Oral Surgery – Torrance, CA

Advanced Procedures to Improve Your Oral Health

Many practices in our area must refer patients to outside specialists for complex procedures, including oral surgery in Torrance. However, we have an on-staff oral surgeon who can handle virtually all such procedures right here in our office. During every stage of these advanced treatments, we do all we can to make sure our patients are comfortable. Read on below to learn more about some of the services we can provide, and contact us when you are ready to schedule your consultation.

Surgical Tooth Extractions

Gloved hand holding extracted tooth after oral surgery in Torrance

Most tooth extractions are fairly simple; we grasp a tooth with forceps and gently remove it from its socket. In some cases, though, removing a tooth is more complex, and we have to perform surgery. This may involve creating incisions in the gums, breaking a tooth into pieces, or taking other advanced measures to get the tooth out with as little damage to the surrounding tissue as possible.

Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Wisdom tooth stuck beneath gumline, may need to be extracted

Wisdom tooth extractions are a particular subcategory of surgical tooth extractions. The third molars at the back of the mouth (the wisdom teeth) are often stuck beneath the gumline, so our oral surgeon in Torrance may have to make some incisions in order to access them. Also, because the teeth may be somewhat large, it might be necessary to break them in order to fully remove them from their sockets.

Tissue Grafting

Illustration of soft tissue being grafted onto gums

Receding gums can expose your sensitive tooth roots, making your teeth appear longer and interfering with your ability to comfortably enjoy certain foods. Since the lost gum tissue will not regrow on its own, we might recommend that you undergo a gum graft. This special type of tissue graft usually involves taking a small piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth and attaching it to the existing gums. As you heal from the procedure, the grafted tissue will be integrated into your gums, thereby improving the health and appearance of your smile.

Bone Grafting

Illustration of granulated bone material being placed into tooth socket

After tooth loss, the jawbone tends to deteriorate. After some time, it may become so thin or weak that it cannot support dental implants in Torrance. To solve this issue, we may perform a bone graft. During this surgery, we take bone material (perhaps from a donor or another place in your body) and add it to your jawbone. Once the new material has bonded with your jaw, it should be strong enough and large enough to support dental implants.

Sinus Lifts

Illustration of dental implant in upper jaw after sinus lift

A sinus lift is a special type of bone graft. When the sinus cavity above the upper jaw is too large, or the upper jaw is too thin, dental implants may penetrate it when they are inserted into the bone. To prevent this problem, we gently lift the sinus membrane and place bone material beneath it to keep it in place. Several months after a sinus lift surgery, you should be able to safely receive dental implants in the upper jaw.