You've got some questions about dentistry and we're here to help! Learn more about the terms, procedures, and other information below.
While the removal of wisdom teeth is the most well-known type of oral surgery, there are many reasons why oral surgery may be required. For example, to:
Oral Surgeons, also known as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, are qualified Dentists who have completed an additional 4-6 years of surgical residencies. Their advanced education and training includes anesthesiology and the diagnosis and surgical treatment of defects, injuries, and diseases of the mouth, jaw, teeth, neck, gums, and other soft tissues of the head. An Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon will work closely with your Dentist to improve your oral health.
Based on an examination or a dental treatment plan, your Dentist or Orthodontist may refer you to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon for a consultation.
Your Dentist may recommend that you or your child see an Oral Surgeon when:
After the application of anesthetic to the area, special tools are inserted between the tooth and gum that surrounds the tooth. The tooth is moved back and forth within its socket (the bone that encases the tooth’s root) until it separates from the ligament that holds the tooth in place. Sometimes a tooth is cut into small pieces (sectioned) before it is removed.
The method for removing an impacted tooth will depend on how many roots it has and its location under your gum. Patient sedation is often used in addition to the application of an anesthetic to the impacted area.
A gum tissue flap is created to access bone tissue, and a small opening is made in the bone that covers the impacted tooth. The impacted tooth is then cut into small pieces (sectioned) and removed through the opening. The gum tissue flap is then repositioned and sutured in place.
Third molars, also called wisdom teeth, are the last set of permanent teeth to erupt in a person’s mouth and are the ones least needed for good dental health. Wisdom teeth can endanger a patient’s dental health when:
When your jaw is too small to accommodate normal wisdom teeth, gum or jaw discomfort and swelling often occur. In addition, there is a greater risk of developing gum disease. Surgery to remove wisdom teeth is typically the best course of action. If a wisdom tooth has fully erupted through the gum, a standard tooth extraction is performed. If the tooth has not erupted through the gum, an impacted tooth extraction method is used.
A Denture (also known as false teeth) is a custom-made removable replacement for multiple missing teeth. Full dentures replace most or all of your teeth, and partial dentures replace one or more missing teeth. Both types of dentures support facial muscles and lips, and keep them from sagging and receding which will make you look younger, improve speech, and improve your health by enabling you to eat properly.
With proper care and good oral hygiene, full dentures can last 10-15 years. Over a period of time as your mouth naturally changes shape, dentures need to be relined, remade, or rebased. (Rebasing a denture means a new base is created utilizing the teeth on your current denture).
Full dentures may be prescribed by your Dentist if you have lost, or are about to lose, all of your teeth as a result of disease, decay, injury, or surgery.
There are two main types of full dentures, conventional and immediate:
After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions. If the agreed-upon treatment includes dentures, here’s what to expect:
Dentures and oral tissues must be checked annually. Damage to oral tissue can occur without any pain or other symptoms. Early detection and elimination of inflammation is important to minimize shrinkage of the supporting bone and tissues.
A bridge (or fixed partial denture) is a custom-made replacement for one or more missing teeth that literally “bridges the gap.”
With proper care, the life of a bridge is 5-20 years. Typically, two office visits are required to prepare, complete, and fit a permanent bridge.
Left untreated, missing teeth will:
After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will discuss treatment options and answer your questions. If the agreed-upon treatment is a fixed bridge, here’s what to expect:
A dental crown restores a tooth’s shape, size, and strength. It fully encases the visible portion of your tooth or dental implant. Once it is permanently cemented in place, only a Dentist or Specialist can remove it.
With proper care and good oral hygiene, the life of a crown can range from 5 to 15 years.
A crown may be prescribed by your Dentist to:
Your Dentist will recommend the best type of crown for your dental restoration needs based on the chewing placement and structure of the tooth or implant that requires protection.
After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions. If the agreed upon-treatment is a dental crown, your Dentist will:
A veneer improves the appearance of a tooth by covering the visible front surface with a custom-made, tooth-colored porcelain overlay.
Our Dentists can complete a porcelain veneer treatment in just one office visit. With proper care and good oral hygiene, a veneer has a lifespan of 15-20 years.
A veneer is often prescribed for a tooth that is:
It may also be prescribed to “fill the gap” between two otherwise healthy teeth.
After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions. If the agreed upon treatment is a dental veneer, your Dentist will:
Routine dental checkups are vital to good oral hygiene and are the best way to detect problems at their earliest stages. Early detection and treatment saves unnecessary discomfort, time, and money.
The Academy of General Dentistry recommends checkups twice a year. Oral needs change with age and the condition of your teeth and gums. Your Dentist may recommend a checkup schedule that is more or less frequent than twice a year.
Your dental checkup includes:
During a visual exam, your Dentist looks not only for cracked and decayed teeth, but also for growths and sores on the roof and floor of your mouth, tongue, lips, gums, and the mucous membranes that line your cheeks and gums. Then your Dentist will check the lymph nodes of your head, jaw, and neck for pain, tenderness, and flexibility.
Healthy teeth require healthy gums. A gingival pocket exam determines the presence or risk of gum disease.
Your teeth are cleaned using special instruments to remove plaque from above and below the gumline. Afterwards, your teeth are polished. Tooth polishing makes your teeth look and feel great. It also smoothes tooth surfaces so plaque is less likely to accumulate.
The key to healthy teeth and gums is keeping plaque and food decay from building up in your mouth. Plaque and food decay attract harmful bacteria that cause cavities, gum disease, and persistent bad breath.
Your tongue attracts bacteria, too. During the normal process of eating, tiny fragments of food collect on your tongue. As these fragments decay, bacteria create a filmy white coating on the top of your tongue.
Practice the four-step routine to keep plaque and harmful bacteria from building up in your mouth.
When you practice good oral hygiene, you will:
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child’s first visit to the Dentist be around age three unless any of these dental health risk factors exist:
When your child’s teeth begin to erupt, wipe them daily with a moist washcloth to remove tooth plaque.
As s/he grows more teeth, use a soft child’s toothbrush with non-fluoride toothpaste until s/he is able to spit out the toothpaste.
When your child is ready to use fluoridated toothpaste, use only a small pea-size amount on the toothbrush. Swallowing too much fluoridated toothpaste can lead to staining of children’s teeth(dental fluorosis).
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