Dental implants are made of titanium, and after the oral surgeon inserts them into the jaw, they osseointegrate with the bone, offering stability and durability that is unmatched by alternatives like bridges and dentures. In fact, if you care for your implants as instructed, they can last for decades.

A significant shortcoming of bridges and dentures is that they do not replace the absent tooth root as dental implants do. Because no root is available to anchor the jaw, it will gradually wear away over time. This process leads to ill-fitting appliances that must be re-fitted or replaced periodically—at the patient’s expense and inconvenience.

Another important budget-friendly characteristic of dental implants is that they have no impact on surrounding teeth. Secured into the jaw, implants stand alone. A bridge, on the other hand, requires crowns to be placed on the adjacent teeth. This process necessitates that healthy enamel be removed from those teeth, which can compromise their integrity. Eventually, those teeth may need additional restorations or other treatments, increasing the cost to the patient.

Some patients may be tempted to postpone seeking dental implants for tooth loss because of the cost. This is not an advisable course of action, either. If the lost tooth is not replaced, not only will your smile’s appearance suffer, you also may risk further tooth loss as a result of jawbone atrophy.

Although bridges and dentures may appear to be less expensive than dental implants based on the initial costs, it’s important to consider the long-term expenses associated with each treatment option. You may find that the expenses are not as far apart as they seem at first.

To learn more about dental implant treatment, contact our skilled and dedicated team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery and schedule your informative consultation today.

When planning for orthodontic treatment, some patients may need to consult with an oral surgeon in addition to keeping their regular appointments with the orthodontist.

Patients with severely crowded teeth or an excess number of teeth may need to have some of those teeth extracted in order to bring the teeth into the proper alignment. Tooth extraction may also be indicated to address an overbite or to create more room to accommodate teeth that protrude from the smile. 

If you still have your wisdom teeth, you may want to have those extracted prior to getting braces, too. The wisdom teeth can continue to attempt to erupt, which can knock the teeth out of alignment and ruin the results of the years you spent in braces.

Adult patients undergoing orthodontic treatment may be more likely to need to have teeth removed before the braces are placed. Their facial bones have settled and cannot be manipulated as easily as those of younger patients to accommodate all of the teeth.

If a surgical extraction is recommended in a patient’s case, the oral surgeon and orthodontist will collaborate on the treatment plan and the timing of the surgery and fitting of the braces. In most cases, the oral surgery will take place in an outpatient setting, and patients can return to their normal routines within a few days, if not sooner.

Each patient’s case is unique, and your orthodontist can advise you on any recommendations to have teeth removed or other oral surgery as part of the orthodontic treatment process.

Excess or loose tissue in the back of the throat is the leading cause of snoring, and more than 80% of patients are unable to control this condition on their own. During sleep, the soft tissues of the throat, soft palate, and the tongue tend to collapse, and the patient’s attempt to breathe through the nose and mouth are restricted. The result is the loud vibration caused by the air being forced past the blockage.

For patients who have been diagnosed with the following conditions, the Pillar® Procedure is designed to provide significant relief:

• Chronic, uncontrollable snoring caused by  loose tissue in the soft palate
• Mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

By stiffening the palate and reducing the degree of the vibrations, the Pillar® Procedure provides a simple and effective solution to help you stop snoring. This treatment can be performed in an oral surgeon’s office under local anesthetic.

The procedure involves the placement of 3 small, woven implants into the soft palate. The implant material, used in medical devices for more than 5 decades, has been proven safe and compatible with the human body. Once in place, the implants promote the formation of fibrotic tissue. This process effectively stiffens the soft palate and reduces the tissue vibration, thereby eliminating or reducing the tendency to snore.

If you have been unsuccessful in your fight against sleep apnea and/or severe snoring, contact our experienced team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery today to learn more about this treatment option.

There are instances, however, when a dental condition severely compromises the prognosis for your tooth. In other words, there are times when the chances of preserving a damaged tooth are particularly unfavorable. A common example would be a fractured tooth. 

When a tooth is fractured or broken, even advanced restorative efforts are ineffective, and the most ideal treatment is generally tooth extraction. A fractured tooth can often extend far below the gumline, making it difficult to restore with a filling or a crown. Often times, after a traumatic injury, even a microscopic fracture in the root portion of the tooth can be impossible to repair. The ligaments and bone that surround the tooth root will be unable to adapt and heal in the area of the fracture.

Although choosing tooth extraction may seem like an unpleasant alternative, you should know that the choice may actually be best for your health. By removing a troublesome tooth and avoiding costly and uncertain restorative procedures, you’ll have the opportunity to select a more predictable solution such as a dental implant.

