1. Saving of teeth

When wisdom teeth do not grow out straight, food trap will occur between the wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it. With food trap, decay and gum disease can affect the tooth next to the wisdom tooth. Early removal of the wisdom tooth can prevent the loss of the tooth next to the wisdom tooth.

2. Prevention of pain and swelling

Food trap between the wisdom tooth and the next tooth can lead to infection. With infection, patients often experience severe pain and swelling. Sometimes, severe infection can even be life threatening. Hence, it is important to remove these wisdom teeth before severe symptoms develop.

3. Elimination of bad breath

Due to the build-up of food and bacteria between wisdom tooth and the next tooth or under the gums covering wisdom tooth, patients with these problems often complain of bad breath. Sometimes, friends or family members can detect this problem as well. Removal of these wisdom teeth can eliminate the problem of bad breath.

4. Prevention of cyst formation

Wisdom teeth that failed to grow out can lead to formation of cyst. In rare but serious development, these cysts can become cancerous. Hence, removal of wisdom tooth is indicated for these reasons.

1. Is wisdom tooth surgery painful?

1. Wisdom tooth surgery is pain-free. Local anaesthesia is given prior to wisdom tooth surgical procedure.
2. For patients who are anxious, wisdom tooth surgery can be done under intra-venous sedation (IV sedation). During this form of sedation, patients will be sleeping while wisdom tooth surgery is being done.

2. How long is wisdom tooth surgery?

1. Wisdom tooth surgery can be completed in 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Most of the time is used preparing the patient to ensure the patient has pain-free injections and is relaxed before the surgery.
3. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the duration after thorough pre-treatment examination.

3. How long is the recovery period after wisdom tooth surgery?

1. In general, patients will be able to eat normally after 1-2 days.
2. Patients might experience mild pain for the first day but it can be easily and effectively controlled with painkillers.
3. Bleeding will usually stop after one day.
4. Most patients are able to resume normal activities after the first one to two days.

1. How is Wisdom Tooth Surgery done?

Wisdom tooth surgery is a procedure whereby the dentist will perform a minor surgical procedure to safely to a wisdom tooth that is not growing out straight. This is a minor but delicate procedure.

2. What are the different methods available to ensure a pain-free wisdom tooth surgery?

Wisdom tooth surgeries are usually done under local anaesthesia. To ensure a pain-free and anxiety-free surgery, the procedure can be done under intra-venous sedation. During intra-venous sedation, a qualified specialist will perform this sedation and patients will be sleeping throughout the procedure.

3. How safe is this procedure?

Research has shown that wisdom tooth surgery is a very safe and predictable procedure. With proper examination and x-rays analysis, dentists will be able to predictably and safely perform wisdom tooth surgical procedures.

Common discomforts lasting one to two days include mild pain, bleeding and swelling.

There is a nerve that runs in the lower jaw bone and this nerve can be close to the roots of the wisdom tooth. If the nerve is compressed during the surgery, patients will experience some numbness to the lower lip. Hence, it is important that dentists perform careful surgical procedures to ensure a safe surgery.

1. Ensuring success of implants

Dental implants have to be surrounded by bone to be successful. If implants are placed in areas where bone is lacking, the implants will fail and the teeth placed on these implants will fall out.

2. Better aesthetics

For teeth to look natural, they have to appear to emerge out through the bone and gums. In many cases where implants are placed when bone is lacking, the teeth placed appear as if they are lying on the gums rather than emerging through it.

This is a sure way for others to tell if these teeth are fake and not natural.

3. Prevention of food trap

When implants are placed in areas without sufficient bone, smaller implants, like mini-implants, have to be used. In such cases, there will be gaps under the teeth that can cause food trap problems.

Hence, to minimise such problems, bone grafting should be done to ensure that bone and gums could fill up these gaps. It is crucial to discuss the need for bone grafting with your dentist before the implant treatment.

4. Reduce shakiness of teeth

Natural teeth that lack bone can demonstrate shakiness. When the bone is regenerated, the mobility of these teeth can be reduced.

5. Prolong lifespan of teeth

Natural teeth that lack bone can demonstrate shakiness. Prolong shakiness can lead to loosening of teeth and subsequent tooth loss.

By regenerating the bone around these natural teeth, the lifespan of these teeth can be prolonged.

1. What you expect at their first consultation?

1. Relevant x-rays will be taken and comprehensive examination will be done by our specialist.
2. Our specialist will then discuss your pre-existing dental condition and treatment required to save your own teeth.
3. Discussion of treatment plan including duration of treatment, phases of treatment, cost as well as maintenance protocol will be done.

