Oral surgery in Tulsa

Dr. Hanna completed a one year general practice residency in sedation and oral surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center, so surgical work that many general practices refer out is done in this office. For you that means fewer appointments, one set of records, and the dentist who knows your mouth doing the procedure.

Tooth extractions

A tooth is removed when it cannot be saved, usually because decay or a fracture has gone too far below the gum line, or because advanced gum disease has destroyed the bone holding it.

The area is numbed thoroughly and sedation is available. Before anything is removed, Dr. Hanna will go through what comes next, because the decision about replacing the tooth with an implant or a bridge is easier to plan before the extraction than months afterward.

Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth usually appear in the late teens or early twenties, and they cause trouble when there is not enough room for them. They come in at an angle, get stuck against the tooth in front, or push through only partly and leave a flap of gum that traps food and infects repeatedly.

Not every wisdom tooth needs removing. Ones that come in straight, with room and reachable with a toothbrush, can often be left alone. X-rays and an exam tell you which you have.

Bone contouring

After teeth are removed, sharp ridges or uneven areas of bone sometimes remain. Dr. Hanna smooths these during surgery where possible, but they occasionally show up weeks or months later and need a second short procedure.

This matters most for patients who are going to wear a denture. A denture sitting on an uneven ridge or over bony growths called tori will never be comfortable, so the bone is reduced and smoothed before the denture is made.

Patients with complex health histories

Surgery is more involved when a patient takes several medications or has a condition that needs monitoring during a procedure, particularly blood thinners, diabetes, and heart conditions. The residency training behind this practice is exactly what makes it possible to handle those cases here safely. Bring a full list of your medications to the consultation.