Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are specialists in surgeries of the face, teeth and jaws. Some of the types of surgeries are listed on this website below. If you have questions about any of our surgical services please give our friendly staff a call to schedule an appointment so we can thoroughly evaluate your condition and discuss all of the treatment options in detail.
Dental implants are titanium screws onto which new artificial teeth, such as crowns or bridges, can be placed, or which can help lock-in existing dentures to prevent them from moving while you eat and talk. Implants provide the same function as natural teeth. They even help prevent further deterioration of the jaw bone, which occurs when a tooth is missing. Esthetically, dental implants are ideal teeth replacements. Single implants look like natural teeth emerging from the gums. Your dentist is also able to make implant supported bridges, partials, and dentures look and feel natural, too.Dental implants are designed to be permanent replacements. However, good oral hygiene and regular dental maintenance are important to their wellbeing and longevity.Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have specialized training in the complexities of implant surgery and are the best suited to perform these procedures.
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that usually develop in the mid-teenage years. Because there is often insufficient room for in the jaws to accommodate these teeth, the teeth are often times stuck in awkward positions and can have gum tissue and bone covering some or all of the teeth. This is what is referred to as impacted. The malposition of these teeth often causes future problems with infection, pain and affects on the health of the adjacent teeth. Often times your dentist will recommend removal of the wisdom teeth even when they are not painful. This is because the position of these teeth is such that you will likely have problems in the future. Addressing these issues early will prevent you from possible serious problems down the road and potential loss of functional adjacent teeth. Occasionally cysts and tumors will form around teeth that are unable to erupt, which is not uncommon for wisdom teeth. While these are usually benign lesions, they can be destructive and cause serious problems in the jaws and loss of otherwise healthy teeth. Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons specialize in wisdom tooth removal and in most cases can perform these procedures while you are asleep.
Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons are specialists in tooth removal. Often times these procedures can be performed while you are asleep under IV sedation to make you very comfortable and have a great surgical experience.
Bone grafting is the replacement or enhancement of bone usually around teeth and implants when bone has been lost. In some implant surgeries, bone grafting may need to be completed prior to placing the implant to allow for a solid foundation to support the implants. The graft material used may be from sterilized cadaver bone or can be obtained surgically from the patient’s own jaw, hip, or leg bone depending on the type of bone defect.
An impacted tooth is a tooth that fails to fully pass through the gums for various reasons. Impacted wisdom and cuspid (or canine) teeth are fairly common. To correct impacted teeth, there are a few treatment options. For impacted wisdom, the most common procedure is extraction. For impacted canine teeth, several treatment modalities are available. Treatment can involve orthodontics (braces) to allow open spaces for proper eruption, a visit to the oral surgeon to remove over retained primary (baby) teeth or to surgically expose the tooth and place an orthodontic bracket to help bring it down into proper alignment.
Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons are specialists in treating fractures of the facial skeleton. These include fractures of the upper and lower jaws as well as the cheek bones, bones around the eyes, and nasal bones. They also treat soft tissue injuries of the face associated with trauma. In some cases reconstructive surgery is necessary after severe traumatic injuries. Our doctors are experts in reconstructive procedures from facial trauma to replace lost bone or soft tissue.
A sinus lift is a surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the premolar and molar areas of your mouth. To add bone, an incision is made where the premolar and molar teeth were previously. Once the bone is exposed, a small circular shape is made in the bone to access the sinus. Once the sinus is accessed, the sinus membrane is gently pushed up and away from the upper jaw. Once this is done, bone graft material is filled into the space where the sinus was previously. Once the bone is in place, the incision is closed and the healing process begins.
Oral and maxillofacial pathology refers to the diseases of the mouth and the jaw. Treatment options vary based on the patient’s specific needs.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is similar to a sliding hinge that connects your jawbone to your skull. TMJ disorders can cause pain in the jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.
To treat TMJ disorders, first the cause has to be identified. In less severe cases TMJ disorders can be treated with self-managed care (easting soft foods, using ice packs, avoiding extreme jaw movement) or nonsurgical treatments (anti-inflammatory medications, Botox injections, stabilization splints). In severe cases surgical treatments (jaw joint replacements) may be necessary.
TMJ conditions fall into three main categories:
- Myofascial pain which involves discomfort or pain in the muscles that control jaw function.
- Internal derangement of the joint that can mean a displaced disc, dislocated jaw, or injury to the condyle.
- Arthritis which is degenerative inflammatory disorder.
Corrective jaw surgery is performed to physical malformations of the facial skeleton. The following are some of the corrective jaw surgeries performed:
- Jaw advancement or set-back surgery
- Chin enhancement
- Alignment of asymmetric jaws
- Correction of skeletal malformations from craniofacial disorders
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), a growth factor, is a mixed gel that can be applied directly into tooth sockets and other sites. The use of PRP in tooth sockets after tooth extractions is capable of improving soft tissue healing and positively influencing bone regeneration.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a new approach to tissue regeneration. PRP derives from the centrifugation of a patient’s own blood and contains growth factors that influence wound healing. This is important in tissue repairing mechanisms. The use of PRP in surgical practice could have beneficial outcomes, reducing bleeding and enhancing soft tissue healing and bone regeneration.
Gum reshaping or contouring is a procedure performed to reshape the gums if they rest too low or too high on your teeth. In order to reshape the gum tissue, a line is drawn to mark the new gum line. Once approved, anesthesia is applied to the area and the contouring begins. Then, a dental instrument (typically a scalpel or laser) is used to reshape the gum tissue and trim away any extra tissue overhanging the tooth.