The old song ‘All I want for Christmas’ doesn’t work for me. All I want for Christmas is to have my two front teeth removed. They are hideous. But does the extraction process become more painful depending on how big the teeth are?

First let me say that as long as teeth and their supporting tissues are healthy and strong, modern cosmetic dentistry can work wonders in the appearance of a smile. If teeth are deemed non-restorable or they limit a comprehensive treatment recommendation then removals may be the only option. Size of a tooth does not necessarily determine how uncomfortable a procedure will be. Removal of teeth is probably the oldest surgical procedure performed by mankind. Historically (“pre-dental implant era”) the main goal was to get the tooth out…period! Now we obviously want the tooth out but the ultimate goal is to remove it gently without damaging ANY bone or gum tissue in the process. This is what could potentially lead to “pain”.

It is common for even the best trained dental surgeons use drills and burs to remove teeth. Regardless of how accurate the surgeon is there is always tissue and bone destruction. . Piezo dental surgery solves this issue by using ultrasound waves to remove a tooth without damaging surrounding tissue. Because most removals of teeth should be done with the consideration that a dental implant replacement will be considered at the time of removal or at some later date, minimally invasive techniques such as piezo surgery should be considered.

Dr.John Paul Gallardo