Sectioning Teeth

Sometimes wisdom teeth have to be removed in order to prevent infection or preserve the alignment of the rest of the teeth. At the Upper East Side dental office of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro, we understand that patients may not be happy to hear this, but we strive to make the procedure as easy on them as we can. One way to make extractions easier is by sectioning teeth.

The molars have strong ligaments holding them in place and multiple roots. (Lower molars have two roots; upper ones may have three.) Extracting a tooth is done my rocking it back and forth in order to loosen it, but this may not be possible to do when a tooth is firmly secured into the jaw. It may also not be possible if the reason a tooth is being removed is that is not fully exposed. Furthermore, trying to yank out a tooth with an enormous amount of force could break it or hurt the patients.

As an alternative, we can use a drill to cut a large tooth into sections. The patient will be anesthetized and not feel this, but the tooth will be cleanly broken down into smaller pieces. The sections can then be lifted out individually through smaller paths without needing to be yanked or twisted as much.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit Joseph Dallessandro DDS and fill out a contact sheet.