare the site before your new tooth or teeth are fixed in place. This might involve smoothing or reshaping of bone or gum tissue to ensure your prosthetic fits perfectly with no discomfort.
• Soft-tissue surgery usually involves the straightforward removal of minor lesions, such as small swellings in the gum, which can then be investigated further in a lab to rule out the risk of cancer.
If you require any kind of oral surgery, Dr Holmes will talk you through the procedure, give advice on pain relief and provide a comprehensive after-care plan for you.
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“I had two major surgeries – a bone graft and then implants. Both were handled in an excellent manner, with everything being explained beforehand. The practice always phoned the day after surgery to make sure everything was OK. The aftercare was great, and I found the whole service from start to finish excellent. It is nice to be able to smile again with my front teeth in place.”
Frequently asked questions
Oral surgery
Why do I need my wisdom teeth out?
You won’t need your wisdom teeth out unless they are causing problems that leave you vulnerable to tooth decay. But because wisdom teeth (the four teeth – two top, two bottom – at the very back of the mouth that only appear when we are in our late teens or twenties) come through at such a late stage in life, when all other adult teeth have long since formed, impaction is a really common problem. This is when the wisdom teeth press against existing teeth, grow in at an angle and get stuck. In cases where this causes pain, swelling and infection, it is likely you’ll need your dentist to remove your wisdom teeth.
Simple and complex extractions – what’s the difference?
If a wisdom tooth has erupted above the gum line, you’ll require a simple extraction – a straightforward procedure carried out under local anaesthetic, which usually takes a few minutes to complete. Wisdom teeth that are stuck, broken, or which haven’t emerged above the gum line will require a complex extraction by an oral surgeon. This procedure involves cutting into the gum to access the tooth.
Should I be nervous about having a complex extraction?
No! Dr Holmes is an experienced oral surgeon who has dealt with many complex cases in the past. Extractions are always carried out under local anaesthetic, with conscious sedation also an excellent option for pain and anxiety relief.
What can I expect post-extraction?
You’ll need to take a day or two off work to get used to managing the inevitable swelling and low-level pain that occurs after surgery, as well as cleaning the tooth socket. Dr Holmes will provide you with a comprehensive after-care plan, and you can expect a full recovery within two weeks of surgery.