Oral Surgery Services

Dental implants are used to replace tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth. Dental implants are small anchors made of biocompatible metal, called titanium, placed in the jawbone. The anchors begin to fuse with the bone over a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the attachment of the replacement teeth. To fabricate the replacement teeth, an impression is taken and a model of the bite is created. The replacement teeth are based on this model. Replacement teeth can either be crowns, bridges, or dentures.

Sometimes a tooth that can not be saved with restorative materials or is deemed to be problematic, such as wisdom teeth, may need to be removed to avoid any oral complications.

Depending on the complexity of the extraction, we will use local anesthesia and other sedation methods to increase patient comfort during and after the procedure. During the procedure, the tooth is then gently loosened and removed.

Immediately after the tooth is removed, gauze pads are placed for the patient to bite down on the tooth socket to apply pressure. Once the tooth has been removed, your surgeon may place dissolvable and/or traditional stitches that may need to be removed at a follow-up appointment.

Bone grafting is the replacement or enhancement of bone around teeth. Performed to reverse or preserve bone loss when a tooth is lost, Bone grafting is often a component of dental implant placement. allows for proper support of dental implants or prostheses.

A sinus lift is a surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the premolar and molar areas of your mouth.

A frenectomy is a simple surgical procedure performed to release the connection of the “frenum,” a connective muscle between two tissues. There are two types of oral frenectomies that are frequently performed on both adults and children for a variety of reasons.

A Labial Frenectomy is performed on the tissue that connects the lip to the gums. This may be performed on children or adults to aid with orthodontic treatment or even help with the proper fitting for a denture or appliance.

A Lingual Frenectomy may also be referred to as the release of tongue-ties (ankyloglossia). This procedure is performed on the connective tissue under the tongue. The procedure is often performed on neonatal patients to assist with nursing or on toddlers or older patients who need the surgery to help correct speech issues caused by limited movement due to the frenum.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is similar to a sliding hinge that connects your jawbone to your skull. TMJ disorders can cause pain in the jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.

To treat TMJ disorders, first the cause has to be identified. Improper alignment due to genetics or injury, arthritis affecting the cartilage in the joint, malocclusion, and trauma can all cause TMJ disorders.