Procedures
Welcome to our office! As a general dentist, Dr. Wagner is trained in all dental procedures. In some situations, she may choose to refer patients to an appropriate specialist. Please feel free to click on the following procedures to learn more about them.
- Examinations, radiographs (x-rays), and treatment planning
- Cleanings and deep scaling
- Fillings
- Root canals
- Tooth removal (extraction)
- Crowns and bridges
- Complete dentures and partial dentures
- Dental implants
- Bite guards, sleep apnea devices, and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD)
All content was written by Dr. Katie-Rose Wagner and she welcomes the public to use and share any of the information without her permission. She respectfully asks to be listed as the author for direct quotations.
Tooth removal (extraction)
Teeth are removed for any one of a variety of reasons, including:
- Infection
- Pulpitis (inflammation of the pulp of the tooth)
- Periodontal disease (loss of bone and gum surrounding teeth, making them loose and sometimes painful)
- Fracture and trauma
Before an extraction, the dentist will obtain a thorough medical history, often communicating with the patient's physician. All patients will sign a form consenting to the extraction, which gives more information about the procedure and lists risks and benefits.
During an extraction, the entire area is first numbed with local anesthesia. Then the tooth is slowly loosened with specialized instruments so that it can be gently removed. It is sometimes necessary to remove or alter some gum or bone surrounding a tooth in order to remove it. Stitches may be placed and patients are given instructions for how to care for their mouth after the procedure.
After a tooth extraction, it is very important to follow post-operative instructions to care for the extraction site. If the patient desires to replace the missing tooth, there are several options such as dentures, implants, and bridges.