Oral Surgery
Here at the Palo alto Dental Associates, oral surgery is generally performed to remove third molars, more commonly known as wisdom teeth, prepare the mouth for dental implants and dentures, correct jaw problems such as TMJ and TMD, and perform root canals. With that, we may opt to use oral surgery to perform more advanced procedures due to a trauma of the teeth or mouth.
Many people associate oral surgery with a hospital setting, general anesthesia, and many days of recovery. Contrary to that belief, many procedures routinely performed in our office can be considered oral surgery and our patients that require such procedures can be in and out of the chair in a matter of hours.
Tooth Extractions
The most recognized form of oral surgery that we perform is tooth extraction of impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth, damaged teeth beyond repair due to tooth decay, root fracture or trauma. In some instances we may opt to extract the primary teeth that have failed to fall out thus allowing the permanent teeth to come in. With that, we may recommend tooth extraction as a necessary step when a patient is undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are another widely recognized oral surgery procedure that we routinely provide to our patients. Implants are used to replace missing teeth, or provide stability to a new or existing denture. Most of our patients that have had a dental implant report the recovery was similar to that of a tooth extraction and they were able to return to a normal eating pattern more quickly than anticipated.
Jaw Problems
Other conditions that have required us to perform oral surgery for our patients are corrective jaw surgery for TMJ or temporomandibular joint pain, malocclusion or incorrect bite, clenching or grinding of the teeth causing excessive tooth wear, difficulty chewing, eating, or opening and closing the mouth.
The Procedure
The implant procedure is the same whether one or all of the teeth are missing. A special drill is used to prepare the bone to receive the implant. After the bone has been prepared, the implant is placed and the tissue is sutured.
The Result
A renewed smile and a restored ability to chew!
Here in our Palo Alto dental office, we offer General & Family Dentistry services, Cosmetic Dentistry and Dental Implants, Invisalign and Orthodontics, Porcelain Veneers and Porcelain Crowns, Teeth Whitening, and a wide variety of other dentistry services. Please call our Palo Alto dental office at 650.327.7525 or send an email to APPT@PaloAltoDentistry.com to find out more about our staff and services.
If you're located in the San Jose area, and are in need of dentistry services, please visit our San Jose dental office website at: www.SerenityDentistry.com or call 408.999.0444.
If you're in the Santa Cruz, Aptos, Soquel area and need dental services, please visit our website at: www.CreekViewDentistry.com or call 831.688.6531.
