Friday, December 6, 2013

Bone Grafting

Dental implants are often provided to people who have missing teeth and are hoping to find a more permanent solution. However, implants must have a sufficient amount of jaw bone to be placed securely and this isn’t always naturally the case. The missing teeth can cause the jawbone to atrophy and makes it difficult for the implant procedure to work.
 
Today, we have the ability to grow bone through bone grafting. Bone graftinghelps Dr. Ramin Bahram grow enough bone at the implant site for placing the titanium post and completing a successful procedure.
 
Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we offer minor and major bone grafting. The main difference is exactly how much bone will need to be grafted. Some patients can get minor bone grafting that helps increase how much bone is present. Others require major bone grafting if they have more loss and the jawbone has been reabsorbed.
 
Patients who are in need of implants but don’t have enough bone to install the post have a great option in bone grafting when they come to our clinic. If you are in the Philadelphia, PA area, call us at 215-463-4141 (Broad St.) or 215-558-2400 (Walnut St) for a consultation. We also provide bone grafting procedures in our Clifton Heights (610-622-5454) and Folsom offices (610-461-4600) for your convenience.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Midnight Snacks and Your Oral Health

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we realize that some things taste better after midnight. But there is a correlation between midnight snacks and your oral health that isn’t good for your smile. Eating late at night, when your saliva production slows down and your mouth is the driest, accentuates the adverse effects on your teeth (plaque buildup, tooth decay, and even tooth loss) when consuming foods and drinks. This is especially true in the case of sugary foods and starchy foods. Yes, we know that ice cream, pizza, and cake are some of the most popular midnight snacks.
 
There’s a reason that we were instructed early on to brush our teeth before going to bed. Without brushing before bed, food left on teeth — and its bacteria and plaque growth — wreak havoc on your teeth. To minimize the damage to your teeth from eating a midnight snack, be sure to brush your teeth afterwards. Better yet, try to avoid eating late at night by:
  • Distracting yourself.  Read a book or magazine.
  • Eating breakfast every day. People who eat breakfast are less likely to snack at night.
  • Increasing your protein and fiber during dinner. This helps to make you feel full.



Friday, October 4, 2013

Is It Time For a New Toothbrush?

You most likely know that brushing your teeth regularly will help you keep a healthy smile. But if you don’t take proper care of your toothbrush as well, some of those efforts eventually will go by the wayside. That’s because toothbrushes, over time, become infested with harmful bacteria.
 
Many individuals only replace their toothbrush once or twice a year. We believe at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania that that is far too long. We recommend that adults use a new toothbrush every three months in order to maintain and improve oral health. You should replace your toothbrush sooner than three months, however, if the toothbrush bristles are frayed. In addition, if you’ve been sick, such as having the flu, replace your toothbrush immediately when you’re better.
 
Some new toothbrushes contain bristles that change color to let you know that it’s time for a new toothbrush. Keep in mind, children’s toothbrushes should be replaced more frequently than three months -- at least every two months.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Great Oral Health Contributes to a Healthy Pregnancy

Great Oral Health Contributes to a Healthy Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an exciting time. It’s also a time when there is a lot to think about and to do.  After all, there’s designing the nursery, selecting baby clothes, and choosing your new baby’s name. While all of these things are at the forefront of your mind, our team at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania wants to remind you of how great oral health contributes to a healthy pregnancy.
 
Taking care of your gums and teeth when you are pregnant is important. During pregnancy, heightened hormonal changes can increase your risk of developing periodontal disease, and may even increase your risk of pre-term labor.  We want to emphasize the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene during your pregnancy by brushing and flossing regularly. With excellent oral health care, you can contribute to a healthy pregnancy.
 
We know that you’ll be having many ob/gyn appointments during your pregnancy, but don’t miss your regular dental checkups during this time. Dental procedures can be done during pregnancy, but they need to be scheduled appropriately, usually in the second trimester. 

