Angela Hilton-Foley, DMD                            813-891-1212

 Extractions                 At our office in Tampa, Florida our general dentist, Dr. Hilton-Foley extracts teeth that are not salvageable with modern dentistry, in our office. We prefer to try to save teeth with endodontic therapy, crowns, or even a filling, if at all possible, because extraction is an irreversible procedure. Occasionally we may need to refer you to a specialist (oral surgeon), if the extraction or your medical history is complicated. 



Bone Grafting
If an extraction is our only choice, we recommend to place a bone graft in the area of the extraction, to build up and preserve the bone, for the future.  By doing so, you can prevent the severe bone loss that occurs following an extraction.  Within the first two years after an extraction, more than 50% of the bone height and contour is lost.  Without a graft, placing an implant may be difficult down the road.  Even if you plan to place a porcelain bridge or a partial denture to fill in the space, by placing a bone graft, you prevent the bone loss that occurs, and actually allow your body to build bone back into the area.  The graft provides the framework.  It is also important to note that following an extraction, the healthy teeth adjacent to the extraction site may lose bone, because of the loss of bone from the extraction. Bone grafting protect the teeth next to the extraction site. Aside from accidents or trauma, preventative dentistry, regular checkups, and good home care can eliminate or at least minimize the need for extractions. 


Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Wisdom teeth, commonly referred to as third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in the mouth.  Most people get their wisdom teeth around their late teens or early twenties.  Because they are often difficult to keep clean, decay easily and can create crowding in the mouth, wisdom teeth are the least kept teeth, in the mouth.  Often the wisdom teeth become trapped under the gum, or impacted.  Sometimes the impaction is at an angle or horizontally impacted.  Depending on the condition, certain impactions can cause damage to the adjacent teeth.  It is important for you to have your wisdom teeth evaluated, to determine your risk, and decide whether or not you should have them removed.  Below are a few examples of conditions that can occur. 

   
Horizontal Impaction    Vertical Impaction          Mesial Impaction               Distal impaction  

• Horizontal impactions is a severe condition that almost always requires extraction. Root resorption (or the dissolving of the tooth next to the wisdom tooth) is a potential complication of delaying extraction. 
• Vertical impactions sometimes may erupt normally, but if the process is slow, it can be painful, become inflamed and infected, or may potentially damage the adjacent teeth.
• Mesial impactions are the most common type of impaction, and usually require extraction.  If not caught early enough, this type of impaction, just like the horizontal impaction situation, can cause the roots of the teeth next to the wisdom teeth, to resorb or eat away, which damages the tooth which has already erupted.
• Distal impactions are when the wisdom tooth is angled back towards the back of the mouth (distal).  As the jaw grows, sometimes these impactions will work their way out.  If the jaw doesn't continue to grow, the tooth will be only partially erupted, which causes decay, pocketing, gum disease, and bad breath.

Dr. Hilton-Foley will evaluate your wisdom teeth and depending on the degree of difficulty or the amount of the impaction, she may treat you in our Westchase office, or possibly refer you to an oral surgeon for the extraction(s).  Each case is determined on a case by case basis. 

Parents:  Plan ahead for your high school and college students.  Most wisdom tooth extractions are performed over Christmas and summer breaks, and in between school semesters!                

                               Our goal is to keep you healthy for a lifetime! 
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                 Angela Hilton-Foley, DMD
                      Designing Smiles
                       813.891.1212