Monthly Archives: August 2014

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
23rd August 2014

This is the final piece looking at the topic of Oral Surgery. I want to look at a couple of procedures that are general performed in the setting of a dental office and then briefly look at more involved procedures that would be performed in hospital by an oral surgeon, possibly under general anesthetic.

Gum/ Periodontal Surgery including Crown Lengthening
In cases of periodontal (gum) disease where bone has been lost, a deep pocket between the gum and the tooth can develop which can be difficult for the patient to keep clean. One option is to reduce the depth of the pocket surgically. This is a simple, inexpensive procedure that enables easier cleaning and maintenance of the teeth and gums, which so reduces the chance of recurrent periodontal disease.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
9th August 2014

In this second article looking at the topic of oral surgery I will continue to focus on surgery that is still generally performed within a dental clinic setting either by specialist oral surgeons, periodontists or expert general dentists.

Dental Implants
Dental implants are metal (titanium) screw-like fixtures that are secured into the jaw bone and replace the missing root of a natural tooth. Titanium has a unique property in that bone will fuse with it, thus fixing the implant firmly and permanently into the jaw-bone. A porcelain crown is then attached to the implant that has the appearance of a normal, natural tooth. A single implant stands alone and it not attached to teeth on either side (unlike a bridge). Two or more implants can be used to carry a bridge in a situation where several teeth in a row are missing and implants can also be used to hold a denture in place.