Sometimes, within the same visit, your oral surgeon can both remove a fractured tooth and begin the first phase of the dental implant procedure. A titanium artificial tooth root can be placed in the location of the extracted tooth and fitted with a dental crown. If you plan to begin your implant procedure in the future, the extraction site can be prepared as soon as the natural tooth is removed. This often includes the placement of additional bone structure in the tooth socket and the preservation of the natural bone surrounding the socket.

Whether your tooth has been fractured as the result of tooth decay, bruxism, or a traumatic injury, you should be well informed about your options following tooth extraction. To discuss your options in more detail, call our experienced team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery, serving the Dallas TX area, to schedule your appointment today.

Rather than simply accept the consequences of tooth loss, it may be time that you consider the advantages of dental implants. As the most life-like and attractive tooth replacement, implants allow you to regain the youthful smile that you once enjoyed. Even with close social contact, no one will be able to detect your artificial teeth. They’ll only notice that your full and attractive smile seems healthy and natural.

Missing front teeth are evident when you smile, making you appear older, less attractive, and it’s a symbol of poor health. When teeth are missing in the rear of the mouth, the spaces may not be visible when you smile, but there are other consequences that convey the impression of an accelerated aging process.

Without the fullness of a complete set of teeth, your cheeks and jaws can appear sunken and thin. Sagging jowls and a hollow appearance can instantly make you look and feel years older. Combined with the physical changes, the loss of your natural teeth can steal your motivation to smile. Smiling less frequently, or resisting the urge to smile openly, tends to communicate negative social cues that make you appear less friendly and less approachable.

There is a simple solution to the complications of tooth loss. Your oral surgeon can place one or more dental implants. This revolutionary technique for rehabilitating your smile has a long list of advantages. Esthetically, implants are the most similar to your own teeth. Functionally, they work as hard as your own teeth. Intraorally, they feel most like your own teeth. Statistically, their long-term success rate is consistently higher than 97%.

Your appearance is closely linked to the state of your dental health. When you are challenged by tooth loss, the consequences can rob you of your youth. To find out how you can regain your beautiful smile, contact Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery. Call our Irving office at 972-401-8301, or contact any of our three convenient locations today.

One of the most commonly impacted, or “trapped” teeth are the upper cuspids. These teeth, also referred to as the eye teeth or canines, play an important role in the alignment of your bite. They also have the longest roots of any other permanent teeth, making them stronger and more durable than most of the other teeth. 

Since an impacted cuspid cannot be expected to erupt naturally, modern dentistry offers many proven solutions to assist in the process. Your orthodontist may choose to partner with your oral surgeon to access the impacted tooth and work to guide it into position. Often times, the tooth is partially or completed imbedded in the jawbone and gum tissue. It takes a collaborative effort and advanced planning with the help of digital imaging and specialized oral surgery equipment in order to determine the exact location of the tooth and make the appropriate movements.

Oral surgeons utilize cutting-edge techniques and state-of-the-art systems to identify and uncover impacted teeth.  The ultimate goal is to promote the most ideal dental alignment and protect your overall health. In a strong partnership with your orthodontist, your oral surgeon can complete an important phase of your treatment. Using appropriate methods of sedation and anesthesia, the exposed tooth can be fitted with special orthodontic appliances that help to move the tooth into its correct placement.

If you have been diagnosed with an impacted cuspid, and are interested in optimizing your smile, consult our dedicated and experienced team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery, serving Dallas and neighboring areas, today to learn more about your options.

Due to an oral surgeon’s in-depth education and experience, you can expect to receive an exceptional level of combined medical and dental care. When it comes to a region as delicate and highly visible as the face and mouth, these skills become more valuable than ever.

In addition to a wealth of knowledge about the teeth, gums, and bone, an oral surgeon’s education includes extensive hands-on experience in several related fields of study. Pain management, cosmetic surgery, emergency medicine, reconstructive surgery, and pharmacology are all covered in detail during both graduate and post-graduate education.

Similar to the education that a medical doctor must obtain, the degree of oral and maxillofacial surgery is awarded only after an intensive residency in an approved hospital or medical facility. In that setting, dentists are involved in virtually every aspect of patient management and healthcare.

This level of training proves to be extremely valuable when you are faced with an emergency. For example, the trauma from a motor vehicle accident may involve a split lip, fractured teeth, and a bruised jaw. In this instance, the need for oral surgery may extend to include the soft tissues of the face. For the very best outcome, your surgeon will rely on an extensive knowledge of nerve pathways and anatomy, while still able to take precautions that will ensure the most ideal esthetic result.

If you have been affected by a traumatic injury to the face or mouth, contact our dedicated team of Oral Surgeons, serving the Dallas Metroplex, today to schedule a consultation.

When your wisdom teeth begin to interfere with your ability to speak, eat, and sleep, the consequences of that discomfort can interrupt the normal flow of your daily life. Rather than suffer through the inconveniences presented by the wisdom teeth, you can preserve your health and your comfort by consulting an experienced oral surgeon to schedule your wisdom teeth extraction. 

In addition to physical discomfort, the inability to properly clean the wisdom teeth and the neighboring teeth can make your efforts at good oral hygiene less effective. After even a single day, food and plaque can begin to accumulate around the very back teeth and under the gumline, beyond the reach of your toothbrush and your floss. Bad breath, gingivitis or gum disease, and localized swelling can present a troubling challenge.

Unfortunately, the unpleasant side-effects of unhealthy wisdom teeth can quickly begin to impact the neighboring teeth. Tooth decay and gum disease can spread to the adjacent teeth, prompting the need for additional dental treatment such as fillings and periodontal therapy.

Not every wisdom tooth will need to be removed. Where there is adequate space for the tooth to grow into position, and when you are able to brush and floss thoroughly, the wisdom teeth can be expected to function normally without posing any risk to your health.

As part of your routine dental examinations, the wisdom teeth will be evaluated for any signs of disease. If there are signs that the teeth may prevent a hazard to your dental or general health, a recommendation will be made for an extraction. Proceeding with that recommendation sooner, rather than later, can make the entire process simpler and more predictable.

Call the Irving office of Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery at 972-401-8301, or contact any of our three convenient locations to schedule a professional consultation with our dedicated team of oral surgeons to learn more about the status of your wisdom teeth.

As you discuss the option of dental implants with your oral surgeon, you will likely learn that these restorations have an impressive success rate of approximately 97%. According to clinical research statistics, nearly all dental implants can be expected to be successful.

To qualify as “successful”, an implant must remain in place and functional for at least five years after it is initially placed. The great majority of implants, however, have been documented to last for a significantly longer period of time. Many of the implants that were first placed commercially in the 1980’s are still in place and continue to function in the same manner as a natural tooth.

The conditions under which the implant is initially placed can certainly influence the success of the restoration. Similarly, the condition of your oral and general health following the placement of the implant can influence the lifespan of your new tooth (or teeth).

Your oral surgeon will perform a thorough evaluation to ensure that you are an appropriate implant candidate prior to undergoing the procedure. Implants are generally recommended for healthy adults with adequate bone structure and no underlying health conditions. You should be able to tolerate a minimally invasive surgery, and you should have a willingness to partner with your dentist in order to ensure proper healing.

Once the implant has healed, it will be important to practice careful oral hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing to prevent gum disease, a condition which can lead to the failure of both your natural and artificial teeth.

With ideal conditions and routine dental care, your dental implants success rate can be higher than imagined.

To learn more about the benefits of dental implants, contact Northern Texas Facial and Oral Surgery today to schedule an appointment.

Any tooth can develop an abscess, but the wisdom teeth are particularly susceptible because they tend to collect the bacteria that lead to abscesses, as it’s hard to keep wisdom teeth clean. This is especially when the wisdom teeth are only partially erupted, which happens in so many patients because the jaws of modern-day humans are not wide enough for the wisdom teeth to fit.

To prevent problems like an abscess or infection, it’s important to have an oral surgeon remove the wisdom teeth, even when they are not symptomatic. Although a wisdom tooth can still be removed even when an abscess is present, it’s preferable to take out the tooth before it gets to that point.

Not only is an abscess painful, it can put you at risk for other systemic problems. If the infection continues to advance, it can spread elsewhere in the body. In fact, an abscess can lead to an infection of the bloodstream, or sepsis, which can be life-threatening.

The abscess is far from the only problem that a wisdom tooth may present. Decay, damage to surrounding teeth and misalignment all can result from an impacted wisdom tooth.

Eliminate your chances of developing a wisdom tooth abscess by having all of your wisdom teeth extracted. Ideally, this should take place before you turn 25 because the wisdom tooth’s roots are not as long and it’s easier to remove them.

If you’re concerned about developing an abscess in a wisdom tooth, schedule a consultation with our dedicated team of oral surgeons, serving Dallas and neighboring areas, at 817-329-4979 today.