Services offered

Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specialists who treat conditions, defects, injuries and esthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth, jaws and face.

Our surgeons care for patients who experience such conditions as impacted wisdom teeth, facial and TMJ pain, and abnormal bites or occlusions of the jaws. We also treat accident victims suffering from facial injuries, offer reconstructive facial surgery, dental and facial implant surgery, care for patients with tumors and cysts of the jaws and face, and on functional and cosmetic conditions of the face. With specialized knowledge in pain control and advanced training in all types of anesthesia, our surgeons are able to provide quality care with maximum patient comfort and safety in the office setting.

The following list of services covers the scope of our practice.

• Anesthesia
• Dental extractions and surgical removal of third molars (wisdom teeth)
• Dental implants
• Temporomandibular joint eisorders
• Orthognathic surgery
• Facial trauma and oral injuries
• Facial and oral tumors
• Laser surgery
• Treatment of snoring and sleep apnea
• Cosmetic surgery

Anesthesia

Modern anesthetic techniques now make it possible to perform intricate surgery in the office with no discomfort. Several different types of anesthetics are used to alleviate pain and control anxiety while performing a multitude of surgical procedures. For example, local anesthesia is frequently used to achieve a pain-free situation, and thus facilitate surgical intervention. Nitrous oxide, sometimes called “laughing gas,” also can be used as an adjunct to enhance the effectiveness of local anesthetic techniques. When more relaxation and sedation are needed, intravenous (IV) sedation can be used to provide a “twilight sleep” for patient comfort. General anesthesia also is available to induce complete sleep, and is generally used for difficult cases where multiple sites of surgery are involved.

Different kinds of surgical procedures require different types and delivery of anesthetic techniques. Our surgeons will explain these to you and help you chose the most appropriate anesthesia for your surgical needs.

Dental extractions and surgical removal of third molars (wisdom teeth)

Teeth are often indicated for extraction for a variety of reasons ranging from alleviation of pain from tooth decay, and abscess or periodontal disease to non-salvageable teeth that need extraction in preparation for placement of implants, dentures or a bridge. Whatever the reason, our doctors are very well trained in such procedures, with an advanced knowledge to manage any associated medical conditions you may have and/or anxiety associated with the procedure.

Wisdom teeth (third molars) are the most troublesome teeth in the mouth. These molars usually erupt in the late teens or early 20s. However, many times the jaws are simply not large enough to accommodate the wisdom teeth, a situation that can cause problems.

If a wisdom tooth is blocked from emerging normally into the mouth, it is called “impacted.” The tooth can then be either partially or completely impacted, and can cause problems such as pain, infection and damage to the surrounding teeth, as well as lead to the development of cysts or tumors.

However, the removal of wisdom teeth can eliminate these problems. The surgery in our practice can be done on an outpatient basis in most cases, and normal activities can usually be resumed within a few days of surgery, depending on the severity of the procedure and the age of the patient.

Dental implants

For people who are missing one or more teeth, dental implants are the next best thing to having their own. The benefits of dental implants include an increased chewing efficiency and improved speech and appearance. Implants also can be the solution when it has become difficult or impossible to wear a removable denture. When some or all of teeth are missing due to an accident, disease or birth defect, dental implants can be used to provide a base to rebuild the dentition. With years of research and clinical use, dental implants are now a proven, long-lasting, esthetically pleasing alternative to replace missing teeth or even an alternative to conventional dentures or crowns and bridges.

Dental implants are usually placed in the dental office while the patient is under local anesthesia. The implant consists of a small titanium cylinder or screw, which is surgically implanted and serves as a “root” for crown that will replace the tooth.

The implant procedure is similar to having a tooth extracted and is usually performed in two steps. First, the implant is placed in the jaw where it remains for three to six months while healing takes place. Typically, you will be able to wear your own denture or a temporary prosthesis during the healing period, so neither your appearance nor normal social activities will be affected. Once healing is completed, the final crown, bridge, or denture is fabricated and attached. The prosthesis looks like natural teeth and is made by your dentist to fit on top of one or more of the implants. A crown or a bridge is usually “locked” onto the implant so that only your dentist can remove it. The denture can be attached to the implants by special snaps, bars, or clips that allow you to remove them for cleaning, while still creating a more confident fit. Due to the fact that bone actually attaches itself to the implants, these anchors provide a strong foundation that allows people with missing teeth to chew comfortably and efficiently.

Our surgeons have successfully placed dental implants, which are accepted by the American Dental Association, for many years. A discussion with your oral and maxillofacial surgeon and your restorative dentist will determine if you are a candidate for dental implants. As a rule, age is no barrier to implant treatment if you are in good health. In fact, thousands of people of all ages are turning to dental implants to replace a single missing tooth, several teeth, or all the teeth.

