Oral Surgeries

At Dr. Jean-Pierre Tabah Dental Clinic, located in the Marché Central area of Montreal, we offer our patients a complete range of dental care.

All procedures that require the incision or removal of tissue are considered as oral surgeries. The team at Dr. Jean-Pierre Tabah Dental Clinic is trained to perform many oral surgeries, including tooth extraction and gum grafting.

Extraction of a tooth

Whether it is because of a cavity that has damaged the tooth structure, because of an infection of the bone tissue of the jaw or because of a shock, the extraction of a tooth is sometimes the only solution available to your dentist to treat your mouth.

How is an extraction performed?

Before extracting a tooth, your dentist must conduct a thorough examination of the tooth to analyze its shape, the number of roots, their shape and, in the case of a cavity, its impact on the tooth structure. A recent x-ray of the area where the tooth to be extracted is located is therefore necessary. The above-mentioned factors can complicate the extraction of the tooth and your dentist must be aware of them before proceeding with the procedure. The procedure normally involves a few steps:

– A local anesthetic is administered to numb the gum and nerve of the tooth to be extracted. Thanks to the anesthesia, the extraction will be painless for the patient;
– Using a special tool, your dentist will sever the attachment of the tooth to the periodontal tissues (gums, alveolar bone, periodontal ligaments, etc.) so that the tooth can be extracted;
– Your dentist uses forceps to completely extract the tooth.

Stitches may be necessary to ensure that the extraction site heals properly. Also, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics or painkillers to prevent infection or relieve post-operative pain. Since the extraction site may take a few weeks to completely heal, your dentist will be able to advise you on how to avoid complications and promote quick healing.

Gum grafting

Gum recession, also known as receding gums, occurs when there is not enough gum tissue at the base of the tooth, which means that it no longer supports the tooth in an optimal way and that the root of the tooth becomes exposed. Several factors can lead to gum recession, including poor brushing technique, use of a toothbrush with hard bristles or gum disease.

Because gum recession causes the root of the tooth to be exposed, hypersensitivity to hot, cold, sugar and acidic foods can be experienced. The exposed root is also more likely to be attacked by tooth decay. In addition, since gum recession reduces the strength of the tissues that support the tooth, the tooth can become mobile and even fall out. To avoid this irreversible consequence, gum grafting is the recommended surgical procedure in most cases. In other cases, a bone graft may be necessary to give the tooth sufficient support.

What is a gum graft?

A gum graft consists of removing a thin layer of skin from the patient’s palate and grafting it under the existing gum. This grafting technique is called free autogenous grafting and it increases the strength of the gum, thus preventing gum recession. This grafting technique has a very high success rate and the results are stable in the long term.

Another technique, connective tissue grafting, can be suggested to you. It also consists of removing gum tissue from the palate, but it gives even more aesthetic results than the free autogenous graft and it can also cover the portion of the root that has become loose. Moreover, during the healing phase, this technique is recognized as being less painful than the free autogenous graft.

At Dr. Jean-Pierre Tabah Dental Clinic, we will be able to tell you if oral surgery is necessary to restore your teeth to full function. If you have more questions, schedule an appointment with our team!

Clinique dentaire Jean-Pierre Tabah, your dental clinic in Montreal’s Marché Central.