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.

Why We are Number One for Implant Dentistry

We are number one for implant dentistry and can easily replace your missing teeth.  Whether you have lost one or several teeth, we can provide you with a durable and secure replacement solution that looks entirely natural.  We love dental implants because this is the only solution that replaces both your missing root and the tooth.

Here is how the process works –

We implant a small titanium post under your gums and secure it to your jawbone.  The body responds to titanium like it would natural matter.  As a result, bone will be deposited around the implant, literally fusing metal and bone through the process of osseointegration.  It takes a couple of months for this to happen but once it does, your new tooth will be as secure as a natural one.  When ready, we will attach an abutment to your implant at the surface of your gums and then secure a dental crown (new tooth) to it.  The crown will have been created in the dental lab using an impression of your mouth, measurements and a shade card.  This way it will blend in with your surrounding teeth and look completely natural.

We are number one for implant dentistry because –

#1 We specialize in complex dental treatments and implant dentistry.

Some dentists perform implant surgery as a small part of their practice.  Without ongoing clinical experience, they may inadvertently make a mistake or perform the procedure in a way that causes unnecessary irritation.  The procedure has a high success rate but the more often it is performed, the more successful it is likely to be.  We are constantly placing dental implants and are focused on this area of our practice.

#2 We are a laser dentistry.

Whenever possible we use lasers to help improve the process of our procedures.  Lasers can be used to help reduce bleeding in implant surgery.  We generally use them to make what we do more comfortable and to reduce recovery times.  By leveraging dental technology, we can improve your experience.

#3 Our service is amazing.

Yes, we are a dentist but that does not mean that you should not expect amazing customer service.  We want you to be excited to visit our office and we will provide you with excellent service so that you are.  You can depend on us to greet you with a smile, to gladly answer your questions and to provide you with the information you need to be fully prepared and well-informed. You can also call us at any time after the procedure and during your recovery process.

#4 We are focused on quality.

Your dental implants can last a lifetime if they are placed correctly.  We use the best materials and focus on quality so that your new tooth or teeth can stand the test of time.  You should not have to worry about regularly replacing your teeth and when you visit our implant dentistry office, you won’t. 

To learn more about us or to schedule an appointment for implant dentistry, call today.

Why You Should Have Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation for Your Gums

In our clinic, we perform the Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation procedure.  This is the best way to restore the health of your gums after gum disease.  It is extremely common for adults to suffer from gum disease.  In fact, most people will have the earliest form of it, gingivitis, at some point during their lifetime. Whether or not it grows to full-blown gum disease depends on how often you see the dentist and what other risk factors you have. 

In its advanced stage, gum disease will cause your gum tissue to pull away from your tooth structure.  More of your teeth will be exposed and eventually your roots could be as well.  As pockets are created in your gum tissue, you are at an increased risk for infection and bacteria will have more of a direct shot to attacking your teeth and roots.  The result can be infections, loose teeth and eventual tooth loss.  Gum disease is actually one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss so preventing it is incredibly important. For this, we recommend that you visit the dentist twice a year for a teeth cleaning.

If you have passed this point and are experiencing symptoms of gum disease, it is time for you to call our office.  We use the latest in technology to treat gum disease so that you can become healthy again, without the use of invasive dental tools.  We offer a unique procedure called Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation.  Using this technique, we can stimulate the gums and secure them back around your teeth.  Typically, this has to be done using surgery, in which a gum graft is completed to attach tissue to your gums.  The tissue can be taken from the roof of your mouth or it can even come from a tissue bank.  In any case, the traditional process involves cutting your gums and sutures.  Given how sensitive gum tissue is, this procedure can be both uncomfortable and irritating.  Naturally, it also comes with a  fairly extensive recovery period.  This is something that our clients are trying to avoid and with Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation, they can.

To complete  the procedure, we make a small “pinhole” in the gum tissue so that we can insert our instruments and begin working with the gums so that the tissue moves back up around the teeth.  The process is faster than traditional gum surgery and since we only make a pinhole, your gums will not swell up, bleed or be irritated like they traditionally would.  When you are comparing your options and reviewing a traditional gum graft as compared with Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation, there really is no comparison.  Our solution is far more convenient, comfortable, faster, and with less of a recovery period. 

Gum disease is common but innovative solutions are not.  Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation is not offered by very many dentists offices.  This is why you may not have heard of it.  However, if you know that your gums require treatment, we encourage you to visit our office for a second opinion and to learn how this procedure can benefit you specifically.

 

 

Why You Might Prefer Laser Dentistry Practices Instead of Traditional Dentistry Tools

Laser dentistry practices offer more precise and efficient routes to complete many common dental procedures. Laser dentistry techniques are continually growing and improving, resulting in more successful and quick dental treatments. Thanks to the precision of laser dentistry tools, highly specific areas of focus can be accessed without the potential of damaging surrounding tissues. If you have dental phobia, dislike traditional dentistry tools, or you just want to try the most efficient and discomfort-free solution to dental problems, laser dentistry practices can offer safe and comfortable treatment options that will correct infections and dental cavities quickly and successfully.

