Congrats to Saxon Kilpatrick our “Smart Mouth Winner”!
Posted by Christopher Mullenix DMD, MD on Saturday, July 1, 2017
What are Dental Implants?
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Dental implants are often the best treatment for missing teeth. When a damaged or decayed tooth is removed, both the visible part of the tooth, called the crown, and the root are lost.
A dental implant is placed in the jawbone so that it can fuse with your natural bone and become a strong and sturdy foundation for replacement teeth. Implants can be used to replace an individual tooth or for an implant-supported bridge or denture containing multiple teeth.
Dental implants are the closest you can get to healthy, natural teeth. They will allow you to confidently eat, smile, laugh, talk, play and enjoy all of your regular activities of everyday life without thinking about your teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Third molars or wisdom teeth are a hallmark of any oral surgery practice. Probably the most common procedure in my office is third molar removal. Most people have 4 third molars or one in each quadrant of the mouth. The exact number can vary from none(the fortunate few) to as many as 10 for one of my own patients..They are typically the last tooth to develop and the last tooth to come in. Most third molars erupt between the ages of 15-18 but they can come in as early as 13 all the way into early 20’s. Unfortunately the most common symptom associated with third molar eruption is pain otherwise known as “cutting a tooth”. Most third molars are non functional teeth and are not used for chewing. Due to their location they are difficult to clean and cause problems with decay and hygiene. With the prevalence of braces or orthodontics most children have their third molars removed after braces to avoid the dreaded delayed crowding associated with their forceful eruption into the mouth. In some cases diseases such as cysts or tumors can be associated with third molars that fail to erupt or come in partially…Do you have third molars or problems with your third molars see your dentist or oral surgeon today…don’t have a oral surgeon then give me a call….
What is an Oral Surgeon?
An oral surgeon is a dentist specialist who is trained to handle dental implants, facial pain, and restorative surgical procedures such as wisdom teeth removals. In addition to common dentistry services, an oral surgeon can also treat tooth and facial injuries, such as broken jaws, and broken or knocked-out teeth. Oral surgeons also treat oral cancers and can perform facial cosmetic surgeries. An oral surgeon attends four years of dental school and at least four years of hospital surgical residency.
Oral surgeons, also called maxillofacial surgeons, are trained to detect, diagnose, and prevent defects and diseases that affect the mouth, jaw, teeth, and gums. In emergency situations, please call our office and our answering service will put you in touch with our on-call doctor.
Extensive dental procedures and oral surgeries require anesthesia to assist in pain management before the site is treated. An oral surgeon has advanced training in anesthesia, we can make your visit as painless and comfortable as possible. Dental anesthesia has been proven to be a safe and effective method for pain control during in-office visits. The oral surgeon can opt for local anesthesia for smaller repairs, or general anesthesia for more extensive repairs and surgeries.
For more information please call our office at 251-471-3381