8615 NE Hazel Dell Avenue, Vancouver, WA  98665

(360) 574-7477

Oral Surgery

Wisdom Teeth - We like to leave wisdom teeth in place if they are not going to erupt, or if they are cleansable and functional enough to aid chewing.  However, wisdom teeth that cause discomfort, swelling, or infection should be considered for removal.  Pericoronitis is a common inflammatory condition of wisdom teeth.  We remove most wisdom teeth at our office.  Most wisdom teeth can be removed with local anesthetic alone.  Some patients prefer nitrous oxide sedation or oral sedation with Valium.  Some phobic patients desire intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, and we can refer to appropriate clinics for these services.  Please be aware that intravenous sedation and general anesthesia present certain risks, and you should study these carefully as you make your decisions.

Extractions - We value every tooth, because every root that carries chewing function deep in the jaw helps to spread the stress of chewing around.  Extraction of a single functional tooth causes a greater burden for remaining teeth, and when enough teeth are missing, stresses can cause fractures in remaining teeth or break down of supporting bone and gums.  Nonetheless, there are teeth that should be removed, because they are not restorable, or they are very loose from gum disease or trauma.  We use very conservative methods for gentle removal of teeth, and work hard to insure your comfort during and after the procedure.  We also make sure you understand all of your choices before removing a tooth.  Last but not least, we make sure you have something to smile with during transitional periods of care.

Immediate Dentures - Patients usually require immediate placement of complete or partial dentures at the time of extraction of multiple teeth.  We like to make interim dentures in advance, so the patient can smile and chew later in the day after extractions.  The gums and jaw bone begin remodeling and shrinking right after extraction, so we invite patients to return for soft linings inside the dentures to make up for such changes.  It usually takes three to four months to for the body to complete remodeling of the jaw after extractions, and that is a good time to start dentures, bridges, or implants that are intended to last for a long time.

Implants -  We place and restore implants in our office. Patients are surprised at how good they feel after implant surgery, which is usually less traumatic than extractions.