Pros of Laser Dentistry Practices Over Traditional Dentistry Tools

    Shorter healing times
    Quicker, suture-free soft tissue treatments
    Minimal need for anesthetics
    Minimal bleeding and swelling due to the accuracy and cauterization that high-energy lasers provide
    Less chance of infection because the laser sterilizes tissues during the treatment
    Laser dentistry treatments can regenerate tissues
    You may spend less time in the dental chair due to the effectiveness of lasers
    You can relax more easily since you won’t be hearing unsettling drill noises
    Laser dentistry practices keep children calm
    Laser dentistry treatments can seal pain receptors, so your teeth become less sensitive

What Laser Dentistry Techniques Are Used For

Cavity Detection and Treatment

Laser dentistry techniques allow dentists to detect cavities sooner than they could with traditional dental tools. Newer lasers can prepare a cavity site for treatment and provide accurate dental fillings with little to no local anesthetic injections. While placing a filling, lasers will kill bacteria so the cavity cannot re-develop under the new fillings. Some filling materials may not be compatible with lasers, but we can discuss these options with you when you visit.

Gum Tissue Corrections

Laser dentistry techniques are now used to combat gum recession. Lasers can help regenerate soft tissue to repair damaged gums after gum disease. Lasers are also able to gently reshape soft tissues to disguise misshapen gums and help them to become stronger and provide more coverage. In addition to correcting problems associated with gum recession, lasers can expose more of your natural teeth, so you do not have a noticeable “gummy smile.”

Gum Disease Treatment

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, can be successfully treated by laser dentistry practices. Many dentists prefer to use lasers for gum disease treatment, as they help maintain as much healthy tissue as possible while traditional dental tools often damage healthy tissues while they remove infected tissues. The level of sterilization laser dentistry practices provides also limits the spread of bacteria associated with gum disease, so you are less likely to experience a relapse of infection.

In addition to these areas of laser dentistry that are popular today, lasers are also used for teeth whitening, to remove tumors and cold sores, and in rare cases, lasers can be used to treat problems associated with Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. For more information about why you may be interested in receiving laser dentistry care, schedule an appointment with our office. As with all techniques, lasers may not be appropriate for every dental problem you have, but we can work with you to find the most comfortable solution possible for any dental ailments.

How to Avoid Gum Recession

To some extent, gum recession plagues nearly half of middle-aged adults and 88% of adults over age 65. While receding gums could, unfortunately, be inevitable for some since it can be a hereditary trait, others can avoid gum recession by caring for their teeth and gums properly. If you are interested in preventing the deterioration of your gums, and you want to keep your healthy, beautiful smile, continue reading to learn more about gum recession and how to avoid it.

Brushing Habits

Gum recession has many origins. Like mentioned briefly, some people are more prone to gum recession due to the inheritance of thinner gums that do not stand up well to daily wear and brushing. These people should take extra care when brushing and flossing to do so gently, and a soft-bristled brush should be used. No person should brush too aggressively as this can lead to the deterioration of even the healthiest gums.

Facial Trauma

Gum recession can also be attributed to facial trauma. If you have ever had an injury that affected your teeth and gums, your gums may be more likely to recede. You can prevent facial trauma by wearing a mouthguard when you play sports. Mouthguards act as a barrier for your teeth against any objects that make contact with your face. A dentist can fit you for a proper mouth guard, or you can find one at your local sports store.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is one of the biggest culprits of gum recession. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is the chronic inflammation and infection of the gums. This disease develops due to tartar (hardened plaque) buildup under the gum line that acts as an irritant to your soft tissues. You can prevent periodontal disease by visiting the dentist regularly, receiving deep teeth cleanings, and having cavities taken care of. If you do develop gum disease, you are at risk for not only gum recession but also tooth loss. If you notice that your gums are redder than normal, or they are bleeding easily, visit a dentist immediately for treatment. Regular flossing and brushing can also help you steer clear of gum disease.

Orthodontic Treatment and Oral Piercings

According to a study from the website of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 15% of young adults out of 303 had gum recession, resulting in the confirmation that gum recession can be correlated with past orthodontic treatment and oral piercings. This statistic should encourage any patient undergoing orthodontic treatment to take special care of their teeth and gums during this time. Many patients give up on flossing during braces treatment because it becomes more of a challenge. Failing to floss results in the potential for gum disease and gum recession. Ask your orthodontist for tips on flossing during your treatment to ensure your gums remain healthy.

As for oral piercings, avoid them altogether. While they may be trendy for a time, the health of your teeth and gums should be more important. Oral piercings act as persistent irritants to your oral tissues, resulting in inflamed gums that will slowly recede.

There are many reasons for gum recession in addition to this list. In order to avoid it, the best thing you can do is to keep up with regular visits to your dentist. A dentist knows the signs of receding gums and can give you more tips on how to avoid it altogether. If you already have receding gums, visit our office to learn more about repairing them.

