Oral Surgery: What are my financing options?

oral surgeon

Without a doubt, the very best oral surgery experience is one in which there are no unexpected surprises. When everything goes according to the plan, you’ll feel more relaxed and more satisfied, and your oral surgeon will feel better too. The expectation of full preparation and disclosure applies not only to the treatment rooms, but also to your experience at the front desk. How much will your treatment cost and what are the office’s policies on collecting payment? These questions can be answered with the presentation of a detailed treatment plan at the conclusion of your consultation visit, and confirmed when you arrive on the day of your scheduled treatment. Your treatment plan will outline and specify the surgical procedures that have been recommended for you, the recommended anesthesia or sedation options, fees for specialized equipment or procedures, relevant testing or other diagnostic services. The fees for each item will…

Oral Surgery Procedure: What are my sedation options?

oral surgery

As you consider scheduling an appointment for oral surgery, your thoughts will certainly wander beyond the subject of wisdom teeth or dental implants. Like many patients, it is understandable that you will wonder about the other details surrounding the surgery. How will it feel? Will you be asleep or awake? Will you feel pain? What if you are afraid of needles? These questions (and others) are perfectly normal, and your oral surgeon is prepared to answer them all. In fact, your oral surgeon is prepared to customize the surgical procedure to suit your preferences in order to provide you with high quality care that is also comfortable. For most patients, the management of stress or anxiety and controlling pain are top priorities. When you are able to relax into the dental chair and when you are able to let your mind wander away from thoughts of tension or discomfort, you…

Tooth Extraction: What are my treatment options?

tooth extraction

Ideally, when a patient has experienced tooth decay or facial trauma, a dentist would be able to save the tooth. However, in some cases, teeth are so badly damaged by decay or injury that they cannot be saved through restorations and must be extracted. If a tooth extraction is more complex, it must be performed by an oral surgeon. On the other hand, simple extractions can be done by a general dentist. Of course, after your tooth extraction, you probably will want to explore some sort of tooth replacement option (unless it is a wisdom tooth, which has no impact on the smile’s appearance when it is removed). This will help to restore your smile’s appearance and functionality.  Patients have a number of treatment options when it comes to tooth replacement. A single missing tooth may be treated with a fixed permanent bridge, while the removal of an entire arch…

How Dental Implants Can Reduce Long-term Dental Costs

dental implants

Dental implants represent the most modern tooth replacement technology that dentistry has to offer. A significant advance over past tooth replacement methods, the dental implant fuses with the bone, providing structural support underneath the gumline and becoming a permanent fixture in the mouth. Dental implants are made of titanium, and after the oral surgeon inserts them into the jaw, they osseointegrate with the bone, offering stability and durability that is unmatched by alternatives like bridges and dentures. In fact, if you care for your implants as instructed, they can last for decades. A significant shortcoming of bridges and dentures is that they do not replace the absent tooth root as dental implants do. Because no root is available to anchor the jaw, it will gradually wear away over time. This process leads to ill-fitting appliances that must be re-fitted or replaced periodically—at the patient’s expense and inconvenience. Another important budget-friendly…

Will I need to have teeth extracted prior to getting braces?

oral surgeon

Braces can help give patients the smile of their dreams, but in some cases, the appliances themselves may not be enough to achieve a patient’s aesthetic goals. When planning for orthodontic treatment, some patients may need to consult with an oral surgeon in addition to keeping their regular appointments with the orthodontist. Patients with severely crowded teeth or an excess number of teeth may need to have some of those teeth extracted in order to bring the teeth into the proper alignment. Tooth extraction may also be indicated to address an overbite or to create more room to accommodate teeth that protrude from the smile.  If you still have your wisdom teeth, you may want to have those extracted prior to getting braces, too. The wisdom teeth can continue to attempt to erupt, which can knock the teeth out of alignment and ruin the results of the years you spent…

Sleep Apnea: What is the Pillar® Procedure?

oral surgery

The Pillar® Procedure is a safe and effective oral surgery technique designed to reduce or eliminate snoring, a common symptom of sleep apnea. For patients who suffer from this condition, snoring is often an indication that the airways have become partially or completely blocked during sleep. In light of the significant health risks posed by sleep apnea, the Pillar® Procedure has enabled many patients to enjoy a greater quality of sleep while also protecting their overall health. Excess or loose tissue in the back of the throat is the leading cause of snoring, and more than 80% of patients are unable to control this condition on their own. During sleep, the soft tissues of the throat, soft palate, and the tongue tend to collapse, and the patient’s attempt to breathe through the nose and mouth are restricted. The result is the loud vibration caused by the air being forced past…