With the advancements in dental technology and treatment methods, patients faced with losing all of their teeth are no longer limited to traditional dentures. One of the main concerns for these patients is that they will have to go without teeth for an extended period of time. Several methods now exist to allow patients to […]
Continue ReadingPart of the consultation process for any surgical procedure is obtaining informed consent. Informed consent is the process by which the surgeon explains the procedure being done and the risks, benefits and potential complications which can occur from undergoing a procedure. Additionally the consent process implies that with full knowledge of what can occur as […]
Continue ReadingWhen making appointments at our practice whether it is for extraction of wisdom teeth, dental implants, TMJ or tooth extractions and other dentoalveolar procedures the front office staff is almost always told/asked “I don’t need a consultation I just need the procedure done.” In the back of my mind I always wonder if the same […]
Continue ReadingThe other day I was watching television when an advertisement came on for mini implants to aid in fitting lower and upper dentures. This advertisement (as most advertisements do) made it seem like these miniature implants cost less than regular implants and do the same job for less money. But the purpose of this post […]
Continue ReadingMany children these days will at some point during their development are recommended for orthodontic treatment or braces. Most of these patients will be routine cases for any orthodontist to handle. A small percentage of these patients however will be evaluated for a significant malocclusion. Occlusion is the way that your teeth come together. People […]
Continue ReadingAnother confusing topic for patients is the training and background that Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery entails. Prior to starting the residency portion of our education all oral surgery residents will have completed nationally accredited dental school and obtained their doctorate. A very small percentage of new dentists or experienced practitioners will then apply to a […]
Continue ReadingAs an oral and maxillofacial surgeon one of the most common issues that our patient’s find frustrating is the paperwork and resulting battles that ensue from insurance companies. In our field we deal with both medical and dental insurances which compounds the problem. There are hundreds of insurance companies out there that provide insurance to […]
Continue ReadingMany of our patients will get very nervous about the after effects of the upcoming surgery. During the consultation appointment we go over the routine expectations and try to estimate how you will be feeling and what activities you will be able to do afterwards. The vast majority of our patients have little to no […]
Continue ReadingAs an oral and maxillofacial surgery practice we are fully trained to offer patients general anesthesia for their surgical procedure in our outpatient office. People often have misconceptions about the kinds of anesthesia that is offered due to the many terms and phrases used to describe outpatient anesthesia procedures. People often use the term “twilight” […]
Continue ReadingEvery six months, usually during your dental hygiene appointment, your dentist and hygienist will perform an intraoral examination. They’re not just looking for cavities; they are also looking for any pathology that may have developed in your mouth since your previous visits. They may also be checking to make sure that certain areas that they […]
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