Oral Surgery Procedures

Wisdom Tooth Removal (3rd Molars)

A wisdom tooth that is deemed problematic is normally extracted to avoid any oral complications. To have a wisdom tooth removed, a small incision is made to open up the gum tissue over the tooth and remove any bone that is covering the tooth. Once the tooth is in view, it is grasped with a dental instrument, known as a forcep, and gently rocked back and forth to loosen it from the jaw bone and surrounding ligaments. Sometimes the tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces to make it easier for removal. Stitches may be necessary after the removal of a wisdom tooth.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are used to replace tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth. Dental implants are small anchors made of biocompatible metal, called titanium, placed in the jawbone. The anchors begin to fuse with the bone over a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the attachment of the replacement teeth. To fabricate the replacement teeth, an impression is taken and a model of the bite is created. The replacement teeth are based on this model. Replacement teeth can either be crowns, bridges or dentures.

Impacted Tooth & Tooth Exposure

An impacted tooth is a tooth that fails to fully pass through the gums.

Impacted wisdom and cuspid (or canine) teeth are fairly common. To correct impacted teeth, there are a few treatment options. For impacted wisdom teeth, the most common procedure is extraction. For impacted canine teeth, several treatment modalities are available. Orthodontics (braces) can be used to open space for proper eruption. Primary (baby) teeth can either be extracted or surgically exposed to allow for the placement of an orthodontic bracket to help align the teeth.

Bone Grafting

Once a tooth is extracted, a bowl-shaped bony socket is left in the jaw. During the healing process, much of the bone around the socket can slowly dissolve away, or atrophy, because the tooth is no longer present. Bone loss can make it difficult for a patient to replace the missing tooth with a dental implant. One simple way to preserve bone in the jaw is to pack bone graft material into the extraction socket when the tooth is extracted and then suture a thin membrane over the graft to help preserve the graft. After 3 to 6 months of healing, solid bone forms that can support a dental implant.

Tooth Extractions

A tooth that can not be saved with restorative materials may need to be removed. Before removing your tooth, the area will be numbed with anesthesia. The tooth is then loosened using a special dental instrument known as an elevator. After it is loosened from the socket, it is removed by a forcep, a dental instrument commonly used in dental extractions. Stitches may be necessary after the removal of a tooth.

Full Mouth Restoration

Do you have many missing or failing teeth? Do you hate your dentures? Are you ready for a permanent solution? Do you want beautiful new teeth in just ONE day? Call today to schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons to discuss your Full Implant Restoration.

Our Full Implant Restoration is a unique dental implant solution that allows patients who are missing all of their upper or lower teeth to replace with a new set of permanent teeth, using dental implants as “anchors”. Easy to care for, your Full Implant Restoration can simulate the look and feel of natural teeth, and stays fixed in place. Patients will not experience the typical rocking and movement or gum irritation associated with removable dentures.

On the day of your scheduled surgery, you can leave our office the same day with a beautiful Full Implant Restoration, reducing both overall cost and healing time compared to single dental implants.

Additional Procedures

Teeth in One Day

This procedure is a unique implant solution that allows patients who are missing all of their upper or lower teeth to replace a full arch of teeth using only 4 implants as “anchors”.

This technique offers many advantages over traditional dentures.

Easy to care for, this solution can simulate the look and feel of natural teeth and stay fixed in place with the implants acting as anchors. Patients will not experience the typical rocking and movement or gum irritation associated with dentures. Patients can often leave the same day with a full arch of teeth, reducing both overall cost and healing time for the patient.

Dental implant placement can help alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw by stimulating bone growth in the area around the implant. This process is called osseointegration and can also help prevent future bone loss.

With this implant supported full arch, there is no plate covering the roof of the mouth, so speaking and eating are more natural and comfortable than with a traditional denture.

Sinus Lift

A sinus lift is a surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the premolar and molar areas of your mouth. To add bone, an incision is made where the premolar and molar teeth were previously located. Once the bone is exposed, a small circular shape is made in the bone to access the sinus. Once the sinus is accessed, the sinus membrane is gently pushed up and away from the upper jaw. Once this is done, bone graft material is placed into the sinus space to change the shape and provide support. Once the bone is in place, the incision is closed and the healing process begins.

Biopsies

The smooth, pink skin lining the mouth is called mucosa. Abnormalities in the color or texture of this skin can sometimes indicate pathology. Any concerns with the skin in the mouth, a sore that is not healing properly or a lump on the inside of the cheeks, palate, gums or lips, may merit a biopsy so that the tissue sample can be tested for oral cancer. Please do not ignore these warning signs and be sure to mention any concerns you may have during your visit.

Sleep Disorders

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which one experiences one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.

Sleep apnea is an ongoing condition that disrupts sleep. When breathing is paused or becomes shallow, one will often move out of deep sleep and into light sleep, making the quality of sleep poor.

Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and/or surgery.

For mild sleep apnea, a custom fitted mouthpiece or some lifestyle changes (weight loss, smoking cessation, clearing nasal passages) may be helpful.

For moderate to severe sleep apnea, a breathing device called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or surgery to widen the breathing passages by shrinking, stiffening, or removing excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw may be helpful. A CPAP machine uses a mask that fits over your mouth and/or nose and gently blows air into your throat. This air pressure helps keep your airway open while you sleep. Surgery to shrink the tissue involves a small shot into the breathing passages. Surgery to stiffen excess tissue requires a small incision in the tissue and the insertion of a piece of stiff plastic.

Sedation Dentistry

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, sometimes referred to as “laughing gas,” is an effective and safe sedation agent that is inhaled through a mask that fits over your nose to help you relax. Mixed with oxygen, Nitrous oxide allows you to breathe normally through your nose and within minutes you should start to feel the effects. You may feel light-headed or a tingling in your arms and legs. Some patient’s comment that their legs and arms feel heavy. Ultimately, you should feel comfortable and calm. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly after the small mask is removed. Talk to the doctor about whether nitrous oxide would be a good option for you.

IV Sedation

Our highly qualified staff is trained to provide IV sedation for our patients.

IV sedation is an alternative sedation that allows patients to be relaxed during procedures. Dr. Erakat will combine the use of IV sedation along with a local anesthetic so you have little to no discomfort and will have no memory of the procedure.

For IV Sedation, our patients’ vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate are continuously monitored by our trained staff. Patients should plan to have someone bring them to the appointment and be available to drive them home following treatment.

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