What Is Distal Wedge Procedure?

May 1, 2023

Periodontal disease is one of the most common yet serious oral problems in dentistry. It is a bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones that support teeth. Over time, the infection causes the gums to recede and the bone to shrink. Periodontal disease can severely compromise your oral health, leading to complications like toothache, abscesses, and tooth loss. It is why we prioritize periodontal treatments at Scripps Poway Dental Care to offer optimal dental care to our patients.

Understanding Distal Wedge Procedure

It is a type of dental surgery dentists in San Diego use to treat periodontal disease. Since periodontal disease affects the gums and bones that support the teeth, the distal wedge procedure addresses the deep periodontal pocket that develops between the tooth and the gum tissue.

Since distal wedge treatment entails surgery, the procedure first entails numbing the mouth around the tooth with local anesthesia. It will ensure your treatment is pain-free.

During the distal wedge treatment in San Diego, the dentist carefully lifts the gum tissue surrounding the affected tooth to expose the root and underlying bone. The dentist will then clean any infected tissues to remove tartar and plaque buildup from the tooth root and surrounding bone. Later, the dentist will reshape the bone to promote and encourage healing and regeneration resulting in healthy gum tissue growth.

What Is the Purpose of A Distal Wedge Procedure?

The primary role of a distal wedge procedure is to treat bone loss and remove the additional tissue that may be covering a portion of the back teeth. The procedure aims to remove the source of the infection and promote the regeneration of healthy gum and bone tissue. The result will restore oral health and prevent further complications such as tooth loss. Therefore, the role of a distal wedge procedure in dentistry can be summarized in the following ways:

To treat periodontitis
To promote effective oral hygiene measures by eliminating the tissues that can make it hard to clean the molars.
To facilitate restorative treatment for healing the gums and bone tissue in the distal or most posterior regions.
For crown lengthening – usually for patients with teeth that are too short, severe dental decay below the gum line, or a cracked or broken tooth beneath the gum line.
To protect teeth by preventing damage to the adjacent tooth
To avoid dental pain – unless a dentist removes the tissue through distal wedge surgery, it can cause intense discomfort when you chew.

How Long Does a Distal Wedge Procedure Take?

The longevity of the procedure varies for each patient. It should take about 15 minutes to remove a small wedge of tissue and suture the surgical wounds with stitches.

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When Should You Do A Distal Wedge?

Dentist Sorrento Valley recommends a distal wedge procedure to patients usually after a wisdom tooth extraction. It removes the soft tissue on the hind tooth called the 2nd molar.

Usually, after wisdom tooth removal, the body makes lots of new tissue to cover the hole. The tissues are necessary for healing after wisdom tooth extraction surgery. However, the tissues can be excessive, covering the back part of the 2nd molars. Generally, it is hard to keep the back teeth as clean as the front ones. It gets harder when the tissue covers the tooth. Without a distal wedge, the back teeth will develop complications like cavities, dental decay, and periodontitis.

Can I Eat After A Distal Wedge Procedure?

Dentists recommend using a straw to eat for the first 3 days after your surgery. Minimal to no disruptions in your mouth will allow for ample healing. On the 3rd day moving forward, start eating soft and bland foods. Some great options to get you started are pasta, soups, eggs, fish, softly cooked vegetables, oatmeal, rice, and beans. Hard and spicy foods are unconducive until after about a week or two. However, remember that healing happens differently for patients. Therefore, liaise with your dentist about aftercare measures after surgery.