Dental Extractions

"Bread and Butter"

Because virtually all oral-maxillofacial surgeons are proficient with removal of teeth, many consider dental extractions the mainstay of the profession. Perhaps no other surgery performed more frequently in the mouth than the removal of wisdom teeth (third molars).

Dr. Sun is certainly no stranger to dental extractions and has removed thousands of teeth even prior to the conclusion of his training. He continues to surgically remove dozens of problematic teeth for his patients every day, many of them under intravenous sedation. As with several other aspects of surgery, he is an established scholar in the field of dental extractions.

Beyond Just Removal

Because of their proficiency, some surgeons forget that not all teeth should be removed blindly. The roots of some wisdom teeth remain in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve that runs within the lower jaw. In these cases, it may be more beneficial to remove just the crown of the tooth - which are the primary causes of wisdom teeth pain, infection, and swelling - and leave the otherwise healthy roots behind. This type of procedure is called coronectomy. 

In other cases, certain wisdom teeth may be positioned unfavorably such that their removal leaves large empty spaces around the roots of other healthy teeth. This could compromise their stability and place them at risk of loosening, periodontal disease, and discomfort. Some wisdom teeth sockets should be filled with new bone at the time of extraction. 

A Pioneer and Discoverer of Surgical Techniques