What Makes An Oral Surgeon In Houston TX An Expert In His Field?

Oral surgery, recognized by the American Dental Association as one of the nine specialty areas of dentistry, is focused on the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of injuries, diseases, as well as defects associated with the functional and esthetic aspects of the maxillofacial area or the areas in the face, mouth, teeth and jaws. Oral surgeons, together with other experts in related fields, are in charge to handle these cases. They are commonly referred by general dentists and medical physicians. If you are looking for a competent oral surgeon in Houston TX or anywhere else for that matter, here’s some information that will help you find one.

What does an oral surgeon do?

An oral surgeon, among others, is skilled in removing diseased and impacted teeth as well as in administering anesthesia. He is also skilled in placing dental implants when collaborating with a cosmetic or restorative dentist. He also knows how to treat minor to complex facial injuries that involve the oral tissues, jaws, cheek, eye sockets and the like. Moreover, an oral surgeon also evaluates pathologic conditions and performs reconstructive and cosmetic surgery and even jaw surgery.

What To Ask

You have to consider some crucial factors to help you find an expert oral surgeon. First of all, you have to know how long he has been in practice. You want someone who has been in the industry for years. The longer he is in the profession, the more procedures he has performed making him more reliable and competent at what he does. Ask about his training and clinical experience particularly on the procedure that you will be requiring. Ask if he had encountered any problem when performing this specific procedure in the past.

A good oral surgeon belongs to some reputable associations in his filed and constantly updates himself with the recent developments in his area of expertise. Ask if he belongs to any particular group and what studies he has taken up recently. Also, ask him about what other options are available for you that will treat or correct your condition and their corresponding pros and cons.

Inquire about the cost of the procedure you want and ask if there are other modes of payment or in-house financing that you can avail in case your dental insurance won’t shoulder the cost of your treatment. You should also ask what type of emergency care the oral surgeon offers and if he is available after office hours, on weekends and holidays.

If you are looking for a reputable oral surgeon, visit Dr. Holly Gregory,DDS today. 

Exposure Of Impacted Teeth In Houston TX: Is It The Ideal Solution?

In simple terms, an impacted tooth is a tooth that did not come out of the gum tissues like it’s supposed to. Its normal eruption into the mouth was hindered by several factors including dense soft tissue, bone, cysts, or another tooth. There are various treatments for an unerupted tooth and these include extraction of the tooth, extraction of the impacted tooth, and surgical exposure of the impacted tooth, just to name some. If you are considering exposure of impacted teeth in Houston TX or elsewhere, here’s some basic information about this treatment that you need to know.

In general, the wisdom tooth is the most common case for impacted teeth and has to be removed to avoid any problems. Next are the maxillary cuspids or the canine and/or eye teeth. Other commonly impacted teeth are the second molars, bicuspids, and the lower jaw cuspids. In general, the older the patient, the lesser is the chance for the impacted tooth to erupt naturally. When you have an impacted tooth that is not your wisdom tooth, early detection is crucial as it can greatly affect the kind of treatment that you’ll have and its success.

If for example, your treatment is exposure of the impacted tooth, this entails exposing the said tooth. Once it is exposed, your dental practitioner will then attach an orthodontic appliance to aid its eruption. A periodontal packing may be attached over the tooth temporarily depending on a patient’s case until his post-operative appointment. Further treatments may be needed to move the tooth properly into the dental arch. During the procedure, a patient may have several anesthetic options including IV sedation, local anesthesia, etc.

In cases when the impacted tooth has to be extracted, the tooth is exposed by cutting away the gum and bone tissues covering the tooth and with the use of forceps, the tooth is moved gently back and forth to loosen its grasp from the jaw bone and ligaments that hold it in place. The extraction of an impacted tooth normally is an option when the tooth in question won’t move despite all the interventions done. When it is the only choice left, dental practitioners often offer treatment solutions that will address the missing tooth.

Don’t let any dental problem keep you from living a full life. Visit Dr. Holly Gregory,DDS today and know what your dental options are.

Common Cases When Tooth Extraction In Houston TX Is Necessary

A trip to the dentist is often a dreaded thing. This is especially true when you will have your tooth or teeth pulled out. Permanent teeth can last a lifetime but there are cases when they have to be extracted. These days, there are now modern ways of carrying out a tooth extraction although the traditional way is still widely used. If you are considering tooth extraction in Houston TX or anywhere else, it is a good idea to know what your options are to ensure that you have a safe and convenient procedure and quicker healing time.

As mentioned, there are instances when a tooth has to be extracted. The most common reason is when the tooth is badly damaged due to injury or decay. Other reasons include a crowded mouth, infection, periodontal or gum disease, radiation, organ transplant and chemotherapy. Of all tooth extraction categories, wisdom teeth removal is the most common. This is actually often recommended by dental professionals even before the wisdom tooth has fully developed in order to avoid potential problems in the future.

What to Expect

Generally, your dentist or oral surgeon will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area where the problem tooth is located. In the case of multiple teeth extraction, a strong general anesthetic may be used to make you sleep all throughout the procedure and prevent you from feeling the pain throughout your body. In the case of an impacted tooth, the dentist will cut away the gum and bone tissue to expose the tooth and using a pair of forceps, will rock it gently to loosen it from the jawbone and ligaments that hold it in place. For hard-to-pull tooth, it may have to be removed in pieces.

Basically, there are two types of tooth extraction- simple extraction and the surgical extraction. The former is a simple tooth extraction method commonly done by dentists with or without sedation or anti-anxiety medication. It is done on teeth that are easily seen in the mouth. For hard to reach teeth or those that can’t be easily seen, the surgical extraction is performed. This procedure requires some type of surgical procedure making it more complicated. In addition, it can be performed with local anesthesia and/or conscious sedation.

If you had a difficult tooth extraction, you may have to go back to your dentist for a follow-up check-up. But commonly, when it’s a simple procedure, you just have to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Got a dental issue that is keeping you from living your life to the fullest? Visit Dr.Holly Gregory, DDS at Northeast Houston Dental Implants &Periodontology today and see which solution is right for you.