SPECIALIZED DENTAL CARE
Oral Surgery in Ottawa
Specialized surgical care for wisdom teeth, dental implants, and complex maxillofacial conditions.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are highly trained dental specialists who diagnose and treat complex medical conditions involving the mouth, teeth, jaws, and facial structures.
At DOCS, our Ottawa oral surgery team specializes in the removal of impacted wisdom teeth, complex extractions, dental implant placement, advanced bone grafting, and soft tissue biopsies. By utilizing state-of-the-art technology and specialized surgical techniques, we manage complex cases that go beyond the scope of general dentistry, ensuring the highest standard of patient safety and clinical results.
SURGICAL SPECIALTIES
Specialized Oral & Maxillofacial Services in Ottawa
There are multiple factors that contribute to the loss of teeth over time, including smoking, an unhealthy diet, and periodontal disease. If a natural tooth cannot be saved with restoration or periodontal treatment, DOCS oral and maxillofacial surgeons are well versed in managing soft and hard tissue to provide an optimal site for implant placement. Made of titanium, dental implants have a high success rate, and they can be used to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth in order to restore function and aesthetics, thereby improving quality of life.
Wisdom teeth are third molars that erupt in the late teens to early twenties. While some people have room in the back of the jaw to accommodate their wisdom teeth, most do not, and the wisdom teeth become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, food trapping, infection, gum disease, loss of bone or decay on the molars in front of the impacted tooth, and cysts. In these cases, the wisdom teeth should be removed. Given the difficulty maintaining them, preventative extraction of asymptomatic wisdom teeth may be indicated, since teenagers and young adults experience less complications during recovery from the procedure. A consultation with our oral and maxillofacial surgeon will confirm their condition, and determine if extraction is required.
Bone grafting may be indicated to increase the volume of bone in anticipation of dental bridge or implant placement. Sufficient bone volume is critical to ensure good aesthetic and functional outcomes in dental bridge, and implant placement procedures. Bone grafting is achieved using membrane barriers and bone grafts, with the addition of growth factors at times, to stimulate hard and soft tissue growth. (Growth factors are proteins that stimulate growth.)
Complicated tooth extraction, also known as surgical extraction, is a type of extraction where the gum and bone may need to be modified in order to facilitate the removal of the tooth, or the retained root tips. There may be a need to remove some bone, or to make a gum flap in order to access the remaining tooth structure for removal. Additionally, there are times when teeth need to be cut into several pieces, (sectioned) to allow for removal. Surgical extraction treatment is used for impacted wisdom teeth, other impacted teeth, teeth with larger or longer roots, and teeth that have broken off.
An oral biopsy is a surgical procedure whereby a sample of hard or soft tissue is removed to be examined under a microscope. The purpose of this procedure is typically to confirm a diagnosis for any lesion in the mouth. The main types of biopsy performed at DOCS are incisional (part of the lesion is removed) and excisional (the entire lesion is removed). An incisional biopsy is used when the lesion is large or has multiple appearance throughout the lesion; one or more areas may be sampled in this case. Excisional biopsies are typically done when the lesion is less than one centimeter and results in removal of the entire lesion. Once removed, the biopsies are sent to a lab for microscopic examination, that typically takes up to two weeks to complete. The results are then shared with the patient and the general dentist.