Temporomandibular joint disorders

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are a family of problems that are related to your jaw joint (temporomandibular joint [TMJ]). These problems can develop for a number of reasons. Clenching or grinding your teeth tightens the jaw muscles, causing muscle pain and stressing the jaw joint. Injury or disease also can cause a problem with the joint. Some of the symptoms of a jaw joint disorder are pain, a misaligned bite, clicking or grating noises when the mouth is opened and closed, trouble opening the mouth wide, frequent headaches or earaches, and sensitive, loose, broken or worn teeth.

If you are found to have a jaw joint problem, you needn’t feel alone. Such conditions are not rare. Over 10 million individuals suffer from jaw joint disorders. Our doctors are experienced in the medical and surgical management of TMD and can help you to ease the suffering brought on by these problems by careful evaluation and diagnosis of your condition and initiation of appropriate therapy.

Orthognathic surgery

Orthognathic surgery is another service provided by our specialists. This type of surgery is performed on patients who have an abnormal bite (malocclusion) because their jaws and facial bones are uneven, either through abnormal growth or as a result of an accident. Some of these problems might involve an underdevelopment or overdevelopment of the upper and/or lower jaw, or uneven jaws (facial asymmetry) in which one side of the face is higher or lower than the other or the chin is shifted to one side. As a result of these conditions, speaking, chewing and biting may become difficult, and/or the face may appear “off-balance” and lopsided. Whatever the reason, your teeth and facial bones can be repositioned to create a more balanced relationship so that the jaws will work well together.

Orthognathic surgery corrects these problems by repositioning the abnormal sized or positioned bones. The process of evaluation, preparation, surgery, recuperation, and aftercare, may appear to be lengthy, so be sure to take the time to plan for this procedure ahead of time. However, the results you will gain at the completion of the process should be well worth the wait. Our doctors can help you address whether or not this type of surgery is right for you, and if so, when it should be done. They can refer you to an orthodontist or work with your orthodontist to achieve the best result for treatment of your condition.

Facial trauma and oral injuries

Facial injuries can be related to an accidental fall, sports, work or due to a traffic accident. The injury sustained can be to the dental structures, oral tissues or to facial soft tissues and bones.

Regardless of the cause or what tissues or structures have been injured, our oral and maxillofacial surgeons have extensive experience in treating these conditions. Such treatment may include immediate surgery in the emergency room or in the operating room, or later reconstruction of the bones, dental implants or scar revision.

Facial and oral tumors

The problem of facial and oral tumors and cancers is indeed a serious one. The signs and symptoms of these conditions are numerous and occasionally subtle. During routine examination, we always check for oral and facial tumors and cancers, even if symptoms are not noticed or present.

The treatment for facial and oral tumors usually consists initially of a biopsy to determine the nature of the lesion. If indicated, surgery to remove the tumor is usually done at a later time. Our ultimate goal is always the restoration of functional (chewing, eating and speech) and the cosmetic correction of any defects resulting from removal of the tumor. Toward that goal, a final phase of the treatment may involve soft tissue and/or bony reconstruction of the defects and placement of dental implants, if necessary.

We will do everything possible to help get you back to a healthy and happy life.

Laser surgery

Use of the laser eliminates bleeding, which eases the stress on both the surgeon and patient. Also, the use of the laser helps control the threat of infection, because it sterilizes as it works. Laser surgery also is less painful than conventional surgical treatments. Patients make a quicker recovery and experience virtually no post-operative pain or swelling. Our doctors are well trained to use this technology to perform the necessary surgical procedures best suited for this technique.

Treatment of snoring and sleep apnea

Snoring is the subject of many jokes. But, in reality, snoring can be an indication of a more serious problem as well as a loud annoyance. Habitual snoring might indicate a disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which involves difficulty in breathing through the nose and mouth that is caused by obstruction related to abnormalities of the soft palate, uvula, nose, tonsils, adenoids or base of the tongue. There are several courses of treatment for snoring and sleep apnea, ranging from reshaping of the soft palate through laser surgery to jaw or jaw and chin advancement surgery, which will help you get back on track for a good night’s sleep.

Cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic facial surgery is becoming increasingly popular and affordable. Procedures such as facelifts, brow lifts, eyelid surgery, nasal recontouring, liposuction, laser skin resurfacing, and Botox injections are among the more common procedures performed by our surgeons. The use of endoscopic surgery (small incision surgery) and lasers can shorten the healing time and improve the results of many of these surgeries. In addition, most of these procedures can be done in the morning with the patient going home that same afternoon.

We have state-of-the-art facilities for performing a variety of facial cosmetic procedures with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia in a safe and comfortable outpatient environment. The use of this facility allows us to provide most facial cosmetic procedures at a much lower cost than the typical cost associated with cosmetic surgery when done elsewhere. Please feel free to ask for a free consultation with one of our doctors.