Permian Basin Oral Surgery Blog – Oral Surgeons in Midland and Odessa, Texas

July 20, 2017July 25, 2017

Wisdom Teeth Removal: What are post-extraction considerations?

wisdom teeth Midland Wisdom teeth extractions are routine procedures and the most commonly performed oral surgery. However, like any type of surgery, this treatment is associated with certain post-operative risks. Here are a number of post-extraction considerations for wisdom teeth removal.

Prevent post-operative complications: Dry sockets and infection are the most significant risks following wisdom teeth removal, but your oral surgeon can give you instructions for how to prevent these complications. For example, if you avoid drinking straws and smoking for a period of time following the procedure, you will greatly reduce your chances of developing dry sockets. You should also follow the instructions about cleaning the extraction site so that you keep bacteria in check and reduce the likelihood of an infection after your wisdom teeth are removed.

Refrain from normal activity for a few days: You need some time to heal after any surgical procedure, including wisdom tooth extraction. Therefore, the patient must expect to spend some time away from work or school. If you hold a mostly sedentary position, you likely can return to work within a few days of having your wisdom teeth removed. If your work is physically demanding, you may need to spend a little more time recovering. Your oral surgeon may also tell you to limit any exercise for a number of weeks.

Know the symptoms of any problems, and keep all follow-up appointments with your oral surgeon. These routine check-ins are important to make sure that your healing is proceeding as expected. If anything serious develops, bring it to the surgeon’s attention immediately.

You will get complete information about the wisdom teeth removal process as well as what you can expect from your recovery at your extraction consultation. Come prepared with a list of questions so that you can get all of the details you need. Have you scheduled a consultation yet? If not, contact our office to speak to one of our personable office staff members.

May 18, 2017May 26, 2017

Oral Surgery: What should I expect at the initial consultation?

oral surgeon Midland If you’ve never undergone oral surgery before, the process can seem daunting if you do not know what to expect from it. You may find it helpful to know that the initial consultation with your oral surgeon is merely an opportunity for both you and your provider to gather the information needed for a successful surgery. You should not experience any discomfort at this first appointment.

At the initial consultation, your oral surgeon will visually examine your jaw and take x-rays to get an internal view of the proposed surgical site. Some of this data will be specific to your procedure. For example, if you are preparing for wisdom tooth extraction, the surgeon will evaluate the degree to which the wisdom teeth are impacted. If you are in need of dental implants, the surgeon will assess the quality of bone at the site to determine whether a preliminary bone graft might be needed.

If your general dentist gave you a referral slip, bring that with you to the consultation. It provides valuable information that helps the surgeon plan your treatment process. Patients who are attending a consultation for jaw surgery may also bring pertinent information from a specialist regarding orthodontic treatment. Your surgeon and your orthodontist will collaborate closely on such a procedure.

You will also be asked to provide other basic documentation, including your insurance information. We ask that you bring both your medical and dental insurance cards, as oral surgery procedures may be covered by either of those resources. Additionally, you should bring a copy of the medications that you take along with your medical history. The oral surgeon may instruct you to discontinue some medications prior to your scheduled procedure, and certain health conditions may influence the treatment process, as well.

Don’t feel anxious or overwhelmed about your initial surgery consultation. It gives you a chance to get off to a good start with your surgeon and get the information you need to feel more at ease with the entire process. Don’t hesitate to ask our staff any questions you may have and call our team today!

March 10, 2017April 17, 2017

Makeover Your Smile with Dental Implants

dental implants Midland Has tooth loss ravaged your self-esteem and oral function? Living with missing teeth is incredibly difficult. From having issues with confidence because of the gaps in your smile to having trouble eating your favorite foods, tooth loss will affect your daily life. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry has a solution for addressing the aesthetic and functional concerns that accompany tooth loss with dental implants. Our oral surgeon has the expertise necessary to restore your smile with these lifelike and durable prosthetics.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are actually titanium components that are used replace the root structure of teeth. An implant resembles a screw in the way that the implant’s diameter becomes gradually wider and it features a ridged texture. They are embedded into the jawbone through minor oral surgery. The implant has an abutment where a restoration is attached. Single dental implants hold crowns and bridges whereas a series of dental implants can hold a total arch of teeth (dentures).

How do they work?

Unlike other prosthetics like bridges and dentures, dental implants address the missing roots of teeth. This is possible because titanium is a metal that is compatible with the body’s structures. Bone will fuse to titanium as if it is natural mineralized tissue. The process of bone fusing to titanium is called osseointegration and this process is what stabilizes an implant so that it can last for decades and support a restoration durably.

Will dental implants look natural?

Since restorations can be made from tooth-colored materials like porcelain or porcelain fused to metal. These materials look just like natural teeth. In fact, they will not be detectable as prosthetics to those around you. Porcelain has been used in cosmetic dentistry for quite some time because it lends a beautiful yet natural looking enhancement to one’s smile.

How do I know if implants are right for me?

If you have missing teeth, it is worth your time to learn more about dental implants. These prosthetics are considered the best alternative to biological teeth. For this reason, we recommend scheduling a consultation with our oral surgeon who can determine if this tooth replacement method is right for you.

Call us today to schedule an appointment with our caring team!

January 26, 2017

Why do we get Wisdom Teeth?

Midland wisdom teeth Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars that emerge, usually appearing in the late teens or early twenties. No one is completely sure why we get wisdom teeth, although theories abound. In general, these teeth are considered vestigial, in that they once had a function but now are considered unimportant.

Theories About Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to arrive, and by the time they emerge, most people don’t have enough room remaining in their mouths to accommodate them. They tend to become impacted, pushing against adjacent teeth and unable to completely emerge through the gums. They often become infected, causing severe discomfort, at which point they should be removed.

So why do we get teeth that are of no use to us, and that instead cause problems? No one is completely sure. However, it’s possible that at one time in human evolution, these teeth were useful additions to our dentition. Since humans are omnivorous—which means we will eat just about anything—our molars tend to wear down. Without dental expertise, our ancient ancestors probably lost molars over time as they matured. Whether they wore down and became unusable or became severely decayed, or fell out due to gum disease, these back molars needed to be replaced. Since to our ancestors, the twenties represented middle age, the wisdom teeth arrived just in time to replace teeth that had fallen out or to augment teeth rendered nearly useless by wear or decay.

Do I Have to Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

With the arrival of sophisticated dental expertise and technology, we no longer need a third set of molars to replace teeth that have fallen out or decayed. Our other molars stay healthy and usable our whole lives, in many cases. As a result, many people find themselves turning to an oral surgeon to remove their wisdom teeth.

It isn’t always necessary to have these teeth removed, however. Some people do have enough room to support another set of molars. Other people might be missing a 6-year or 12-year molar, in which case the wisdom tooth can take its place. Still other people don’t have all four wisdom teeth. If you do have problems with these molars, though, such as extreme discomfort or obvious infection, be sure to talk to your dentist or our oral surgeons about having them removed.