Biopsy
A biopsy is the removal of a tissue sample to determine if any pathology (abnormal tissue) is present. Depending on the pathology results, further treatment may be indicated. If you have any unexplained lesions in your mouth, you will likely be referred to our office by your general dentist or physician. However, if you have not seen a general dentist or physician, a referral is not required to make an appointment.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is performed to increase the existing bone volume to accommodate a dental implant or other restoration. Bone grafting is a common procedure that is used frequently for dental implants. The bone graft material is used to stimulate bone growth in the area of the planned implant. The bone graft material is eventually completely replaced with your own natural bone.
IV Sedation
If the idea of going to the dentist for a procedure brings on feelings of fear or anxiety, there are options to ease the anxiety. IV sedation is very safe and is recommended for moderate to severe anxiety. Intravenous sedation is an option for those patients who have any of the following symptoms: fear of dental work, past traumatic dental experiences, difficulty getting numb, strong gag reflex, sensitive teeth, complex dental problems, and limited time frame for treatment.
IV sedation makes long or complex procedures seem shorter, allowing you to have all of your work done in a single visit in many cases. As an added benefit, a local anesthetic will be administered to the area of surgery to ensure that there is no pain. The benefit of IV sedation is that the level of medication can be adjusted during your procedure to ensure maximum comfort. Your heart rate and breathing are monitored very closely while you are being medicated because your safety is our number one concern.
Don’t wait any longer to have the necessary dental work performed because you are nervous. Ask your oral surgeon about IV sedation to see if it is right for you.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous Oxide, known to many as “laughing gas”, is the most commonly used form of conscious sedation in dentistry. The administration is carefully monitored by your doctor. Feelings of fear and anxiety fade away, leaving you to sit back peacefully while your dental procedure is performed. Nitrous Oxide is often combined with an oral premedication sedative if required. You will need to have a preliminary visit with your dentist to make sure that you are an eligible candidate for nitrous sedation. If you have been worried about your next dental visit, ask us about conscious sedation with nitrous oxide and schedule your appointment today.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer screenings are a very important part of the dental examination. Early diagnosis with biopsy is extremely important in being able to treat any issues prior to them becoming a major irreversible problem. Certain lifestyle choices can have a great impact on the health of tissues and your overall health in the mouth. If you are a smoker or heavy drinker, make sure to get regular screenings when you visit the dentist.
Oral Pathology
Oral Pathology is the specialty of dentistry that identifies and treats diseases of the mouth and maxillofacial region. A biopsy is initially performed and the tissue specimen is sent to the oral pathologist for evaluation and diagnosis.
Orthodontic-Related Procedures
Temporary anchorage devices, or TADs, are small titanium anchors used in orthopedics to help achieve quicker tooth movement with more efficiency and comfort. TADs are used in addition to braces or as an alternative to headgear. The TAD is very small (usually 1.5-2mm in diameter) specially engineered titanium screw which is placed through your gum and into the jaw bone and acts as an anchor point to assist with the movement of your teeth. Local anesthesia is used to numb a small area of your gum when the device is gently inserted. You may experience a pressure sensation during the procedure. As the local anesthesia wears off after the insertion, you may feel some discomfort within the first 24 hours, but ibuprofen or acetaminophen will alleviate this. TADs are easily removed when no longer needed, and usually without the need for any anesthesia. The site where the TAD was placed heals within several days after removal without requiring sutures. The duration of the TAD treatment will be determined by your orthodontist, but in most cases, TADs are only required for a few months. However, it may be left in for a longer duration of time so the desired result of the treatment can be achieved.
Sinus Lift and Bone Grafting
Loss of upper posterior teeth may result in loss of bone volume necessary for certain restorative procedures. Fortunately, the use of dental implants allows you to replace these missing teeth. However, the position of the maxillary sinus in the upper posterior areas may be too low for proper placement of dental implants.
This procedure allows the maxillary sinus membrane to be repositioned to allow for bone graft placement and eventual implant placement. Various grafting materials are used to encourage your own bone to replace the grafted bone, helping to stabilize the dental implant.
Under certain conditions, another procedure can be utilized. When possible, the bone remaining under the sinus floor is gently “pushed up”, thus lifting the floor of the “dropped” sinus. Bone replacement materials are then placed beneath this lifted bone. The bone materials are replaced with your own natural bone into this area.
Sinus Lift with bone graft augmentation procedures are highly predictable, with studies reporting over 95% success. Following sufficient healing of a sinus lift/augmentation (6-10 months), implants are placed in a predictable and successful manner. It is important to realize that if the sinus lift/augmentation procedure does not result in enough bone for implant placement, additional bone may be regenerated through a second sinus augmentation procedure at the time of implant placement.