The 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 […]
Continue Reading“TMJ” stands for Temporo-Mandibular Joint. This refers to the joint function of your lower jaw (mandible) and it’s attachment at the skull (temporal process). Must people and some professionals will use the term “TMJ” when referring to problems or symptoms associated with the jaw. There is no universally agreed upon term for people who suffer […]
Continue ReadingOnce you and your general dentist have decided that a restoration with a dental implant is the treatment option for you, you are left with an often confusing decision. Questions like “Should I see a specialist?”, “How much does it cost?”, and “Can I be asleep for the procedure?” often come up. The answers are […]
Continue ReadingMany people who have lost teeth or are going to lose teeth are faced with the difficult decision of what to do once the tooth has been removed. Several options exist including leaving the space where the tooth used to be open, removable appliances such as dentures, bridgework or crowns also referred to as fixed […]
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