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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Treatment Options for a Fractured Tooth

tooth extraction

With modern dental techniques, most dental conditions can be successfully addressed and treated. Ultimately, your dentist would like to preserve as many of your natural teeth as possible with the help of corrective or restorative dentistry. There are instances, however, when a dental condition severely compromises the prognosis for your tooth. In other words, there are times when the chances of preserving a damaged tooth are particularly unfavorable. A common example would be a fractured tooth.  When a tooth is fractured or broken, even advanced restorative efforts are ineffective, and the most ideal treatment is generally tooth extraction. A fractured tooth can often extend far below the gumline, making it difficult to restore with a filling or a crown. Often times, after a traumatic injury, even a microscopic fracture in the root portion of the tooth can be impossible to repair. The ligaments and bone that surround the tooth root…

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Reclaim a More Youthful Appearance with Dental Implants

dental implants

What does your smile say about your age? If you are living with missing teeth or a poorly fitting tooth replacement, your smile may look like a fake I.D. It’s adding years to your actual age! Rather than simply accept the consequences of tooth loss, it may be time that you consider the advantages of dental implants. As the most life-like and attractive tooth replacement, implants allow you to regain the youthful smile that you once enjoyed. Even with close social contact, no one will be able to detect your artificial teeth. They’ll only notice that your full and attractive smile seems healthy and natural. Missing front teeth are evident when you smile, making you appear older, less attractive, and it’s a symbol of poor health. When teeth are missing in the rear of the mouth, the spaces may not be visible when you smile, but there are other consequences…

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Impacted Cuspid: What are my options?

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For the most attractive smile and a properly functioning bite, it is important for each tooth to grow into its appropriate position. In most cases, tooth eruption is a natural process that may require minor orthodontic assistance in order to achieve perfection. In many instances, one or more teeth may fail to grow into place naturally, and you’ll need the expertise of an oral surgeon to complete the process. One of the most commonly impacted, or “trapped” teeth are the upper cuspids. These teeth, also referred to as the eye teeth or canines, play an important role in the alignment of your bite. They also have the longest roots of any other permanent teeth, making them stronger and more durable than most of the other teeth.  Since an impacted cuspid cannot be expected to erupt naturally, modern dentistry offers many proven solutions to assist in the process. Your orthodontist may…

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Facial Trauma: Soft Tissue Injuries

oral surgery

Sometimes, an accidental injury to the head, face, or mouth can be absolutely devastating. In other instances, it can be as simple as a cut that bleeds uncontrollably. When such an injury involves the teeth, it is natural to seek the help of an oral surgeon. What you may not realize is that an oral surgeon is also the correct choice when the injury involves the soft tissues of the face, mouth, lips, or tongue. Due to an oral surgeon’s in-depth education and experience, you can expect to receive an exceptional level of combined medical and dental care. When it comes to a region as delicate and highly visible as the face and mouth, these skills become more valuable than ever. In addition to a wealth of knowledge about the teeth, gums, and bone, an oral surgeon’s education includes extensive hands-on experience in several related fields of study. Pain management,…

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Wisdom Teeth Extraction: Maintain your smile and your quality of life

wisdom teeth extraction

A great deal of dental conditions can be prevented when you make the decision to have your problematic wisdom teeth extracted. Unnecessary discomfort, tenderness, inflammation and infection can affect your smile as well as the quality of your life. When your wisdom teeth begin to interfere with your ability to speak, eat, and sleep, the consequences of that discomfort can interrupt the normal flow of your daily life. Rather than suffer through the inconveniences presented by the wisdom teeth, you can preserve your health and your comfort by consulting an experienced oral surgeon to schedule your wisdom teeth extraction.  In addition to physical discomfort, the inability to properly clean the wisdom teeth and the neighboring teeth can make your efforts at good oral hygiene less effective. After even a single day, food and plaque can begin to accumulate around the very back teeth and under the gumline, beyond the reach…

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What is the success rate of dental implants?

dental implants

Dental implants are perhaps the most popular solution for tooth replacement within the last 30 years. When used to replace individual missing teeth, implants are designed to mimic the shape and size of a natural tooth. They can also be customized to replace only the root portion of a natural tooth in order to serve as an anchor for a dental bridge or a complete denture. As you discuss the option of dental implants with your oral surgeon, you will likely learn that these restorations have an impressive success rate of approximately 97%. According to clinical research statistics, nearly all dental implants can be expected to be successful. To qualify as “successful”, an implant must remain in place and functional for at least five years after it is initially placed. The great majority of implants, however, have been documented to last for a significantly longer period of time. Many of…

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