Wisdom teeth should be assessed in the mid to late teens, as they are prone to developing problems. At Oral & Maxillofacial Associates of Oklahoma, we are board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and we have been evaluating and extracting wisdom teeth for the past 25 years. You can be certain that we will perform a detailed assessment that focuses on current and potential future issues. Early evaluation, with removal if indicated, can vastly improve your future oral health.
Wisdom teeth are located in the very back of both the upper and lower jaws. They are the last of the three sets of molars to emerge. They are the teeth least needed for chewing, and the teeth most likely to develop issues. Common problems with wisdom teeth include partial or full impaction, twisting, and crowding the other teeth in the mouth.
Conventional wisdom once held that wisdom teeth should be routinely extracted, but this is not always true. If your mouth is healthy, and your wisdom teeth are fully emerged, straight, and uncrowded, we will not remove them. However, wisdom teeth that have problems can lead to serious issues such as cysts or tumors, and they can cause the other teeth to shift. It is always best to remove them before they develop problems, making early evaluation extremely important.
If we determine that your wisdom teeth need to be extracted, we will schedule you for this relatively simple procedure. All patients receive local anesthetic, and we are happy to provide sedation if needed, from simple nitrous oxide (laughing gas) through outpatient general anesthesia.
We will open the gum tissue with a small incision, and then cut away any bone that is covering the tooth. Next, we will grasp the tooth with dental forceps and gently remove it. In some cases, we may need to cut the tooth into pieces to facilitate removal. Dental sutures may be required. We can remove one, some, or all of your wisdom teeth during a single procedure.
Wisdom tooth removal is scary for many people, but there is absolutely nothing to fear. We use modern techniques and technology to minimize pain. If we give you a prescription for pain medication, be sure to take your pills as instructed to stay ahead of the pain. We will also provide you with detailed aftercare instructions covering such topics as eating, drinking, smoking, and oral hygiene. Carefully follow these instructions, and you should be back to work within 72 hours. Of course, if you have any issues, it is important to call us right away.
At Oral & Maxillofacial Associates of Oklahoma, we are board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery. We have placed more than 13,000 dental implants at a rate of approximately 1500 per year. We work closely with your dentist or prosthodontist to seamlessly coordinate the placement of your implants with your final restoration.
Dental implants are, in effect, artificial teeth roots. A dental implant is a small titanium screw that is surgically implanted into the jaw, below the gumline. The implant serves as an anchor to which an abutment is attached.
Your dentist will place the abutment, which connects the implant to the replacement tooth. The abutment screws into the dental implant and acts like the root under a crown of natural tooth, except that it is stronger and is not susceptible to decay.
A single dental implant topped with a crown is a great solution for a single missing tooth. Dental implants are strong, retain bone structure, and are as easy to maintain as real teeth. A top quality crown blends seamlessly with your natural teeth, creating a highly aesthetic and functional smile.
Traditional dental bridges require the natural teeth at each end to be shaved down and prepared for crowns. They are prone to failure either because the supporting teeth can no longer support the bridge or the cement holding the bridge leaks. Either situation can cause decay and further tooth loss.
When a dental bridge is supported by dental implants, the surrounding teeth are left undisturbed. There is no enhanced risk for additional tooth loss caused by the strain of conventional dental bridges.
If you are missing all of your teeth on the upper or lower arch, just two dental implants can stabilize a removable denture, or a handful of implants can support a full bridge of fixed replacement teeth that never leave your mouth. In fact, a special procedure has been created to address this issue. The procedure is known as the Full-arch restoration treatment.
At one time, dental implant placement was tricky and imprecise. Today, state-of-the-art guided surgical techniques allow us to use keyhole surgery to precisely place and position your dental implants. This means that minimal soft tissue manipulation is required, and both pain and healing times are significantly reduced.
The conventional dental implant process can take from three to six months. We will coordinate with your dentist to create a temporary prosthesis such as a partial denture for you to wear from the time we place your implants until they are fully integrated with the jawbone and ready to receive your permanent restoration.
Immediate-load implants, such as the Full-arch restorations, bypass this process. They are designed to take the forces of biting and chewing right away, so you can receive your final restoration on the same day that your implants are placed.
The fee for dental implants depends on several factors, including the number of teeth being replaced and the number of dental implants required to support your replacement teeth. Some additional procedures, such as bone grafting or a sinus lift, may be required prior to the placement of your dental implants to ensure the best results. We will conduct a thorough examination and create a detailed proposed treatment plan with a breakdown of costs.
How does the cost of implants compare to the alternatives? It is true that implants are generally more expensive up front, but when amortized over a lifetime, implants are almost always the least expensive solution. They can also save you money in future dental procedures.
We will schedule you for periodic checkups over the months that your mouth is healing. After your implants are fully integrated with your jawbone, you will only need regular visits with your dentist for routine cleanings.
The result of dental implant placement is a brand new, long-lasting smile with maximum comfort, support, and functionality. Most importantly, patients will walk out of our office with a boost of self-confidence and an irresistible urge to smile more often.
Absolutely. Dental implants are the most natural solution for replacing missing teeth because they are the only option that replaces not just the visible portion of your teeth, but also the roots. This gives dental implants more stability and helps prevent bone loss in the jaw for a more youthful appearance. Over time, most of our patients forget they even have dental implants because they look, feel, and function just like their natural teeth.
Before your dental implant surgery, we use local anesthetic injections to numb the area where well be working to ensure that you dont feel any pain during the procedure. You may feel some pressure and movement as we work, but it will not be painful. As the local anesthetic wears off in the hours after your surgery, youll begin to feel some tenderness at the surgical site. This is usually minimal and can be alleviated with over-the-counter pain medication, cold compresses, and a diet of soft foods.
We do offer IV sedation and general anesthesia for our patients when needed, although you can also opt to stay awake during your surgery. If you are awake, we use local anesthetic injections to keep you comfortable throughout your procedure; you can also choose to use nitrous oxide or conscious oral sedation if you feel nervous, but would like to remain conscious.