Oral Surgery
The Extraction of Teeth
Tooth extraction is a treatment where the tooth is removed from the jawbone due to the following reasons:
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Deep tooth decay reaching the pulp:
When the tooth cannot be restored or repaired, such as through fillings or root canal treatment. -
Severe periodontal disease:
When the tooth is affected by severe gum disease and cannot be treated. -
Tooth damage from an accident:
When the tooth is cracked or the root is fractured beyond repair. -
Issues with the bone around the tooth root:
Conditions like cysts, tumors, bone inflammation, or jawbone necrosis. -
Retained baby teeth:
When the baby tooth does not fall out on time, preventing the proper eruption of permanent teeth or causing misalignment.
Impacted tooth
Impacted tooth refers to the last molar tooth that cannot emerge properly because it is trapped beneath the gum tissue or in the jawbone. Impacted teeth are often detected through X-rays, as they cannot be seen with the naked eye if the tooth does not break through the gum.
Treatment for impacted teeth usually requires extraction or surgery performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, as impacted teeth are often in abnormal positions, such as being angled or misaligned. Impacted teeth typically occur in late adolescence or in the early twenties.
Supernumerary Tooth
Supernumerary teeth refer to teeth that are present in numbers greater than normal. Typically, humans have 20 baby teeth and 32 permanent teeth. If more teeth are found, they are referred to as ‘supernumerary teeth,’ which can occur in both the upper and lower jaw. However, they are most commonly found in the upper jaw.
Causes of Supernumerary Teeth
Although the exact cause is not yet confirmed, supernumerary teeth may occur due to the following factors:
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Excessive division of the dental lamina:
This occurs when the development of teeth exceeds normal growth. -
Abnormal division of the tooth bud:
The tooth bud, which is supposed to develop into a normal tooth, divides abnormally. -
Environmental and genetic factors:
There may be a genetic connection, and it could be influenced by environmental factors during tooth development.
Embedded Tooth
An impacted tooth is a tooth that cannot emerge normally in the mouth and is usually embedded in the jawbone. It may cause the roots of adjacent teeth to resorb. Impacted teeth can be found in both the front teeth, canines, and other teeth. It resembles an impacted wisdom tooth, but the entire tooth is embedded in the jaw and cannot erupt. As a result, the surgery to remove it is more complex.