Dr Michael Cai and the team at Pitt Street Dental Centre look after Sydney CBD patients facing infections, failing teeth, and tooth replacement decisions every day. Our patient Ms Chen is a recent example. She came in around two weeks ago with an infection on her lower right first molar, and her treatment today involved an extraction and bone graft as part of a longer-term implant plan.
What Happened At Ms Chen’s Appointment
Her case is a common scenario in adults who have had previous root canal therapy on a heavily restored tooth.
Diagnosing The Infection
A scan showed infection sitting under an existing root canal treated tooth. Closer assessment revealed limited remaining tooth structure and a crack extending into the root, which meant the tooth could not be predictably saved with further treatment.
Comfortable Extraction
Dr Michael numbed the area thoroughly before gently removing the infected tooth. For patients who feel anxious, sedation dentistry is also available to help make the experience as calm as possible.
Cleaning And Bone Graft
The infection was carefully cleaned from the socket, and a bone graft was placed to support healing. This step helps maintain enough soft tissue and bone volume in the area so that an implant can be placed in a few months when the site has healed.
Planning The Replacement
Once healing is complete, Ms Chen will move into the next phase of treatment with a dental implant to restore the missing tooth.
Looking After Infections And Missing Teeth
Modern dentistry offers many ways to replace missing teeth, from single implants to full arch solutions such as All-on-4. The key is planning ahead so that the bone and gum are protected from day one.
Book A Consultation
If you have an infected tooth or are weighing up extraction and tooth replacement, call us on +61 2 8000 1832 or book online to organise a consultation.
Disclaimer: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Individual results vary.
