Your Holland dentist may recommend oral surgery if you have an impacted wisdom tooth or wish to prevent further tooth loss with a dental implant. While there are plenty of oral surgical procedures, your dentist will know what treatment plan is best for your smile.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth are third molars that erupt through the gum line between the ages of 17 and 25. However, you may need to remove wisdom teeth if they are impacted or if there’s simply not enough room in your jaw to accommodate the extra teeth.
Your dentist will keep track of your wisdom teeth when they first form by taking X-rays and determining their trajectory before they erupt through the gums. If your dentist sees that your wisdom teeth will come in crooked (impacted), they will recommend wisdom teeth surgery. Impacted wisdom teeth can push other teeth out of alignment, undoing years of orthodontic work and increasing your risk of infection if the tooth gets stuck partway through the gum.
Dental Implant Surgery
If you have recently lost a tooth, your dentist may recommend dental implant surgery. A dental implant is a titanium rod your dentist inserts into your jawbone to act much like a natural tooth root would. This rod will eventually support an abutment and a dental crown. A dental implant gives you the appearance and function of a natural tooth.
Other Types of Oral Surgery
There are a variety of teeth, gum, and jaw issues that warrant
. Depending on the complexity of the dental procedure, our dentist may do the surgery himself or refer you to someone else.Learn More
Our Holland, MI, family dentist is dedicated to helping patients maintain healthy, beautiful smiles. If you are interested in seeing if you are a candidate for oral surgery, call Macatawa Smiles at (616) 396-7524, or contact us online.