How a Sleep Dentist Can Benefit You

As a sleep dentist, we are focused on your health but also on your comfort.  It is time to reevaluate dentistry and what your experience will be like.  In the past, patients did not have very many options. You visited the local dentist and received the same basic care, regardless of where you went.  Times have changed and we are offering patients an entirely different way to receive dental care – a way that we believe is far better.

What Visiting a Sleep Dentist is Like

When you visit our dental office for a procedure like dental implants or gum repair, we can put you to sleep.  This is the easiest and most comfortable way to receive dental care because you can come in, sit down, fall asleep and wake up when it is over.  Instead of feeling anxious or uncomfortable during your treatment, you can be entirely relaxed physically, mentally and emotionally.  This is a win-win for anyone that is concerned about feeling stressed when receiving dental care.

Additional Benefits of Visiting a Sleep Dentist

#1 The procedure will be over quickly.

By going to sleep, the procedure will seem to be over in the blink of an eye.  Instead of waiting for it to be over and counting down the minutes, you will feel completely relaxed and unaware of time.  This is a significant benefit for your state of wellbeing.  Simultaneously, the procedure actually can be over faster when you are asleep.  This is because we can focus on getting results without taking breaks or going slowly to make it easier for you.  Since you are sleeping, our intense focus will be beneficial and not concerning at all.

#2 We can do more in one sitting.

If you need to have major dental work done, there is a chance that you will have to come to the dentist more than once.  This is typically due to the fact that most people cannot sit still for so many hours.  However, when you visit a sleep dentist, this is not a concern.  We can often complete far more of the necessary work in one sitting because it will be comfortable for you.  This will save you time in the future.

#3 You will leave happy.

Let's face it – dentistry has a bad reputation.  We know this to be true, even though it is often undeserved.  Our patients feel better after visiting us for dental care because we are a gentle dentist and because we offer sedation.  When you visit our sleep dentist office for a procedure we are confident that you will leave happy and pleased that you received care here, rather than from a traditional dental office.

To learn more about sleep dentistry in general or to discuss your oral health concerns, give us a call.  We will be happy to answer your questions and to create a customized treatment plan to address all of your individual needs.  We are highly skilled and capable of giving you a beautiful and healthy smile. 

Periodontist  >  Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation

Oral Surgery for Impacted Teeth

You may need oral surgery if one of your teeth never came in properly. Most people think of an impacted tooth in relation to a wisdom tooth that only grew in partially or remained impacted, and very often, that is what we treat. We can remove your wisdom teeth so they do not create a health risk or push your teeth forward due to a lack of space. However, orthodontists also recommend oral surgery for impacted teeth, and here is why:

Some teeth never grow in correctly.

There are a variety of reasons that this happens, which can include baby teeth remaining in place for too long. If they do not fall out, it leaves the permanent tooth inside the gums, unable to descend unless it goes on top or behind the baby tooth. Similarly, if there is just not enough room in the mouth for a tooth, it may never descend.

What should I do with an impacted tooth?

Oral surgery is typically your best option since otherwise, it will not come down on its own. The tooth can either be removed entirely or an orthodontist and oral surgeon can work together to bring it down. Surgically, the gum must be cut open so the tooth is exposed. At this point, the surgeon can bond a bracket to the lower portion of the tooth so the orthodontist can access it and begin to complete a procedure to slowly and gently lower the tooth into position. Your orthodontist can let you know how long this will take.

Can I simply leave the tooth in place?

Yes, but it poses a clear health risk. In the case of an impacted wisdom tooth, there is usually an area where food can become trapped, making it all too easy for your back molars to become infected. In the case of a tooth that never descended, leaving it in place can lead to the damage of your tooth roots — the other ones. Essentially, this tooth could disrupt your other healthy teeth and create additional problems for them. The actual impacted tooth can develop a cyst or other conditions. Overall, this makes it important to remove an impacted tooth or undergo a treatment to help it descend.

What happens next?

Once your new tooth is in place, it may not be straight. In fact, it is rather unlikely that it will be. In this scenario, you may want to undergo an orthodontic treatment to straighten all of your teeth and to complete your smile transformation. You may elect to do this with traditional braces or clear aligners. Both work well, but it is highly likely that you will have already been wearing braces to help pull down the impacted tooth.

The first step in this process is to determine if your tooth is impacted and whether or not you want to remove it using oral surgery. Remember that even if you want to keep the tooth, surgery will begin the process by exposing it. We can explain both solutions further when you come in for a consultation.