2. Is bone grafting painful?

1. Bone grafting is pain-free. Local anaesthesia is given prior to bone grafting procedure.
2. For patients who are anxious, bone grafting can be done under intra-venous sedation (IV sedation). During this form of sedation, patients will be sleeping while bone grafting is being done.

3. How long is the bone grafting procedure?

1. Bone grafting procedures can be completed in 30 minutes to 1 hour.
2. The time required is generally proportional to the amount of bone grafting required.
3. Your specialist will be able to advise you on the duration after thorough pre-treatment examination.

1. What follow-up care is required after bone grafting?

1. After bone grafting, patients are advised to apply cold pack to reduce the swelling.
2. Your specialist will prescribe some medication and it is important to follow the instructions given by your dentist when taking the medications.
3. There will be some bleeding after bone grafting procedure. Hence it is important to avoid excessive rinsing and spitting of blood. Bleeding typically last 1-2 days.
4. Avoid vigorous activities for the first few days after bone grafting procedures.

2. When can I start eating after bone grafting?

1. Eating can resume as soon as the anesthesia has worn off. Anesthesia typically wears off a few hours after the procedure.
2. It is advisable to avoid hard food for the first few days.
3. It is also important to avoid hot food and drinks because the heat from such food can trigger bleeding. It is advisable to avoid hot food and drinks for the first few days.
4. Food such as smoothies, juices, milk, porridge, oats and yoghurt are suitable.

3. When can I start brushing after bone grafting?

1. Patients should avoid brushing at the surgical site for the first few days.
2. In place of brushing, your specialist will give you some antiseptic mouthrinse. This should be used to maintain cleanliness of the surgical site.

1. Saving of teeth

Teeth have to be surrounded by gum. If the gums around teeth are receded, these teeth might be lost.

2. Better aesthetics

Receded gums will make teeth appear long and the roots exposed. Patients will look old with these long-looking teeth. Gum grafting can restore the aesthetics of teeth.

In some cases, thin gums will cause dark discoloration of roots to show through. Gum grafting can mask these discoloration.

3. Reduction of sensitivity

When gums recede, the roots of teeth will be exposed. The exposed roots can cause sensitivity problems. Such sensitivity can cause pain when eating or drinking cold food and drinks. With gum grafting, the roots can be covered and sensitivity reduced.

4. Reduce shakiness of teeth

Natural teeth that lack gums can sometimes demonstrate shakiness. When the gum is regenerated, the mobility of these teeth can be reduced.

1. What you expect at their first consultation?

1. Relevant x-rays will be taken and comprehensive examination by our qualified specialists.
2. Our specialists will then discuss your pre-existing dental condition and treatment required to save your own teeth.
3. Discussion of treatment plan including duration of treatment, phases of treatment, cost as well as maintenance protocol will be done.

2. Is gum grafting painful?

1. Gum grafting is pain-free. Local anaesthesia is given prior to bone grafting procedure.
2. For patients who are anxious, gum grafting can be done under intra-venous sedation (IV sedation). During this form of sedation, patients will be sleeping while gum grafting is being done.

3. How long is the bone grafting procedure?

1. Gum grafting procedures can be completed in 45 minutes to 1 hour.
2. The time required is generally proportional to the amount of gum grafting required.
3. Your specialist will be able to advise you on the duration after thorough pre-treatment examination.

1. What follow-up care is required after gum grafting?

1. After gum grafting, patients are advised to apply cold pack to reduce the swelling.
2. Your specialist will prescribe some medication and it is important to follow the instructions given by your specialist when taking the medications.
3. There will be some bleeding after gum grafting procedure. Hence it is important to avoid excessive rinsing and spitting of blood. Bleeding typically last 1-2 days.
4. Avoid vigorous activities for the first few days after gum grafting procedures.

2. When can I start eating after gum grafting?

1. Eating can resume as soon as the anesthesia has worn off. Anesthesia typically wears off a few hours after the procedure.
2. It is advisable to avoid hard food for the first few days.
3. It is also important to avoid hot food and drinks because the heat from such food can trigger bleeding. It is advisable to avoid hot food and drinks for the first few days.
4. Food such as smoothies, juices, milk, porridge, oats and yoghurt are suitable.

3. When can I start brushing after gum grafting?

1. Patients should avoid brushing at the surgical site for the first few days.
2. In place of brushing, your specialist will give you some antiseptic mouthrinse. This should be used to maintain cleanliness of the surgical site.

4. Do gum grafting required specialized equipment?

1. Gum grafting requires special training because fine instruments and materials are used during such procedures. The procedures have to be precisely carried out with the help of microscope and fine instruments. The surgeon has to be meticulous in his examination and during the procedure so as to ensure the predictability of oral plastic surgeries.
2. Due to the use of fine instruments and the minimally invasive approach, patients in general do not experience significant discomfort. Healing is also faster with less scarring.