Do you know where your temporomandibular joint is located? It's in the front of the ear where the lower jaw and skull meet, and it can often be a source of headaches and facial pain. In some cases, surgery is the best option for TMJ disorders.
The recommended time for brushing your teeth is 2-3 minutes at a time. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, most people only brush their teeth for 45-70 seconds a day.
Even if your teeth appear to be improperly aligned, the underlying cause may be the position of your jaw. An oral surgeon can reset your jaw, whether the situation involves problems such as a protruding jaw or a receding lower jaw – also known as a “weak chin.”
One of the leading causes of headaches and sleeplessness is a misaligned jaw. Oral-maxillofacial surgery is corrective surgery that can fix this condition. Indeed, oral-maxillofacial surgery can also correct sleep apnea, which can lead to a better quality of nightly sleep.
The most common local anesthetic in oral surgeries is lidocaine, which is metabolized by the body within a couple of hours. It was developed by Swedish chemist Nils Löfgren, whose partner, Bengt Lundqvist, tested the drug through self-injection.
The jaw and upper teeth, perfectly aligned, should move as a single unit, which is the goal of the oral surgeon! In fact, upper jaw surgery has helped millions of people enjoy the benefits of improved breathing, eating, sleeping and quality of speech.
Oral surgeons often use dental implants to replace teeth or support and retain dentures. Implants are artificial tooth roots that are placed into and fused with the jaw bone. If bone is lacking in the area, a bone graft can be done to allow for implantation.
Do you have clicking or popping noises when you open your mouth? Do you have pain in the jaw and trouble swallowing without some discomfort? This indicates a disorder of the TMJ, which allows the lower jaw to open and close. Your oral surgeon can diagnose the problem.
Gingival fibromatosis is the overgrowth of gum tissue. It is a hereditary condition and results in enlarged, sometimes tender gum tissue in the mouth. It is thought to be caused by too much collagen produced in the body.
If you've ever had a tooth knocked out in a sports game or an accident, an oral surgeon can help. A tooth knocked out can be replanted, though the procedure should take place as soon as possible. Never clean off a tooth that's knocked out, because that can reduce the chances of a successful replanting.
A bone graft can sound like a very serious procedure. But in many cases, bone grafts have become quite common when there is bone loss due to gum disease, trauma or disease. In fact, many bone grafts are done with only local anesthesia.
Many people ask about dental implant life. Once the healing phase has been completed, a correctly placed high-quality implant is more resistant to many influences than even the natural tooth root. With good oral hygiene, your implants can last a lifetime.
Many ancient cultures believed that oral ailments were caused by a worm burrowing in the tooth, first described in a Sumerian text from around 5,000 BC. This belief persisted well into the Middle Ages, where the “worm” was treated with sulphuric acid.
Cysts (hollow, fluid-filled swellings) can develop in the jaw, usually due to a long-term chronic infection around the end of a tooth with a dead nerve (called a "radicular cyst)." These must be surgically removed, clearing away all remnants to prevent possible recurrence.
Upper jaw surgery is an aspect of maxillofacial surgery that oral surgeons use to correct overbites, open bites, and cross-bites. Upper jaw surgery can also correct receding upper jaws when too much or too little of the teeth are showing.
Despite vast improvements in dental care, millions of Americans still lose teeth as a result of tooth decay, poor oral hygiene, disease or injury. However, did you know dental implants can correct this? Today's dental patient has an option for bridges and crowns, as well as dental implants.
Although orthodontics can correct many alignment issues, a severe misalignment of the jaw can require much more than braces. If you’re ready to improve the way your teeth meet, it may be necessary to see an oral surgeon.
The problem with letting your regular dentist handle the extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth is that the procedure may take longer than they’ve numbed your pain for. If you want to ensure that you don’t feel any part of the extraction process, it’s always best to work with an oral surgeon.
Digital X-rays are best used to assure proper bone density and placement when working with dental and maxillofacial implants. The digital images can be enlarged and analyzed to help determine that best actions are taken and the best results achieved.
Dental implants can improve your speech, your smile, and even your health! Dental implants can impact and improve such things as eating, and digestion, your general appearance and your facial structure.
What causes atrophy in the jaw so that a graft is necessary? Gum disease is a common reason. Periodontal disease can significantly damage the jawbone, when untreated over time, so that existing teeth become unstable. The only way to stabilize these teeth is by adding density to the jawbone.
There are many different types of gum surgery commonly performed. These include the removal of unwanted gum tissue (gingivectomy), the addition of gum tissue to restore a normal appearance (gum grafting), and the reduction of the size of periodontal pockets (pocket reduction).
