Some dental conditions require surgical intervention to protect oral health, relieve pain, or prepare for restorative treatment.
At Biddeford Saco Dental Associates in Saco, ME, our experienced dentists perform a range of oral surgical procedures using advanced imaging, effective anesthesia, and comprehensive sedation options to ensure patient comfort throughout the process. Complex cases requiring specialized surgical expertise are referred to trusted oral surgery specialists, with our team coordinating care and providing follow-up support.
Tooth Extractions & Surgical Planning
Tooth extraction is always a last resort, recommended only when preserving the natural tooth is no longer clinically possible or advisable.
Common Reasons For Extraction:
- Severe decay is destroying too much tooth structure to restore
- Advanced periodontal disease causing significant bone loss and mobility
- Fractured teeth extending below the gum line
- Impacted or problematic wisdom teeth
- Infection unresponsive to root canal therapy
- Creating space for orthodontic treatment
Simple extractions are performed when the tooth is visible and accessible, removed intact using controlled elevation and forceps. Surgical extractions are necessary when the tooth is impacted, broken at or below the gum line, or cannot be accessed without creating a surgical flap.
Advanced CBCT imaging allows precise surgical planning, particularly for complex extractions involving proximity to nerves or sinus structures.
Wisdom Tooth Evaluation & Pain Management
Wisdom teeth (third molars) frequently cause problems, including impaction, infection, crowding, cysts, and damage to adjacent teeth. Our dentists evaluate wisdom teeth using digital X-rays and CBCT imaging to assess position, development, and potential complications.
Wisdom tooth extraction is recommended when:
- Impaction causes pain, infection, or cyst formation
- Partial eruption creates pockets prone to infection
- Position threatens damage to adjacent second molars
- Crowding affects orthodontic stability
- Pathology develops around impacted teeth
Many wisdom tooth extractions are performed in our office under local anesthesia, with sedation options available. Complex impactions involving deeply positioned teeth or proximity to nerves are referred to oral surgery specialists.
Managing Dental Infections Surgically
Severe dental infections sometimes require surgical intervention when root canal therapy is not appropriate or when infection has spread to the surrounding bone and soft tissue.
Surgical management includes:
- Extraction of severely infected teeth that cannot be saved
- Incision and drainage of abscesses to relieve pressure and eliminate infection
- Removal of infected bone tissue in cases of osteomyelitis
- Apicoectomy (root-end surgery) for persistent infection following root canal therapy
Antibiotics support healing but cannot eliminate dental infections without definitive surgical or endodontic treatment.
Bone Preservation After Extractions
When a tooth is extracted, the surrounding bone begins to resorb within weeks due to the absence of root stimulation. This bone loss can complicate future implant placement and affect the fit of dentures or bridges.
Ridge preservation grafting places bone graft material into the extraction socket immediately after tooth removal, preventing collapse of the socket walls and preserving bone volume for future implant placement. This proactive approach maintains more options for tooth replacement and reduces the need for extensive bone grafting later.
Our dentists evaluate every extraction site and recommend ridge preservation when future implant placement is anticipated.
Nitrous Oxide & Sedation Options
All oral surgery procedures are performed under effective local anesthesia to ensure complete numbness of the surgical site. For anxious patients or more extensive procedures, additional sedation options are available.
- Nitrous oxide provides mild to moderate relaxation, reduces anxiety, and wears off within minutes of completion, allowing patients to drive themselves home.
- Oral conscious sedation uses medication taken before the appointment to produce deeper relaxation for anxious patients or those undergoing complex procedures. Patients remain conscious but are significantly less aware of the procedure and often have little memory of it afterward. A responsible adult must provide transportation.
Post-Surgical Healing & Recovery
Recovery from oral surgery varies based on the complexity and extent of the procedure. Our dentists provide detailed post-operative instructions tailored to each procedure, ensuring patients understand how to manage swelling, discomfort, and diet modifications during recovery.
Post-surgical Care Recommendations:
- Managing swelling with ice packs during the first 48 hours
- Taking prescribed medications as directed
- Eating soft foods and avoiding the surgical site
- Rinsing gently with warm salt water after the first 24 hours
- Avoiding smoking, straws, and strenuous activity during initial healing
- Attending all scheduled follow-up appointments
Most patients manage post-surgical discomfort comfortably with over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication and return to normal activities within several days.
Emergency Oral Surgery Care
Dental emergencies requiring surgical intervention are seen as quickly as possible. Our team makes every effort to accommodate emergency patients the same day they call, providing prompt relief from pain alongside treatment that addresses the underlying problem.
Coordinated Surgical Care
At Biddeford Saco Dental Associates, we provide oral surgery with advanced technology, effective anesthesia and sedation, and a genuine commitment to patient comfort. Complex cases are referred to trusted specialists, with our team coordinating care and providing ongoing support throughout treatment and recovery.
Call our Saco, ME office or book online to schedule your oral surgery consultation.