SURGICAL SERVICES
SURGICAL SERVICES
ENJOY A SPECIALIST LEVEL OF CARE
At Sydney Prosthodontic Group, we treat people, not just teeth. What our patients truly want isn't an implant or a crown — it's the confidence to smile freely, eat without restriction, and live without holding back. That's the philosophy behind our motto: improving lives, one smile at a time.
From your first consultation through to completion, every decision is made with you in mind. We consider your lifestyle, schedule, comfort, and budget — ensuring the path to your ideal outcome is as seamless as the result itself.
Our specialist prosthodontists offer a comprehensive range of personalised solutions, from single-tooth restoration to full-mouth makeovers. Modern dentistry offers multiple ways to solve the same problem, and we take the time to explain every option — the benefits and trade-offs — so you can choose the plan that genuinely suits your needs.
Below we've outlined some of the most common concerns we treat and the solutions we offer. Not every option is right for everyone, and we'll always guide you toward what works best for your individual situation.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE TOOTH EXTRACTION
The dental extraction technique could be very different when you intend to replace a failing tooth with a dental implant. As a dental implant requires ample bone volume to reside in, it is important that tooth extraction in these cases not only needs to avoid damaging existing bone but also to ensure its integrity, establishing a foundation that is as stable as possible.
For a front tooth, for suitable cases, we may decide to intentionally leave behind a sliver of the tooth root, which would keep the thin bone on the outside more stable.
For a back tooth with multiple roots, we separate them into single roots, so that we can safely remove the roots one at a time. This avoids removing or damaging the bone and makes difficult cases a lot more comfortable for you.
After extraction, bone graft material is often placed into the extraction socket to stimulate bone formation and optimise the bone volume. Please refer to Ridge Preservation for more information.
WISDOM TOOTH EXTRACTION
Your wisdom teeth are your third set of molars. They sit right at the back of your mouth and they're the last teeth to come through. Generally, people have 4 wisdom teeth, though some people may not have a full set.
Wisdom teeth normally start erupting into position when you're between 16 and 20 years old. If your jaw is large enough and your dental hygiene is excellent, your wisdom teeth won't need to be removed. However, it is common for one or more wisdom teeth to become stuck (impacted) or tooth decay develops, resulting in pain, risk of infection, or risk of damaging the tooth in front. In these cases, extraction is recommended.
At SPG, we take great care to assess the critical structures nearby, including the sinus in the upper jaw and the nerve in the lower jaw using x-rays. If in doubt, we would take a 3D x-ray (cone beam CT) to confirm all critical structures and ensure your safety, which is the most important aspect above all else.
CORONECTOMY
When a lower wisdom tooth is touching the lower nerve, removing the entire tooth and root may bruise or damage the nerve. In these situations, removing the crown (i.e. the top part of the tooth only) and intentionally leaving the root behind can be considered. This procedure is called coronectomy, which needs to be carefully planned and perfectly executed to be successful. This is completely different from accidental breakage of the tooth root and leaving broken fragments behind. Come and speak to our specialist oral surgeon and find out which procedure is the right one for you.
SURGICAL REMOVAL OF IMPACTED TEETH
Teeth are described as impacted when they have not fully emerged from the gums. Some teeth are more prone to impaction than others. Wisdom teeth are most commonly to be impacted but other teeth can also be affected.
Partially impacted teeth are especially prone to problems due to the difficulty of cleaning. Impacted teeth may grow into an adjacent tooth damaging the root and causing that tooth to be lost.
A decision as to whether to have impacted teeth removed will depend on each individual case. Where the impaction is not causing any symptoms, one option is to monitor and to treat later if necessary. Impacted teeth may need to be removed for a number of reasons related to a higher risk of developing dental problems, such as:
- Infection
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Damage to roots of adjacent tooth
- Development of cyst causing bone resorption
SURGICAL TOOTH EXPOSURE
Instead of removing impacted teeth, some may be retained but you may need a surgical procedure to expose it to help it to come through. Then an orthodontist could move it into the right position. The buried tooth is covered by gum and sometimes by a thin layer of bone. This procedure involves removing the gum and any bone covering the tooth. We may be requested to attach a gold button or chain to the tooth, so that your orthodontist can move the tooth into the desired position.
ALVEOLECTOMY
An alveolectomy is a surgical procedure that reshape the jaw bone to prepare for subsequent procedures, like dental implants or fitting of a removable denture. Careful pre-surgery planning is required to determine exactly which part of the jaw bone need to be reshaped and why. In addition, critical and vital structures are meticulously identified on radiographs or 3D bone scan to ensure treatment accuracy. The utmost care will be carried during the procedure to achieve a painless procedure.
TORI OR EXOSTOSES REDUCTION
Tori (also known as exostoses) are bony bumps that could occur in the upper jaw outer areas, the central roof of the mouth or lower jaw inner areas. These vary in size and could become quite large, which may interfere with one's ability to eat, speech or ability to fit a denture. These bony bumps can be carefully surgically removed to facilitate insertion of a denture, more comfortable denture use and improved quality of life.
FRENECTOMY
A frenectomy is a simple surgical procedure that involves removing or reshaping the soft tissue attachment (or frenum) located under the upper lip, under the tongue (i.e. tongue-tie) or inside cheek areas. These frenum can interfere with proper muscle function (e.g. smile), speech or stability of a removable denture. Frenectomy is often a quick and simple procedure.
GENERAL ANAESTHESIA (GA)
While intravenous sedation may be sufficient for many patients, general anaesthesia or GA may be indicated for procedures that are most challenging, potentially uncomfortable, lengthy, or preferred by the patient. Dr. Thao Truong is registered with Chatswood Private Hospital where this service is available.
General anaesthesia is a deeper sedation than intravenous sedation and you do not need to stay in hospital overnight,
How does it work?
First you need a consultation with Dr. Thao to discuss your treatment needs and to confirm your suitability for treatment under GA. We will provide you with a quote for the cost of your dental treatment and all the necessary information for the surgery.
For treatment under general anaesthesia, there are 3 associated costs: the private hospital fee, the anaesthetist fee, and the dental treatment fee. The hospital will collect the first two and our practice will collect the treatment fee. Patients with private health insurance can contact their insurance company to determine their coverage and excess. Uninsured patients can contact the hospital directly for an approximate fee.
A few days before your procedure:
- hospital staff and the anaesthetist will contact you to discuss pre-surgery preparation requirements, confirm your surgery time, fasting requirements, any medications to cease, allergies etc.
- we will contact you to collect your signed treatment consent form and treatment fees (not the hospital GA or anaesthetist fees, which will be collected by the hospital and anaesthetist directly).
Typically, you will arrive at least an hour or more before your surgery and be discharged around 3 hours after the completion of surgery for short procedures (around 30-120 mins) such as extractions or dental implants. You will not be able to drive home after so make sure you bring someone with you.
After the procedure, we will call you the following business day and arrange a complimentary follow-up review appointment with Dr. Thao in 2 weeks' time.
