When Dr. Sims learned of the link between oral health and systemic diseases, his interest in periodontics was born. With a passion for oral health and a commitment to changing peoples lives with every smile, it was almost destined for Dr. Sims to have a career in the dental field. He graduated from the University of Alabamas School of Dentistry in 1994, then went on to specialize in Periodontics at UAB where he completed his residency and received a Masters of Science in Oral Biology.
Dental implants might be for you if you have missing teeth, it is crucial to replace them. Not only can missing teeth make chewing and eating difficult and destabilize your bite, but it can also affect your self-confidence. At Dr. Kevin Sims, we want to take your mind off your mouth so you can take on the world. Implants are a great way to replace your missing teeth and can give you a bright, beautiful smile that will last a lifetime.
A dental implant is a new tooth made of metal and porcelain that looks just like your natural toothso you can flash those pearly whites without fear, knowing that no one will ever suspect you have a replacement tooth
In addition to tooth replacement, implants may be used to anchor dentures, especially lower dentures that tend to shift when you talk or chew. If you have removable partial dentures, implants can replace missing teeth so that you have a more natural looking smile.
The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease.
Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team. Not only do periodontists have experience working with other dental professionals, they also have the special knowledge, training and facilities that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own. Your dentist and periodontist will work together to make your dreams come true.
For patients who are desperately afraid of injections, going to the dentist or getting a wisdom tooth pulled or a root canal is agony in more than just the obvious ways. Instead of giving up on having healthy teeth and visiting your dentist, maybe its time to consider Dental IV sedation.
IV or intravenous sedation is a procedure that allows your periodontist or oral surgeon to provide anti-anxiety medications, like those used in oral sedation, directly into your bloodstream. You may sometimes see this referred to as sleep or twilight dentistry which may make you think youll be completely unconscious during your procedure. In fact, you remain awake the entire time and will be able to respond to your dentists questions. You may not, however, remember much or anything once the medication wears off.
Because of the nature of Dental IV sedation, you must have an adult come with you to your procedure and drive you home. They will also need to take note of what you have to do in the hours and days after your procedure and help you until the sedation wears off. While its an effective form of sedation, its not one to be taken lightly.
IV sedation puts you in a state of deep relaxation, much more than laughing gas or oral sedation. While the drugs are being administered, you generally wont care at all about anything going on around you. Time will seem to pass very quickly, and you will likely experience partial or even full memory loss of the procedure when its over.
To receive IV sedation, a needle is used to insert a tube into a vein, usually on the top of your hand. The sedation drug is administered through this tube so it goes directly to your bloodstream. The IV stays in your vein for the entire procedure. While youre under sedation, your pulse and oxygen levels will be monitored to make sure you dont have a bad reaction. Before and after sedation, your blood pressure will be checked, too.
Like oral sedation, IV sedation uses benzodiazepines to reduce anxiety and fear during the procedure. The most common drugs used are Midazolam and Diazepam. This is in a different dosage than the oral sedation method. As anti-anxiety medications, theyre designed to relax you and make you sleepy. At this dosage, it can result in amnesia.
Pain medications like opioids are sometimes added to the IV sedation. This isnt typical for everyone because the area being worked on will be numbed and pain should be minimal. Pain meds are most often used when a procedure will last a long time or if the postoperative pain will be unbearable. Even with the addition of pain medication, IV sedation is considered extremely safe for the vast majority of patients.
When it is determined that a tooth needs to be removed, your dentist may extract the tooth during a regular checkup or may schedule another visit for this procedure. The root of each tooth is encased within your jawbone in a tooth socket, and your tooth is held in that socket by a ligament. In order to extract a tooth, your dentist must expand the socket and separate the tooth from the ligament holding it in place. While this procedure is typically very quick, it is important to share with your doctor any concerns or preferences for sedation.
There can be many reasons for extracting teeth, so make sure you ask your dentist about your specific situation and they will walk through the pros and cons of the procedure. Some of the leading causes of tooth extractions include:
Dr. Sims will perform an x-ray before recommending tooth removal. This allows us to properly examine where the roots are, as well as the condition of bone. We can also anticipate complications by looking at all the facts through an x-ray. We will then discuss your health history to determine if you are healthy enough for the procedure.
In most cases, local anesthesia is used to numb the tooth and area. Sometimes, our periodontist will use other sedation methods to ensure you feel no pain or anxiety during the procedure. Special care is taken to ensure bone around the tooth isnt damaged during the procedure. If needed, bone-grafting material is placed in the socket to help preserve bone volumeespecially necessary if a dental implant is planned for later on.
Right after a tooth extraction, our dental professionals apply gauze to the socket and gentle pressure is applied for about 20 minutes to control any bleeding. The area may require a few stitches and you may experience mild to moderate swelling or discomfort but most symptoms can be controlled with over-the-counter pain medications. Sometimes, we prescribe antibiotics to prevent an infection. Ice packs can help reduce swelling and make sure you eat softer foods for a couple of days until your mouth returns to normal.