Options for Denture Wearers

All-on-4

In the past, patients who needed dentures had to settle for traditional appliances held in place by adhesives that were often ineffective. A newer approach, known as All-on-4, can give these denture wearers some relief. This technique uses four dental implants to secure the prosthetic arch, eliminating many of the problems associated with conventional dentures. Four dental implants are placed in the jawbone by an oral surgeon. Because they are made of titanium, the implants fuse with the bone in the months following placement. Patients are fitted with a temporary prosthetic arch on the day of the surgery, and after the healing process is complete, they return to receive a stronger, permanent denture.  The structural nature of the implants and their ability to fuse with the bone, replacing the roots of the absent teeth, prevents the jawbone resorption that typically occurs in edentulous (toothless) patients. With All-on-4, the implants are…

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Is My Headache a Migraine or TMJ Disorder?

TMJ

Problems with the jaw joint, known collectively as temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders, can cause severe headaches that may seem similar to migraines. In some cases, TMJ can lead to migraines, but the condition can also cause regular headaches. TMJ causes headaches for a variety of reasons. The condition can strain and stress the muscles of the head and neck, leading to tension headaches. TMJ may also put pressure on nerves and blood vessels that leads to headache. With migraines, the headache often arises from a problem with the trigeminal nerve. This is true in TMJ-related migraines, too. The TMJ can put pressure on this nerve, starting the physiological cascade that ultimately results in a migraine. If you suffer from TMJ-related headaches or migraines, an oral surgeon may be able to give you relief. Surgery to correct damages to the jaw structure can be very effective for relieving headaches associated with TMJ.…

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Will Jaw Surgery Correct My Open Bite?

jaw surgery

Millions of patients each year turn to oral surgery to correct disorders of the chin, jaw, and jaw joint. For many patients, the treatment is part of a joint effort between the oral surgeon, the orthodontist, and the general dentist. An open bite, a condition in which the teeth fail to come together even when the jaw is completely closed, is often corrected with jaw surgery. In some mild cases, an open bite can be corrected with orthodontics, or braces, alone. For more advanced cases, it is necessary to reposition the upper or lower jaw to resolve the issue. An oral surgeon is a dentist who has received specialized training in surgical procedures related to the health of the head, neck, and face. This training includes a particular focus on anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and pharmacology. The additional education and experience in these areas prepares oral surgeons to care for you…

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Causes of TMJ Disorder

TMJ

Though the term “TMJ” stands for temporomandibular Joint, the dysfunction that frequently occurs in this area involves more than just the joint. The muscles, ligaments, and cartilage that comprise the joint are all involved. As a matter of fact, as TMJ disorder progresses, the entire head, neck, and mouth can be affected. Patients who suffer from the condition typically notice chronic or intense headaches and neck aches upon waking in the morning, or at the end of the day. Other common symptoms include sensitive teeth, gum recession, bone loss, popping or clicking in the jaw joint, and difficulty opening the mouth. Identifying and eliminating the cause of TMJ disorder is the best way to prevent the uncomfortable and destructive side effects. Discussing your symptoms with your oral surgeon can help you to move towards a solution and find relief. One of the most common causes of TMJ disorder is prolonged…

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Dental Implants: A great investment into your health

dental implants

Your teeth, though they may seem small, are an important part of your body. They are also essential to your physical and emotional health. Within your mouth, each tooth has special duties, and much like a team, they work together for a good cause. When a tooth is missing, your team is incomplete. Your chewing capacity is compromised, your jaw joint has to overcompensate, and the neighboring teeth become unsupported. In time, shifting, crowding, and bone loss become more evident. You may even notice that your confidence begins to decline as you grow increasingly insecure about your smile. Replacing your missing tooth is imperative. In most cases, replacing the missing tooth as soon as possible is the best way to reduce the consequences of tooth loss. But, which tooth replacement is right for you: Dental implants, a bridge, or dentures?  Since all methods of tooth replacement require an investment of…