Questions for a Cosmetic Dentist Regarding Dental Implants

As a cosmetic dentist, we can replace your missing teeth with implants.  Here are questions we are asked about dental implants and our answers to them -

Can you restore my existing dental implant if the crown is damaged?

If you already have dental implants but have damaged the crown (tooth portion) of one of them, you may qualify to have your cosmetic dentist perform a dental restoration that leaves the implanted portion alone. This is the most convenient and affordable way to address the problem. Therefore, find out if a dentist offers restorative solutions before starting the procedure.

What are the requirements to qualify for a dental implants procedure?

We place dental implants in patients for a variety of reasons. If you have any other oral health problems, these will need to be addressed first.  Since this is a surgical procedure, it is important to start the process with healthy teeth and gums.  The other qualify factor is bone density.  We will take x-rays in office to determine if your bone is dense enough for the implant to be securely placed.  If it is not, we can discuss other options such as bone grafts.

How long does the process take?

That depends on how many implants you are having placed by your cosmetic dentist.  It can take up to an hour to place each metal implant.  This is why if you are having a lot of teeth replaced, you may need to visit us several times.  Once the titanium post has been implanted, you will need to wait a couple of months for the process of osseointegration to take place.  This is where the metal and bone fuse together to provide a sturdy, synthetic root system for your new tooth.  You will not feel anything while this is taking place but waiting is important to ensure that your final tooth is as durable as a natural one would be.  When ready, we will attach the new crown (tooth) to an abutment that is secured to your implant.  This appointment will be much shorter.

What is the recovery like?

As your cosmetic dentist, we recommend that you prepare for recovery by putting soft ice packs in the freezer, buying ibuprofen, and soft foods that you can eat.  For a few days, your gums will be sore so the ice and ibuprofen will help to reduce any swelling while eating soft foods will help to prevent discomfort.   After a few days, you should begin to feel better and start to eat regular foods though you should still avoid anything sharp.  Since there is a delay between when the metal implant is placed and when the new tooth is attached, we often provide our %city% patients with a temporary denture to wear so that their smile appears intact while waiting for the procedure to be completed.

From the perspective of a cosmetic dentist are the final results like a bridge or dentures?

Be sure to ask about the final results and what you can expect for your particular situation.  Scientifically, an implant is the most secure and durable tooth replacement solution that you can find because it derives strength from the jawbone.  By comparison, a bridge relies on your other teeth to hold the bridge in place and dentures are removable which means that they can come loose. Dental implants, being permanent also look much better which is why cosmetic dentists prefer this solution.

Learn How a Sleep Dentist Can Improve Your Health

A sleep dentist can help you feel less uneasy about going to the dentist. Millions of people feel so nervous about visiting the dentist, they avoid it altogether, which leads to larger bills in the future, poor dental health, and potentially a poor overall health. Fortunately, we can help calm your nerves so you can get through your dental appointment without a problem. A sleep dentist provides conscious sedation methods that allow you to be awake during your appointment without feeling fearful or unsettled.

Sleep Dentistry

A sleep dentist provides popular mild sedatives to help patients cope with dental anxiety. A sleep dentist doesn’t actually put patients completely to sleep but instead puts you into a relaxed, calm, and agreeable state. When under the influence of these mild sedatives, you will feel happy, and you also won’t feel discomfort. In addition to mild sedatives, a sleep dentist will offer local anesthetics to prevent the site of treatment from feeling discomfort. Being sedated during an appointment will help you feel less anxious, since you will be generally happier and most likely not notice the scary noises, like drilling, or the sharp tools that you normally do.

What Sedation Calms

A sedative provided by a licensed and experienced sleep dentist can help:

• Keep you calm and relax your nerves
• Allow you to feel more confident
• Keep you comfortable for long periods in the dental chair
• Help you avoid feeling restless if you have nervous energy
• Control a sensitive gag reflex
• Keep children from feeling scared, and allow them to sit still for a long time

The goal of these sedation methods is to minimize pain, fear, and discomfort during a dentist visit. During your sedation, you will be conscious enough to respond to voice commands, so you will be able to communicate with the dentist about your feelings and if you experience mild discomfort. You will still be in control of the situation; you will just be more confident about it.

Types of Sedation

A sleep dentist can provide you with a variety of options for your sedative means. The most commonly used methods are inhalation, oral, and intravenous (IV).

Inhalation: Inhalation sedation is the mildest form, and it is administered through a mask that is placed over the nose. It is often called laughing gas, but the technical term for it is nitrous oxide.

Oral: Oral sedatives are administered through a pill or syrup. Oral sedatives are used when kids or adults are too nervous to even show up at the dentist without feeling anxious. They are also used when patients are uncomfortable with the appearance of the mask used in inhalation sedation. These medications are prescribed to be taken the night before or right before your treatment or appointment.

IV: Intravenous sedation is used the least commonly for mild cases of dental phobia. This type of sedation is administered through your veins into your bloodstream.

If you are fearful about a dentist appointment, you no longer have to be. A sleep dentist can give you more confidence and contentment during your next dentist visit.