Question 1

Do I need my wisdom teeth removed?

Accepted Answer

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to emerge within the mouth. If there is not enough room in your mouth when the wisdom teeth come in, they may not emerge above the gum line and can become impacted. You may need these teeth removed if you are experiencing:
• Repeated gum infection
• Decay
• Cysts around wisdom teeth that have not fully emerged
• Distortion of bite
You can read more about wisdom teeth here.

Question 2

What is an impacted tooth?

Accepted Answer

An impacted tooth is one that does not grow through and emerge above the gum line. This is usually due to the mouth being too crowded when the teeth were supposed to come in. The most common types of impacted teeth are wisdom teeth and upper canines. You can read about impacted teeth here.

Question 3

What anaesthetic options are available for my wisdom tooth removal ?

Accepted Answer

The method of wisdom teeth removal is dependent on your specific situations. Ordinarily, wisdom teeth removal will involve either a local or general anaesthetic depending on the assessment of your practitioner. You can read more about the wisdom teeth procedure here.

Question 4

Why do I need dental implants?

Accepted Answer

If you have lost a tooth or if you have badly damaged teeth, you may consider replacing them with dental implants. These consist of an anchor fitted into the bone of your jaw, which then has a natural looking tooth replacement attached to it to mimic the function of your natural tooth as closely as possible. If you have problems eating, speaking, or you have facial structural issues due to teeth loss, you may wish to look into dental implants. Read more about dental implants here.

Question 5

What is tongue-tie?

Accepted Answer

The frenum is a soft muscle found in your mouth. There is one which attaches your top lip to your gum and another attaching your tongue to the bottom of your mouth. If you have a short frenum, you will have tongue-tie. This is distinguished by a difficulty in tongue mobility. People who have tongue-tie find it difficult to extend their tongue past their lips, touch the roof of their mouth, and may have a speech disorder. Find out more here.

Question 6

Does my baby have lip-tie?

Accepted Answer

Lip-tie, like tongue-tie, is the shortening of the soft muscle that attaches the lip to the gums. Babies with lip-tie and tongue-tie have difficulty breast feeding. With a simple surgery called a frenectomy, this can be alleviated. Read more about the topic here.

Question 7

What can I do about tooth loss?

Accepted Answer

If you have tooth loss then there are options you can pursue to repair your mouth. Dental implants and temporary anchorage devices are some ways that you may be able to treat gaps in your teeth. If you have had teeth loss for a long period of time, you may require a sinus lift before seeking dental implants. Find out more here.

Question 8

What is a sinus lift?

Accepted Answer

If you lose a tooth and leave the space untreated, the bone the tooth was attached to can shrink. As such, if you then wish to have dental implants you may need a sinus lift to add more bone to your jaw. Sinus lifts are also used if your teeth are too close to your sinuses and are causing distress. You can read more about the procedure here.

Question 9

What is bone grafting?

Accepted Answer

Bone grafting may be required when there is not enough bone material, usually when implementing dental implants. The bone material needed for a bone graft can be sourced from your mouth during the procedure, before the procedure, or a synthetic bone material can be used. Find out more here.

Question 10

When do I need to remove a tooth?

Accepted Answer

There are a number of reasons you may need to remove a difficult tooth. Most commonly this would be because of issues with the tooth’s roots. These issues are generally characterised by toothache, although you will need a professional practitioner to properly diagnose this. You can find out more about difficult teeth here.

Question 11

Why do I need a TAD (Temporary Anchorage Device)?

Accepted Answer

You might need a TAD for the following reasons:

Specific Orthodontic Needs: TADs are used in orthodontic treatments for complex cases where traditional methods alone may not suffice to achieve the desired tooth movement.

Support for Tooth Movement: TADs serve as stable anchor points to facilitate tooth movement, especially in directions that are challenging with conventional methods.

Minimally Invasive: TADs are small and minimally invasive compared to other orthodontic treatments like implants, causing less disruption to surrounding teeth and tissues.

Versatility: TADs can be used in various orthodontic treatments to address bite issues, gaps, or specific alignment challenges effectively.

Enhanced Treatment Options: By using TADs, orthodontists can expand the range of treatments available to address complex cases effectively.

If your question hasn’t been answered here, please feel free to contact us for further information.

FAQs at Norwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery