Jaw surgery can help to alleviate a variety of symptoms, from pain and discomfort to difficulty chewing to sleep apnea. Some people choose jaw surgery for primarily cosmetic factors, too, in order to eliminate an unattractive problem with the bite or to bring the chin into proper proportion with the rest of the face. 

If you have signs of a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, your general dentist may recommend a consultation with an oral surgeon. Similarly, an orthodontist may recommend surgery for a patient whose case cannot be resolved through braces alone.

Prior to undergoing any surgical procedures on your jaw, you and oral surgeon will meet a number of times to plan the surgery. Your surgeon will explore your treatment goals and gather data that will help to shape the techniques and approach used during the procedure.

If you are having jaw surgery in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist may need to reposition the teeth before the surgery can be completed. The oral surgeon and orthodontist work as a team in such cases.

Depending on the extent of your surgery, you may choose to take advantage of sedation dentistry or general anesthesia so that you will remain comfortable throughout the procedure. If you do, be sure to ask your oral surgeon what preparations are necessary to ensure a safe surgery.

Be prepared to give yourself adequate time for rest and recovery following the surgery, as well. At the very least, you’ll need to alter your diet to accommodate the healing process. Some patients may be able to eat soft foods, but others may have to switch to liquid meals for a few weeks.

Jaw surgery can be very complex, so it’s important to choose an oral surgeon who is experienced in performing such surgery. Your oral surgeon should be able to discuss the procedure in detail with you, and the surgeon should also be able to demonstrate results achieved with previous patients.

For more information and to schedule a consultation in the Dallas area, contact our dedicated and experienced oral surgery team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery.

For years, fixed permanent bridges were the standard tooth replacement solution. These devices place a prosthetic tooth in the gap left behind, and that prosthetic tooth is anchored by dental crowns placed on adjacent teeth. This approach does require that healthy tooth enamel be sacrificed to accommodate the crown, and only the visible portion of the tooth is replaced.

Dental implants improved upon the fixed permanent bridge. The titanium screws fuse with the bone to replicate a missing tooth’s root. Then the implant is topped with a lifelike artificial crown. There is no impact on adjoining teeth, and dental implants look almost identical to their biological neighbors.

After the planning process is complete, an oral surgeon can place dental implants in an outpatient procedure that takes just a few hours. Patients can be fitted with temporary crowns to eliminate the gap in the smile as the dental implants fuse with the bone.

When a single tooth is absent, the patient will have functional and aesthetic concerns. This is where dental implants outshine their peers. Because the dental implant restores the entire tooth structure, not merely the visible portion, the device preserves the tooth’s utility.

The dental implant’s root-like structure stabilizes the jawbone, which will wear away in the absence of the tooth’s root. This is one of the most important dental implant roles, as bone loss can lead to the loss of neighboring teeth when less jawbone material is available to support them.

Dental implant wearers don’t have to change their diets or their oral hygiene routines for the devices, either.

When considering dental implants, it’s important to visit an oral surgeon early in the process to be sure that these devices are appropriate for your case.

Patients who already have extensive bone loss may need to undergo a procedure like a bone graft or sinus augmentation prior to dental implant placement to ensure that enough bone is available to sustain the implant.

Contact our experienced team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery in Keller TX for a dental implant consultation if you need to replace a single missing tooth.

The jaw joint functions like a hinge as it connects to the skull just below the ears. The muscles that support the joint are designed to perform specific duties that allow us to open and close for eating and chewing. 

When the muscles and joints are not operating properly, you may begin to notice a number of symptoms. An evaluation by our oral surgeon who has experience treating TMJ in Dallas can provide the most accurate diagnosis of this disorder.

TMJ disorder is most often caused by a habit of clenching and grinding of the teeth, known as bruxism. This repeated and excessive force can lead to damaged teeth and gums, as well as stress on the jaw joint. You may want to schedule an evaluation if you have noticed these symptoms:

• Frequent headaches and/or neckaches
• Sore or tired jaws
• Difficulty opening or lockjaw
• Flattened or chipped teeth
• Popping or clicking in the jaw joint

Following your evaluation, your oral surgeon may recommend a combination of treatment options. It is important to determine the exact cause of your TMJ disorder and seek the appropriate treatment. This will protect your joints, teeth, and gums, as well as prevent further damage and discomfort.

Generally, your oral surgeon will suggest a conservative approach to restoring your TMJ health. Meditation and relaxation can be effective for preventing clenching and grinding. Various forms of behavior modification can also help to correct the habits that damage the joints.

Custom bite guards or night guards may be recommended for uncontrollable bruxism. These appliances also help to properly position the jaw joint, relieving stress and allowing the muscles to relax. In addition, conservative adjustments to your bite can be helpful.

In the event that non-surgical treatments are unsuccessful, your oral surgeon may recommend a surgical procedure. Typically, the earlier your TMJ symptoms are detected, the greater your chances for successful, non-surgical therapy. Consult with our experienced team of oral surgeons today for more information regarding your treatment options.

When a person experiences an interruption in the breathing pattern during sleep, the occurrence is termed, sleep apnea. The interruptions in breathing can last for a few seconds to a number or minutes, occurring multiple times within a single minute.

During your routine medical visits there are no blood tests or other routine tests available to detect sleep apnea. Often, a spouse, roommate, or family member can inform you of your inconsistent breathing patterns or excessive snoring. Loud snorting during sleep may also indicate sleep apnea.

You should schedule an appointment to discuss the available treatment options with your oral surgeon serving Irving if you suspect that you are suffering from sleep apnea.

The most common form of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when your airway becomes blocked during sleep. This blockage results in shallow or interrupted breathing which is punctuated by loud snoring or snorting sounds. Many sufferers fail to reach the deepest levels of sleep and tend to awake unrested.

Loud snoring and sleepiness are probably the mildest symptoms of sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to:

• Cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure and stroke
• Irregular heartbeat
• Workplace accidents and decreased productivity
• Traffic accidents due to fatigue and lack of concentration

Managing life with sleep apnea can be an ongoing process. Your oral surgeon may recommend a special mouthpiece or appliance to properly maintain your airway as you sleep. In some cases, a surgical approach is necessary. Conservative treatment and lifestyle changes such as weight loss, diet, and exercise can significantly decrease or resolve the issue as well.

If you feel that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, consult with our experienced team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery today for a thorough evaluation.

Unfortunately, with tooth loss, the shape and size of your mouth will change. Your once snuggly fitting dentures will begin to lose stability. Slipping, sliding, and irritation are inevitable in the life of a denture wearer. Denture pastes and denture relines quickly become an inconvenient reality.

Thanks to significant advances in implant dentistry, your oral surgeon can use dental implants in Irving TX 75063 to bring stability to your denture experience.

Missing tooth roots are the primary cause for the change in the way that your traditional denture fits. Without tooth roots, bone loss can occur. Dental implants, acting as artificial tooth roots, help to preserve your bone structure. Your oral surgeon will strategically place a series of implants to provide balanced stimulation to the jaw bone.

When the implants are in place, your denture can be attached to them for maximum support. Essentially, the implants anchor the denture in place and prevent it from relying on your gums for stability.

According to your needs, your oral surgeon may design an implant-retained denture that is permanently connected, or an implant retained overdenture that is removable.

Denture wearers can expect to enjoy some significant benefits from their new combination of dentures and implants. An immediate improvement in chewing efficiency and comfort will be noticed. Most patients can begin enjoying a normal diet on the very day that the implants are placed. Patients will also begin to realize a greater level of self-confidence and pride in their smile. Most of all, implants provide a way to prevent damage and destruction to your jaw bone, and ultimately preserve your outward appearance.

If you are interested in obtaining a new smile with cutting-edge implant and denture technology, call Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery at 972-401-8301 for your appointment today.

As a result, most patients visit an oral surgeon during late adolescence or early adulthood to have their wisdom teeth extracted.

Wisdom teeth can cause a number of issues for Dallas TX patients. Because there is no longer room in the jaw to accommodate the wisdom teeth, they often become impacted. When the wisdom teeth fail to erupt or do so only partially, they can develop tumors or cysts.

As wisdom teeth attempt to emerge through the gums, they can knock the other teeth out of alignment. Even when the wisdom teeth erupt properly, they are still more prone to infection than the other teeth, as it is extraordinarily difficult to keep the rearmost teeth clean and bacteria-free even with regular brushing and flossing.

It’s best to have your wisdom teeth removed before age 25 because the roots are shorter and can be more easily removed. As patients get older, the wisdom teeth become more entrenched in the jawbone and the extraction surgery becomes more complex.

Although earlier removal is preferred, older patients can still be candidates for wisdom teeth extraction. They should be prepared for a longer recovery time, though, as the healing process is slower in older patients.

If you’re worried that wisdom tooth extraction is a difficult and painful procedure, don’t be. Wisdom teeth removal is one of the most commonly performed oral surgery procedures. Oral surgeons receive extensive training in removing the wisdom teeth, and they have numerous opportunities to perfect their techniques.

Beyond the technical expertise they bring to the table, oral surgeons also take steps to ensure patient comfort during the procedure.

If you have not yet had your wisdom teeth removed, contact Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery and schedule a consultation to begin planning for the process.

Oral pathology, which focuses on the diagnosis of oral diseases and the processes that cause them, can help our DFW oral surgeon to develop an effective treatment plan for your condition. 

Just as in any other tissue found in the body, cellular anomalies can be found in the gums, tongue and other soft tissues of the mouth. After an oral surgeon has removed such abnormal cells, oral pathology helps to determine whether the cells are malignant or benign.

The process begins when your oral surgeon removes a suspicious piece of tissue for further examination. White or red patches in the mouth, a slow-healing sore, or a lump or thickening all may be cause for concern. Your oral surgeon will remove a sample of the spot in question and send the sample to a laboratory for biopsy, in which a specialist looks at the sample under a microscope to determine its nature.

The information gathered in the biopsy, in addition to evidence from radiography and clinical exams, will determine the cause of the abnormality. The biopsy is also important to help design a treatment plan to eliminate the disease’s cause or alter its process.

In academic settings, oral pathologists also conduct research that shed light on the mechanisms of oral diseases, as well as the connections between oral diseases and systemic diseases. This, too, is an important application of this field of knowledge.

Patients who have concerns about an unusual change should bring it to the attention of an oral surgeon, who can assist with diagnosis and treatment. Although most abnormalities are ultimately determined to be benign, it’s best to identify problems early, when they are most treatable. As they say, better safe than sorry, and oral pathology can help to keep you safe.

Bone loss can be a major concern for edentulous, or toothless, patients considering dental implants. It can be difficult for your oral surgeon to successfully place dental implants if there is not enough bone material to support the osseointegration process essential to their success.

A special technique known as All-on-4 can help Dallas patients qualify as candidates for dental implants even if they have already lost a significant amount of bone.

The All-on-4 technique plans dental implant placement based on typical patterns of the jawbone atrophy that takes place when teeth have been lost or extracted. When the roots of those teeth are no longer present to serve as anchors, the jawbone erodes over time.

That jawbone resorption happens most quickly toward the rear of the jaw, where the bone is thinner to begin with. As such, dental implants are placed toward the front of the jaw in the All-on-4 technique. This approach ensures that dental implants are placed where there is a maximum amount of remaining bone.

The outside dental implants can even be angled below the gumline so that the four implants can all fit in a smaller area of bone.

Because All-on-4 dental implants can succeed even with minimal bone, nearly all patients qualify for the procedure.

The procedure for All-on-4 implants is quite similar to the placement of other dental implants. It takes place in the office, and patients can choose sedation for increased peace of mind during the process.

With All-on-4 dental implants, patients can leave the office in just a few hours with a new set of teeth. After the implants have healed completely, patients are fitted with a stronger, permanent prosthetic arch.

If you have considered dental implants but are concerned about the effects of bone loss, contact  our experienced team at Northern Texas Facial & Oral Surgery and ask about All-on-4 dental implants. They may help you get the smile of your dreams.