Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Tooth extractions are a commonly done service at Riverwalk Dental. While we would always rather save a tooth than remove it, there are times when extractions are necessary to prevent overcrowding or the spread of decay. The procedure almost always succeeds without any complications, but patients should be aware that we need their full cooperation to prevent problems such as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

Tooth extractions are usually a simple affair in which the tooth is rocked to loosen it up until it can be pulled the rest of the way. The jaw bone will be briefly exposed at the base of the empty socket, but a blood clot will seal it off. ONJ describes when the bone tissue begins to die. It can happen if the patient is taking bisphosphonate medications, which are used to prevent bone resorption. People with osteopenia may take them orally, but the majority of ONJ cases occurred in people taking them intravenously for chemotherapy.

ONJ is treatable. The decayed material would be shaved and the bone would be rinsed with antibiotics. But it can be avoided if patients inform dentists of all the medications they are on. If a patient is taking bisphosphonates, we may be able to come up with an alternative solution for their dental issue.

Dr. Jared Palmer and his team operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit Riverwalk Dental.

 

Sectioning Teeth

At Riverwalk Dental, patients can count on us for quick, safe tooth extractions with minimal discomfort. Recently, we mentioned that one of the reasons the wisdom teeth are often removed is because they don’t have enough room to erupt. In those cases, they wouldn’t have enough room to be pulled or levered directly out, either, which is why we section them.

Typically, teeth are removed by rocking them gently while pushing them upward (if in the lower jaw) or pulling them (if in the upper jaw). Even if a wisdom tooth is not trapped below the gum line, this approach may not work because the wisdom teeth are anchored in the mouth by strong ligaments. Attempting to yank them all at once would require a lot of force and could hurt the patient. As an alternative, dentists use a drill to cut the teeth into smaller sections. The patient is kept numb during this and a stream of water prevents the drill from overheating. The smaller tooth sections do not require as much force to remove or as much room to be maneuvered through.

Dr. Jared Palmer and his team operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit Riverwalk Dental.

 

Diagnosing a Cracked Tooth

Cracked teeth are a highly variable problem, which is why at Riverwalk Dental, we want our patients to have an understanding of what will happen if one is found. Depending on the crack’s location and severity, the problem could range from merely cosmetic to necessitating extraction.

The smallest cracks, called craze lines, do not threaten the tooth’s structure and can simply be covered up. More serious cracks will often be present long before they cause pain and may only be discovered through a dental examination or when an old filling is removed. Because cracks are usually too small to be examined through x-rays, dentists often test them through other means such as probing and asking patients to report what they feel when they bite down on cotton. In cases where a cracked root is suspected, a dentist may need to cut a flap in the gum tissue in order to do a visual examination. If the root is not cracked, the problem may be fixable with a new crown. If it is, there are ways of replacing the tip of a root, but a crack the entire length of the tooth will require the tooth to be replaced. It is also necessary to determine whether the tooth has been infected, which is something x-rays are more useful for.

Dr. Jared Palmer and his team operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit Riverwalk Dental.

 

Preventing Dry Sockets

Patients at Riverwalk Dental rarely have to struggle with a dry socket, but when they do, we’re here to help. We generally try to avoid extracting patients’ teeth, but sometimes, overcrowding or damage leaves us little choice. Although there is a risk of the empty socket drying out, we try to make sure our patients understand how to care for themselves until it closes and how we will address complications, should they arise.

When a tooth is extracted there is expected to be a small amount of bleeding, which will result in a clot. This clot is what protects the socket from infection, foreign debris, and dryness. Therefore, it is important for the patient to disclose to us all the medications they are on, as some may interfere with clot formation. The patient must avoid disrupting the clot until the socket closes after a few days. This means no sipping through straws, no sticky food, and brushing the area around the surgical site very gently.

Dry sockets are rare, but they are more likely if we had to make an incision into the patient’s gum and suture it shut. The appointment to remove the sutures will supply us with an opportunity to ensure everything is healing correctly, but patients who experience a dry socket should contact us right away so we may provide cleaning and moisturizing therapy.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.