Oral Surgery in Papua New Guinea
Outpatient and In-house Procedures at Mills Dental Care
We offer sedation or general anesthesia if required for some dental procedures.
A dental extraction (also referred to as exodontia) is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Extractions are performed for a wide variety of reasons, including tooth decay that has destroyed enough tooth structure to render the tooth non-restorable.
Extractions of impacted or problematic wisdom teeth are routinely performed, as are extractions of some permanent teeth to make space for orthodontic treatment. Our dentists work hard to ensure your optimal comfort during every extraction performed at Mills Dental Care. For certain cases we also provide the option to carry out various surgical procedures under general anaesthesia or sedation.
Removal of Impacted Teeth
Wisdom teeth, otherwise known as third molars, are the last set of teeth to develop. Sometimes these teeth emerge from the gum line and when the jaw is large enough to allow room for them, but most of the time, this is not the case. More often, one or more of these third molars fails to emerge in proper alignment or fails to fully emerge through the gum line. The tooth may then become entrapped or impacted between the jawbone and the gum tissue.
Impacted wisdom teeth can result in swelling, pain and infection of the gum tissue surrounding the wisdom teeth. In addition, impacted wisdom teeth can cause permanent damage to nearby teeth, gums and bone and can sometimes lead to the formation of cysts or tumours that can destroy sections of the jaw. Therefore, our Port Moresby dentists frequently recommend people with impacted wisdom teeth have them surgically removed.
It’s not just wisdom teeth that sometimes become impacted and need to be removed. Other teeth, such as the cuspids and the bicuspids, can become impacted and can cause the same types of problems described with impacted wisdom teeth.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
Dysfunction of the TMJ, the small joint in front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet, is a common source of headache and facial pain. Most patients with TMJ disorders can be successfully treated with a combination of oral medications, physical therapy and splints. However, joint surgery is an option for advanced cases and when the diagnosis indicates a specific problem in the joint.
Facial Infections and Injury Repair
Pain and swelling in the face, neck or jaws may indicate an infection. Infections in this area of the body can sometimes develop into life-threatening emergencies if not treated promptly and effectively. An oral surgeon can assist in diagnosing and treating this problem. Surgical treatment, if needed, may include cutting into and draining the infected area as well as extracting any teeth that might be involved.
Oral surgery is also often used to repair fractured jaws and broken facial bones. These emergencies are usually the result of accidental trauma, such as a car accident or fall.
Regardless of your dental emergency or surgical needs, please contact Mills Dental Care to speak to one of our highly experienced providers. Call 675 3200600.