Category Archives: oral surgeon

Wisdom Teeth Removal: Your Most Common Questions Answered

  Has your dentist informed you that your wisdom teeth are coming in? Perhaps you’ve been referred to an oral surgeon for a wisdom tooth removal consultation. If you have queries about wisdom teeth and their removal, read on for answers to frequently asked questions. How many wisdom teeth does a person have? A person can have up to four wisdom teeth but some people do not develop wisdom teeth at all. Others might have between one and four wisdom teeth. Why do we have wisdom teeth? Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that develop during one’s late teenage years or early-to-mid 20s. Originally, this third set of molars was helpful because people’s first and second sets of molars would often decay by the time a person was a teenager or adult. This means that third molars would essentially replace back teeth that were lost to disease. Now…

Wisdom Teeth Removal: A Guide to Your Third Molars

The first time many patients encounter an oral surgeon is when it’s time to have their wisdom teeth removed. The lack of familiarity with these procedures can seem scary and overwhelming at first, but when patients get more information, they feel reassured. Here is a guide to help you understand why impacted wisdom teeth need to be extracted and what you can expect from the procedure. You may wonder why we even have these teeth to begin with if they’re only going to be removed. These large teeth helped our ancient ancestors process their diet, which included much tougher foods than those we eat today. Additionally, these early humans had no routine dental care, so they were far more likely to lose their other teeth, and the third molars were standing by as a replacement. However, modern humans have much smaller jaws and there is not enough room for these…

Wisdom Teeth Removal: What are Pre-Extraction Considerations?

Do you need your wisdom teeth removed? If so, more than likely, your dentist has referred you to an oral surgeon for a consultation. Removing wisdom teeth is a surgical procedure. Fortunately, modern techniques are used to reduce invasiveness and medication helps ease discomfort during and after one’s treatment. Having your wisdom teeth removed is beneficial to your oral health as it can reduce the risks for developing conditions such as abscesses and periodontal disease. If you have an upcoming extraction, there are some things to consider before your procedure. We recommend that patients having their wisdom teeth removed run errands prior to their procedure, stock up on recommended food items, and arrange for transportation to and from their appointments. Run Errands We recommend running all necessary errands prior to your appointment. This is because you will need to rest after your procedure. If you need to go shopping, pay…

What is orofacial pain and how can it be treated?

Orofacial pain refers to discomfort in the oral cavity or along the face. Common areas include the jaw, beneath the ears, just under the cheeks, and inside the oral cavity. Orofacial pain can encompass a few different conditions. Since the origin of orofacial pain varies, our oral surgeons will need to conduct a thorough oral health evaluation to determine the appropriate course of action. When treating orofacial pain, the objectives are to increase oral function and improve one’s comfort level. Treatment for orofacial pain can include orthognathic (jaw) surgery and tooth extractions. Causes of Orofacial Pain There are two conditions that are responsible for the majority of oral facial pain. The first is teeth that have internal infections. Normally an abscessed tooth or one with pulpitis is to blame. Teeth that are abscessed or internally infected can produce severe pain. Unless a tooth can be saved with endodontic therapy or…

Tips to Prepare for Your Oral Surgery Consultation

If you’ve never had a consultation with an oral surgeon before, you may not know what to expect. That unfamiliarity can cause anxiety. But there’s really no cause for worrying about your first appointment, and when you are prepared for the process, it can put your mind at ease. You should bring your referral slip to the first appointment with your oral surgeon, as this information is important in the treatment planning process. It will indicate the specific nature of your problem and possible treatment options to consider, such as the placement of dental implants at the site of tooth loss or corrective jaw surgery to address a malocclusion. Your oral surgeon will then gather additional information needed to develop the treatment plan. This likely will involve a visual examination of your teeth and jaws along with x-rays to get a better view of the proposed surgical site. For example,…

How do I avoid dry socket after having wisdom teeth removed?

Wisdom teeth extraction is a surgical procedure typically provided by an oral surgeon. Having one’s wisdom teeth removed can prevent a number of oral health complications such as periodontal disease, orthodontic problems, and abscessed teeth. After your wisdom teeth extraction, it is important to allow a blood clot to form over the treatment site. If you touch the extraction site with your finger or tongue, you can dislodge the blood clot and develop dry socket. A blood clot forming over the extraction site is a necessary part of the healing process. Like a scab over skin, a blood clot helps tissue close over the empty tooth socket. Dry socket can slow down the healing process and produce pain and discomfort. What should I do if I develop dry socket? If you dislodge the blood clots over wisdom teeth extraction sites, you need to call our practice to schedule an appointment…

Will I need recovery time from sedation with my oral surgery?

Most patients who have a surgical procedure like a wisdom tooth extraction or dental implant placement will want some sort of sedation during the procedure. Your oral surgeon will review your sedation options with you and advise you of what to expect in the recovery process. Some methods require some recovery time after the appointment, while others do not. The mildest form of sedative is nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas), which the patient inhales in gaseous form through a mask. It produces a calming sensation throughout the patient’s body, and its effects are reversed quickly after the patient returns to inhaling normal air. There is minimal recovery time needed for patients who receive nitrous oxide as sedation for their procedure. Alternatively, your oral surgeon may recommend IV sedation or general anesthesia for your procedure, and these methods do have lingering effects even after the surgery is complete. With…

Common Reasons for Tooth Extractions

Many people may first think of the wisdom teeth when they hear the phrase tooth extraction, but there are a number of other reasons that a patient may need to have a tooth removed, as well. For example, a tooth that has been severely damaged by injury may not be salvageable. Similarly, extraction may be indicated in the case of a tooth that has been significantly compromised by extensive decay to the degree that not enough tooth material remains to support a restoration. An oral surgeon may also need to extract a tooth as part of an orthodontic treatment plan. If the patient’s smile is “crowded,” removing a tooth can create the space needed to move the other teeth into their proper positions. Indeed, impacted teeth also may be extracted, and the surgeon may need to remove surrounding bone first in order to access the teeth. Regardless of the issue…

What happens if a cuspid tooth becomes impacted?

While impacted wisdom teeth have little, if any, effect on your smile’s appearance when they’re removed, patients with impacted cuspids (also known as the canine teeth or eyeteeth) will have smiles that suffer if those teeth are just extracted. Fortunately, impacted cuspids can be uncovered and moved to emerge when an oral surgeon and an orthodontist collaborate on the treatment. The maxillary (upper) cuspids actually are the second most likely teeth to become impacted after the wisdom teeth, so a number of patients may face this problem. In order to address the issue of impacted cuspids, the oral surgeon will expose the tooth by removing gum and bone tissue that are covering it. The surgeon may need to put a dressing on top of the tooth in some cases. If that is necessary, the dressing will be removed after 10-14 days. Alternatively, the surgeon may attach a bracket to the…

3D Imaging Technology Can Enhance Patient Care

Diagnostic images have been incredibly important in the history of modern medicine. From the invention of the X-ray to the MRI, millions of people have benefitted from diagnostic imaging because it allows physicians a look at the health of structures that are not outwardly visible. When it comes to oral and maxillofacial surgery, diagnostic images are essential to the diagnosis and treatment of a number of conditions. Using the latest technology available, our oral surgeons are proud to offer 3D imaging. 3D Imaging and Oral Healthcare Traditional X-rays only provide a two dimensional view of a patient’s teeth or craniofacial region. Two-dimensional images provide a limited view of structures beneath the skin and soft oral tissues. Three-dimensional images, on the other hand, offer a more comprehensive look at a particular area. With detailed imaging, treatment planning is much more accurate and precise. Three-dimensional imaging technology has many applications in oral…