If you live in Victor Harbor, Encounter Bay, Goolwa, Normanville or elsewhere on the Fleurieu Peninsula, travelling into Adelaide for a tooth extraction or oral surgical procedure is not always necessary.

Our dental surgery is conveniently located south of Adelaide in Old Noarlunga, with onsite parking and access to a range of dental extraction and oral surgery procedures. Treatment can be provided with local anaesthetic, intravenous sedation or, where appropriate, general anaesthesia.

For patients from Victor Harbor, having treatment closer to home can also make the practical side of treatment easier. If sedation or general anaesthesia is required, having a family member or friend collect you from a location south of Adelaide may be more convenient than travelling into the Adelaide CBD.

Tooth extraction for Victor Harbor patients

A tooth may need to be removed for a number of reasons, including extensive decay, infection, fracture, gum disease or because the tooth cannot be predictably restored.

Some teeth can be removed relatively simply, while others require a surgical approach. This can occur when a tooth is broken below the gum, has difficult roots, is heavily damaged or is otherwise difficult to access.

Before recommending extraction, the tooth and surrounding structures are assessed carefully. X-rays or three-dimensional imaging may be used when needed to understand the position of the tooth and plan treatment.

Wisdom teeth and impacted teeth

Wisdom teeth are one of the most common reasons patients are referred for surgical tooth removal.

A wisdom tooth may become impacted when there is insufficient space for it to erupt normally. This can result in pain, recurrent infection, food trapping, damage to the neighbouring tooth or other problems.

Not every wisdom tooth needs to be removed. The decision depends on the position of the tooth, symptoms, surrounding teeth and gums, and the potential risks and benefits of treatment.

Oral surgery procedures

In addition to routine and surgical tooth extraction, treatment may include:

• Wisdom teeth removal

• Removal of impacted teeth

• Surgical removal of broken or difficult teeth

• Orthodontic extractions

• Exposure of impacted teeth to assist orthodontic treatment

• Oral biopsies

• Dental clearance and multiple tooth extractions

• Treatment planning for patients taking bone-modifying medications

• Other minor oral surgical procedures

Dental extractions and osteoporosis medications

Medications used to treat osteoporosis and other bone conditions, including denosumab (Prolia) and bisphosphonates, can be relevant when planning a tooth extraction such as:

Bisphosphonates

• Alendronate / alendronic acid — Fosamax and generics

• Risedronate — Actonel and generics

• Zoledronic acid / zoledronate — Aclasta

• Ibandronate / ibandronic acid — Bonviva

• Etidronate — Didronel / Didrocal

• Pamidronate — Aredia / Pamisol

• Clodronate — Bonefos

• Tiludronate — Skelid

Other antiresorptive medication

• Denosumab — Prolia

• Denosumab — Xgeva

This does not necessarily mean that an extraction cannot be performed. Instead, the medication history and individual circumstances need to be considered when planning treatment.