Oral Surgery

Simple Tooth Extraction {#simple-tooth-extraction}

A simple extraction removes a tooth that is visible and accessible above the gumline, typically because of severe decay, a fracture, or advanced gum disease that has left the tooth unsalvageable. It’s done under local anaesthesia: the dentist loosens the tooth with specialised instruments and lifts it out in one piece. Healing generally takes about one to two weeks for the gum to close over, though the underlying bone continues remodelling for longer. Aftercare centres on protecting the blood clot that forms in the socket — avoiding rinsing forcefully, smoking, or drinking through a straw for the first day or two, since dislodging the clot can lead to a painful complication called dry socket.

Surgical Tooth Extraction {#surgical-tooth-extraction}

A surgical extraction is needed when a tooth can’t simply be lifted out — most often because it has broken below the gumline, has curved or unusually shaped roots, or hasn’t fully erupted. The dentist may need to make a small incision in the gum and sometimes remove a small amount of bone, occasionally sectioning the tooth to remove it fully. It’s more involved than a simple extraction and typically means a longer recovery, with more noticeable swelling in the first days. Stitches, if placed, are usually removed or dissolve within one to two weeks.

Sinus Lift (Open and Closed) {#sinus-lift}

A sinus lift adds bone volume to the upper back jaw when the sinus sits too close to the bone for an implant to be placed safely. There are two approaches: a “closed” lift, done through the same small opening used for implant placement, which works for smaller height increases; and an “open” (lateral window) lift, done through a small window in the side of the jawbone, used when a larger increase is needed. Bone graft material is packed into the space either way. Healing before an implant can be placed on top commonly takes several months — this is one of the more specialised procedures here, and many general and cosmetic dental practices refer sinus lift cases to an oral surgeon or periodontist.

Bone Grafting {#bone-grafting}

Bone grafting rebuilds jawbone that has thinned or shrunk, most often after a tooth has been missing for a while, or where there wasn’t enough bone volume to begin with. Graft material is placed at the site and, over a period of months, the patient’s own bone gradually grows into and replaces it, creating a stronger foundation for an implant. It’s frequently the step that makes implant treatment possible for patients who were initially told they didn’t have enough bone. Healing time before further treatment varies with the size of the graft, generally ranging from a few months for smaller sites to longer for larger reconstructions.

Bone Graft Material Placement {#bone-graft-material}

This refers to the material itself used in grafting procedures — it can come from the patient’s own body (autograft), a human tissue bank (allograft), an animal source (xenograft), or a synthetic biocompatible material. Each has different handling properties and healing characteristics, and the choice depends on the size and location of the defect being treated, as well as the surgeon’s assessment of what will integrate best for that specific case.

Barrier Membrane Placement {#barrier-membrane}

A barrier membrane is a thin material placed over a bone graft to keep faster-growing gum tissue from invading the graft site before new bone has a chance to form — a technique known as guided bone regeneration. Membranes are either resorbable, which dissolve on their own over time, or non-resorbable, which need to be removed in a follow-up visit. This is typically done at the same time as bone grafting, not as a separate appointment, and is considered a standard part of many grafting procedures rather than an optional extra.

Soft Tissue Grafting {#soft-tissue-grafting}

Soft tissue grafting adds or repositions gum tissue, most commonly to cover roots exposed by gum recession or to build up thin gum tissue around an implant or natural tooth. Tissue is typically taken from elsewhere in the patient’s own mouth (often the palate) or from a tissue bank source, then placed and stitched at the treatment site. It’s done under local anaesthesia, and healing of the surgical site generally takes one to two weeks, though full tissue maturation continues for longer. This procedure sits at the boundary between periodontal and oral surgery care depending on how a given practice organises referrals.

Implant Revision {#implant-revision}

Implant revision addresses a problem with an existing implant — for example, a loosening abutment, gum inflammation around the implant (peri-implantitis), or a prosthetic component that needs adjustment or replacement. Depending on the issue, revision can range from a straightforward tightening or component swap to a more involved surgical procedure to treat infection around the implant. Because this depends heavily on diagnosing what’s gone wrong with a specific implant, it starts with an examination and often imaging before any treatment plan is set.

Dental Implant Removal {#implant-removal}

An implant is removed when it has failed to integrate with the bone, has fractured, or is causing an infection that can’t be resolved another way. The implant is carefully unscrewed or, if it has become firmly fused in an unwanted position, surgically removed, and the site is then allowed to heal — sometimes with bone grafting to restore the socket — before a replacement implant is considered. This is not a common outcome, but when it’s needed, a clear explanation of what went wrong matters as much as the removal itself.

Local Anaesthesia {#local-anaesthesia}

Local anaesthesia numbs a specific area of the mouth so a procedure can be carried out without pain, while the patient stays fully awake and aware throughout. It’s administered by injection near the treatment site and is the standard approach for the great majority of dental and oral surgery procedures, from a routine filling to a tooth extraction. Numbness typically wears off within a few hours after the appointment, and mild tenderness at the injection site is normal in the meantime.

Conscious Sedation {#conscious-sedation}

Conscious sedation is used alongside local anaesthesia to help patients who feel anxious about a procedure, or who are undergoing a longer or more involved surgical treatment, stay relaxed while remaining conscious and able to respond throughout. Common forms include inhaled sedation (nitrous oxide, sometimes called “laughing gas”) and oral or intravenous sedative medication, each requiring different levels of monitoring during the appointment. Not every dental practice offers every form of sedation, since it requires specific training, equipment, and monitoring protocols.