ORAL SURGERY
Crowns Treatment
A crown is a natural-looking, custom-made, permanently cemented cap, which restores a damaged tooth’s original shape & size. It completely encases the tooth above the gum line protecting weak teeth or supporting those with large fillings or also to support a bridge in place. They come in a variety of materials such as ceramics, porcelain-and-metal, gold, or resin constructed of resilient & durable materials to withstand chewing. After cementing it is essentially a part of the tooth. First, we apply anesthetic then with a drill & abrasive bur we remove the outer surface on the top & sides to make room for the crown. Then we make an impression of the tooth that goes to the lab to make the crown. We will place a temporary crown until the permanent one is back.
Tooth Extractions
Our office views tooth extraction as a last resort. But when a tooth becomes too heavily damaged to be repaired, or when an orthodontist calls for the removal of a tooth, it is required. If tooth decay extends to the pulp or center of the tooth bacteria can infect it. The infection could be corrected with a root canal or antibiotics but that failing an extraction becomes necessary.
Before pulling the tooth we will inject a local anesthetic. The dentist, using forceps, grasps the tooth and gently rocks it to loosen it. Sometimes, hard-to-pull teeth are removed in pieces. The patient gets instructions on how to avoid discomfort and on how to help plug the socket in a natural process of quick recovery.
Oral Lesions Treatment
Mouth sores are caused by viral, fungal or bacterial infections, ill-fitting dentures, sharp teeth or loose orthodontic wire.
Canker sores can be triggered by acidic food, injury or emotional stress lasting 2 weeks & nothing makes them go away. Cold sores or fever blisters result from the herpes simplex virus type 1 via saliva or skin contact remaining dormant & emerging from a cold or fever, emotional stress or sun overexposure. Treat with Valtrex, Zovirax & Famvir but there is no cure. Thrush occurs when the Candida albicans fungus collects on the mouth resulting in white lesions in those with compromised immune systems, who wear dentures or inhale corticosteroids & babies. Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus, common in young children includes red lesions in the mouth, red rash on hands & feet, fever, sore throat & general malaise. There is no treatment. The virus lasts 7-10 days. An oral anesthetic helps with pain while acetaminophen relieves the malaise.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are permanent solutions for teeth loss. A titanium screw is inserted into the gums stimulating the adjacent bone tissue to grow around it. This stops bone loss on its track. An abutment is then fastened to the screw and a custom-made crown is snapped into place. Your new tooth will behave as a natural one, unmovable when you eat or talk, unlike bridges and dentures which can accelerate bone loss and require daily care. Patients can opt for single implants or full-mouth solutions.
Crown Lengthening Treatment
Sometimes removing a little gum tissue exposes enough tooth to place a crown or filling, but in most cases some bone from around the roots will be removed. You will get prescriptions for a pain reliever & a mouth rinse & asked to follow a soft diet & brush teeth near the stitches, avoiding the gums. Remove food with a toothpick or a water irrigator & for the first hours use ice on your face over the area of surgery to reduce swelling.
Bone Grafting
When bone is lost due to periodontal disease or tooth loss the surrounding bone reabsorbs. With bone grafting bone loss is treated to either help your gums to recover or to prepare you for a future implant. With sedation or local anesthesia a small incision in the gum allows the settlement of sterilized granules or gel from synthetic, animal, human or your own body’s material.
Bone grafts are used to save teeth from bone loss and/or to prepare an area for an implant as implants require good regenerated bone density. Patients can experience some soreness usually managed with OTC anti-inflammatory or pain relief for a day or two.