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Alcohol's Effect on Your Oral Health

 
Many alcoholic drinks, including beer, contain sugar that can damage your tooth enamel.  Wines, margaritas, daiquiris, and other mixed drinks containing citrus juices or soda are even worse.  The high acidity and overly abundant sugar content can increase your risk of tooth decay.
 
Alcohol, by its very nature, is dehydrating.  It dehydrates your body and reduces the amount of saliva in your mouth.  This can both damage and soften your enamel.  In addition to physical problems and addiction tendencies, excessive alcohol consumption can cause a host of dental troubles, including gum deterioration, cavities, and even tooth loss over time.
 
If you are going to drink (and not excessively, we hope), there are a few things that we at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania advise you to do in order to lessen the damaging nature of alcohol’s effect on your health.
  • Brush and floss every night before going to bed -- especially if you’ve been consuming alcohol.
  • Leave your toothbrush and floss out if you plan to go out and drink as a reminder to brush and floss before turning in.
  • ·Swish water in your mouth while drinking alcohol to rinse sugar and acids away and add moisture to your mouth.
  • Chew sugarless gum between drinks and after drinking.
While all of these tips won’t completely eliminate alcohol’s damaging effects on oral health, it can help to lessen the detrimental effects.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is sometimes necessary for certain conditions and procedures, including wisdom teeth eruption, infection, or in the event of severe tooth decay. Most tooth extraction procedures are fairly simple and straightforward, but special care should be taken to avoid complications and to ensure a speedy recovery. When you visit for your tooth extraction, be sure to follow all pre-surgical instructions. With the use of anesthetic and/or sedation, you can expect your extraction to be painless and comfortable.  You may experience a pressured sensation as the tooth is eased from the socket and extracted. When a tooth cannot be easily removed from a socket, a tooth may need to sectioned and removed in portions. This process is also fairly simple and easy to complete.  Once the tooth has been fully extracted, the gum with be stitched to heal or the site will be preserved for implant placement.
 
Provided you follow all post-op specifications, including follow-up visits and restorative procedures, your tooth extraction will ensure your smile stays healthy, functional and beautiful.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Implant Site Preservation - A Key to Implant Success

If you are in need of a tooth extraction and you plan on completing your restoration with a dental implant, implant site preservation is essential for a successful implant placement procedure.  Implant site preservation ensures that the site of your future implant remains in an ideal state with minimal bone changes, thereby ensuring your implant cylinder can be placed with ease, the healing process is efficient, and your implant remains stable and secure for many years.

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we’ve helped many Philadelphia patients with implant site preservation and dental implant placement.  For complete information on oral surgery and implant services available through us, visit our site and contact us directly.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

IV Sedation

IV sedation is an effective and safe dental resource.  Through sedation services we help patients feel relaxed and comforted throughout their procedure. Although sedation can be administered through various methods, IV sedation is both fast acting and easy to control. Also called “Twilight Sedation”, IV sedation is introduced intravenously and can be adjusted according to patient needs.
 
Through IV sedation, you’ll experience your procedure as a pleasant rest.  You’ll likely have little to no memory of the process and feel no discomfort. Since IV sedation is so safe and effective, some patients can even undergo multiple procedures during one sedation session.
 
For more information IV sedation and other forms of sedation dentistry, please visit our website or contact us directly here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Oral Cancer

We understandably don’t like to think or talk about cancer, but confronting this serious issue is imperative to good health practices.  In the dental health community, we are especially concerned with our patients’ understanding oforal cancer and all necessary screening and preventative measures. Like other forms of cancer, oral cancer can be extremely costly and difficult to fight once it has progressed; but also like other cancers, when it’s diagnosed early, patients greatly improve their prospects for a full recovery.  
 
