Dental Surgery

Some problems with the mouth, teeth, and jaw can be improved or eliminated with the help of a dentist, such as the ones at Anderson & Zentz Dental. These “problems” might sound invasive, but they’re common in dental practice. Fixing them usually only requires local anesthetic, with or without mild sedation, and offers minimal recovery time compared to other types of surgeries.

Dr. Anderson and Dr. Zentz are very experienced in the various dental surgeries. The facilities and tools at our office in Kennewick make it easy to undergo dental surgery procedures much like any other dental appointment. Anderson & Zentz Dental is a quiet place where all your concerns are heard prior to surgery taking place. We will review with you the actual procedure, the downtime and recovery, any potential follow-up, and work to answer all of your questions. Dental surgery is simply one more part of the services we offer and our effort to make the dental experience as comfortable as possible.

Wisdom Teeth Extractions
Wisdom teeth extractions are the most common form of dental surgery. Patients may need this type of surgery because of:

• Impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth
• Potential for overcrowding the other teeth
• Risk for gum disease from wisdom tooth position and difficult access (for cleaning)

Wisdom tooth extractions are usually an uncomplicated process. The dentist will numb the extraction area with local anesthetic before performing the procedure. He will remove the tooth and will give the patients’ after care instructions and precautions regarding recovery.

Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is another common type of dental surgery available from Dr. Anderson and Dr. Zentz. Bone grafts are typically needed when there has been tooth loss. Tooth loss often causes bone loss as well, leaving many patients with not enough bone to support dental implants, or even support the smile, which is where modern bone grafting techniques come into play. Lost bone is difficult to rebuild, and grafting at the time of tooth removal helps to eliminate or at least significantly reduce bone loss.

Patients require bone grafting for a variety of reasons:

• Gum disease
• Dental caries and infection
• Injury or trauma
• Developmental deficits

These problems can be corrected with bone grafting. Bone grafting is typically a procedure done immediately after tooth removal, where a defect is caused by the loss of a tooth. Otherwise, an incision into your gum or gingival is made to access the bone underneath it. Grafting material (often donor, synthetic, or animal-derived) is then added. This material then acts as a scaffold to help your body build its own new bone since bones are constantly regenerating!

Once the procedure is complete, it will take several months for your body to repair and replace this bone. Following healing, additional procedures, such as implants, crowns and bridges, can be placed to improve your smile!

Most bone graft procedures are minor, requiring only local anesthesia and/or mild sedation at the dental office.

Gingival Grafting

Gum recession is a common periodontal problem. Most people don’t notice when the gum tissue that surrounds the tooth slowly pulls away to expose the root, but if left untreated, it can lead to further dental problems, damage to supporting bone, and even tooth loss.

Gingival grafting is a procedure to put the gums back or at least stop the recession from progressing. Severe gingival recession may require root coverage surgery, a two-step procedure to put the gums into a more correct position. The first step involves one of many types of techniques to attach new gingiva to the problem area. Next, a standard flap procedure to graft the tissue onto the exposed tooth is performed.

Additional Procedures Offered at Anderson & Zentz Dental:

• Teeth Whitening — This the simplest and most common aesthetic dental treatment, both in terms of cost and time involved. We offer best-in-class whitening, far superior to standard over-the-counter options
• Veneers — These custom-made ceramic laminates can be used to correct discoloration, fractures, and abnormal spacing between teeth
• Ceramic Crowns — When damage to teeth is too much to consider a veneer, a crown will be indicated. These dental prosthetics, most often created in-office with our CEREC® technology, immediately strengthen the remaining tooth structure and provide the aesthetic look you want – all in a single visit!
• Dental Implants — Replace a missing tooth permanently and bring your smile back! This procedure uses a titanium post connected to a crown and creates a dental prosthetic that looks and feels like an natural tooth

And best of all, at Anderson & Zentz Dental, you are treated like an elite member of the family, not just a “somebody with a file number”. Dr. Anderson & Dr. Zentz and their team of experts offer the most comfortable setting for dental care in the area. So take the next step and contact us today for an appointment. 509-585-2500 info@kennewicksmiles.com