Oral Surgery / Extractions
Dental Extractions and Bone Grafts
Although we make every effort to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime, there may be times extractions are indicated. Wisdom teeth may be impacted, an orthodontist may request removal of teeth to create a more ideal result, or occasionally decay or gum disease can progress to the point that a tooth is impossible to restore.
For most of our patients, a tooth can be easily removed with local anesthetic (novocaine). Some of our more nervous patients find that anxiety medication (conscious sedation) is helpful. Occasionally, we refer to an oral surgeon who will provide intravenous (IV) sedation.
When you make an appointment with us, recovery is normally quick, and most people can return to work or normal activities the following day. We have found that swelling is rare (except after wisdom teeth removal) and can be controlled with icepacks and anti-inflammatory medications.
Bone Grafting is often done in conjunction with an extraction when an implant is planned. Bone grafting will ensure that the implant is placed in an ideal position. There are other indications for a bone graft and this is always an individualized recommendation.
Oral Biopsy
At every hygiene appointment in our Tewksbury location, we examine your entire mouth. If we notice any unexplained changes to the soft tissues we may suggest a biopsy to determine the underlying cause. It is the only conclusive method to determine whether a change in the soft tissue is cancerous. In most cases, we discover that the tissue changes are non-cancerous and may have been caused by cheek biting or irritation from other causes.
Only rarely do we find that such changes of the cheeks, gums or palate may be signs of a more serious problem – in which case early detection is extremely important.
The biopsy typically involves sending a very small portion of the lesion to the Pathology Lab at Tufts University for microscopic evaluation. We normally have the results in less than a week. With dental lesions, early diagnosis is very important.
Content Reviewed and Approved by Dr. Goldman.
Dr. Zachary Goldman, a native of Andover, MA, graduated from Colby College, Magna cum Laude, with a BA in Biochemistry and a minor in music. He earned his doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. After completing a one-year hospital-based dental residency at Saint Francis Medical Center in Hartford, CT, Dr. Goldman moved back to Massachusetts and currently lives with his wife in Boston.