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Treating Sleep Apnea

oral surgeon

It’s a fact that most people snore whilst asleep at some point in their life. Snoring can affect a person’s quality of sleep – and those around them – but can also be harmful to the person’s health. Frequent, loud snoring can be a pointer to something more serious – a condition called ‘sleep apnea’, in which the patient’s breathing frequently stops and starts during sleep. Left untreated, sleep apnea can interrupt the person’s breathing for a few seconds at a time and these interruptions can occur many times throughout the night. Sleep apnea is a treatable condition, so if you suffer from or know someone who suffers from sleep apnea, contact our oral surgeon to learn about your options. There are typically 3 types of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea –occurs when the soft tissue at the back of the patient’s throat relaxes during sleep and causing a blockage…

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Dental Implants for Renewed Self Confidence and Peace of Mind

dental implants

Having a gap in your smile due to missing teeth can affect your self confidence; it can also affect the health of your remaining teeth, as the gap can cause shifting of the teeth, leading to a misaligned bite, which in itself can lead to jaw problems as well as looking unsightly in its own right. However, dental implants have become a hugely popular method of restorative dental surgery and the treatment can help rebuild self confidence, as well as help protect your remaining teeth.  Dental implants involve an oral surgeon placing a number of titanium supports directly into the patients jawbone and placing a dental crown atop the support, giving the illusion of a perfectly healthy tooth. Dental implants can be used to replace singular missing teeth, but can also be utilized to replace a larger quantity and even complete sets of teeth. Dental implants have numerous advantages over…

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All-on-4 Dental Implants: Avoiding lengthy wait time to achieve an attractive smile

All-on-4

For most people undergoing dental implant treatment, the process involved in the treatment can be a lengthy one; from initial consultation with the oral surgeon through treatment and recovery time, and finally the finished product – a fully restored, healthy smile. However, there is an alternative to consider that takes away much of the time associated with dental implant treatment. Known as the All-on-4 dental implant technique, it may also be referred to as ‘same day teeth’ or ‘same day smiles’, and is a method used by oral surgeons to replace a full arch of upper and/or lower teeth – using only 4 implants. Unlike normal dental implant treatment, which can take several weeks to complete, an entire All-on-4 treatment can be accomplished in just one day and involves the oral surgeon strategically placing four dental implants into the patient’s mouth. A fixed-bridge is then attached onto the implants, locking…

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Does my tooth need to be extracted?

tooth extraction

Patients typically want to avoid having a tooth removed when possible. Dentists, too, will often recommend taking steps to save the biological tooth if that outcome can be achieved. In certain cases, however, a tooth extraction is the best course of treatment and sometimes unavoidable.  For example, a patient with a severely decayed or damaged tooth may need to have the tooth removed. Although a dentist may initially attempt to restore or preserve a patient’s natural tooth, instances of advanced decay or a significant injury or trauma can render the tooth unsalvageable. In removing a significantly decayed tooth, the oral surgeon may be acting to save the surrounding teeth from a similar fate. Similarly, if a patient chooses to get a dental implant rather than a restoration such as a crown, the tooth would need to be removed before the dental implant could be placed. Tooth extraction may also be…

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Options for Replacing Multiple Teeth

dental implants

When a patient has lost multiple teeth, the effects on aesthetics and function can be more dramatic than when just a single tooth is absent. For patients facing this situation, identifying the best tooth replacement method becomes even more critical. Patients have a number of options for replacing missing teeth. A removable partial denture, a fixed permanent bridge, full dentures or dental implants all may be considered, depending on the specifics of the case. Dental implants are presently the best solution for multiple missing teeth, whether they are small in number or the patient is edentulous. A small number of dental implants may be placed side by side to fill in a short gap in the smile. Alternatively, an oral surgeon can place four to six dental implants to anchor a prosthetic arch of teeth, which is a vast improvement on the conventional denture. Dental implants are superior to the…

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