Since there are a number of behaviors and lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of oral cancer, patients should be aware of the following factors and get a screening if any apply to them:
  • Patients over fifty who use any tobacco products, drink frequently or heavily, and/or have a history of oral cancer in their family.
  • Patients who have been infected with HPV.
  • Patients who regularly experience sores or pain in the oral cavity, especially if due to damaged teeth or past dental work.
  • All patients over eighty.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Wisdom Teeth

Should you get your wisdom teeth removed, even if you’re not experiencing any pain or problems? In most cases, the answer is yes.  That’s because properly aligned wisdom teeth are a rarity.  More often than not, wisdom teeth create issues as they start to erupt--growing in crooked or only partially emerging—or they become impacted and compromise the gum, bone and surrounding teeth.  Cyst and tumors could even form around an impact wisdom tooth and require involved and costly surgery.
 
To prevent these and subsequent problems, wisdom tooth removal should be completed proactively. The procedure is often simple and straight forward.  Sedation and anesthesia eliminates any pain and discomfort.  After the wisdom tooth removal, you will need a day of rest and basic aftercare, which may include medication and compliance with a soft diet as not to compromise the healing process.  A follow up appointment may be needed to remove stitches and assess the health of the gum.
 
If you are in need of wisdom tooth removal, or if you’re not sure if you should undergo this procedure, please view out website for complete information:http://www.oralsurgerypa.com/oral-surgery/wisdom-teeth.html. We look forward to answering any questions you may have.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Implants

Dental implants are one of the best options for smile restorations, and one of our leading specialties here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania.  Compared to other tooth prosthetics, dental implants provide a unique set of benefits that makes their effectiveness unrivaled.
 
If you’re not sure if dental implants are the best options for your smile restoration, be sure to arrange a consultation.  For most patients, dental implants are very successful and provide the following benefits:
  • You can have dental implants placed at any tooth site. Multiple implants can be placed and can even be used to restore entire rows of teeth.
  • You won’t need to modify other teeth or rely on wires, framework, adhesives or support that affects adjacent tooth.
  • Dental implants look and feel completely natural and they’re indistinguishable from the rest of your smile.
  • Dental implants can last a lifetime and do not require replacement or adjustment.
  • Dental implants require no special maintenance besides brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups.
  • Because dental implants are placed within the bone like the root of a tooth they can prevent bone loss and atrophy of the jaw.
For complete information on dental implants, please visit our website:http://www.oralsurgerypa.com/dental-implants/dental-implants.html.  We welcome your call with questions and invite you to take advantage of our special dental implant offer—pay just $1200 per tooth.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Extractions

In most cases, extractions are straightforward procedures that are the first step in replacing a tooth that’s been severely damaged, decayed or infected.  Although many patients may feel apprehensive about this procedure due to pain, the extraction process is virtually painless, thanks to resources like anesthetic and sedation.
 
There are several options to have teeth replaced after an extraction such as dental implants, bridge,partial denture . We will be glad to discuss all those options during the consultation. 
 
To ensure that your extraction recovery is comfortable and free of any complications, proper aftercare is very important. When you comply with all post extraction guidelines, you’ll minimize any swelling and soreness you may feel and ensure that your gums heal and stay healthy.  We help you determine the specific aftercare you need based on your individual case, but as general guidelines, comply with the following:
  • Avoid strenuous activity and get plenty of rest.
  • Follow all prescribed recommendations including the proper use of aftercare medications.
  • Enjoy soft, mild foods that are specified as part of your post-op diet.
For complete information on what you can expect during and after your extraction, please view our website: http://www.oralsurgerypa.com/oral-surgery/tooth-extraction.html. You may also contact us for answers to your questions and concerns.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

CT Scanner (3D Imaging)

CT Scanner (3D Imaging)
CT scanners allow dental professions to gain a more comprehensive insight into your oral health. This advanced examination and diagnostic technology produces a 3D image of the teeth, oral and sinus cavity, which enables us to detect problems and plan procedures such as dental implants with greater precision.
 
Conventional 2D x-rays only provide a flat image from a single viewpoint, which provides a very limited portrayal of critical procedure areas. CT scanning and 3D imaging delivers a superior image to this traditional x-ray method.
 
If you’re wondering how CT scanning can benefit your specific needs, or if you have any concerns with regards to the CT scanning process please call us directly.