Excisional Intra-Oral Tissue Biopsies at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania

Having a biopsy done is an important part of your oral health. When you have a lesion your dentist is concerned about and need to have a biopsy performed, trust the experienced team at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. We can perform an excisional intra-oral tissue biopsy right here in Philadelphia, PA.

Excisional biopsies are performed when the abnormality (lesion) in question is located in an easily accessible area of the oral cavity. They are also usually performed when the lesion is less than 1 centimeter. In this type of biopsy, the entire lesion is removed. The lesion is then sent to a laboratory where it will be examined to find out the nature of it. Most biopsies can be performed with a local anesthesia while the patient is still awake.

Unusual areas in the mouth to have examined may include a new bump or patch of tissue that has changed color, texture, or size. Other signs to look for include a soreness or feeling like something is caught in the throat, swelling, difficulty swallowing, among other things. If any of these symptoms persist for more than two weeks, a full examination should be performed.

If you are experiencing a persistent and unusual change in your mouth or throat, be sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor for an examination. At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we perform excisional intra-oral biopsies for our patients right in Philadelphia, PA. To schedule an appointment, call (215) 463-4141 or visit our website, www.oralsurgerypa.com. 

Impacted Canines

For some children between 9 and 12 years old, their eyeteeth (canines) do not emerge when they are supposed to, and intervention from a dentist and oral surgeon is required. Cases where this occurs must be evaluated on an individual basis since there are several solutions that can be enacted. Whatever the case, the most recent studies show that early identification of impacted teeth should be initiated a young age so that treatment can begin immediately. Patients in the Philadelphia, PA area are turning to our experienced team here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania who can devise the best plan and treatment for you.

Once a general dentist or hygienist identifies there is an eruption problem with a canine, the patient should immediately schedule an appointment for evaluation at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. The most common scenario will call for a space to be opened in the mouth by the oral surgeon to provide room for the tooth to emerge. Commonly, an orthodontist will uses braces to move the tooth to its proper position in the dental arch.  If impaction is treated early, merely exposing the eyetooth can allow it to emerge partially before it becomes completely impacted. This way braces do not have to be placed right away, saving time for the patient.

To expose the tooth, your dentist will lift the gum on top of the tooth to expose it. If a baby tooth is still present, it will be removed at the same time. If the tooth is completely impacted, an orthodontic bracket will be attached to the exposed tooth, with a chain attached to connect the tooth to an orthodontic wire. Depending on the case, the tooth can either be left exposed, or the gums will be sutured with only the chain remaining visible. Once the tooth has erupted, the chain will be removed and the gums sutured if healthy. Sometimes minor gum surgery is required to add bulk to the gums over the relocated tooth to ensure normal function.

If you suspect your child’s canine, or other tooth, is impacted, schedule an appointment with us here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania by visiting www.oralsurgerypa.com. 

Sinus Lift

Dental implants require adequate bone height and proper sinus positioning in order to be installed in the jawbone. For people needing preoperative treatment to restore bone integrity or for sinus repositioning so that dental implants can be placed, our experienced team here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania with multiple locations in the Philadelphia, PA area, is qualified to perform advanced sinus lifts meant to add depth to the upper jawbone while lifting the sinus membrane to allow extra room for bone. Only periodontists or maxillofacial surgeons are capable of doing a sinus lift because of knowledge requirements regarding ear, nose and throat anatomy as well as surgical techniques that are not part of a regular dentist's training.

Reasons that sinus lifts are necessary prior to a dental implant procedure primarily involve bone and tooth loss. Periodontal disease that remains untreated for years can infiltrate gums and erode bone through massive bacterial activity. Losing teeth also leads to bone loss because missing teeth promotes reabsorption of bone into body. Our team here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania also sees patients who have lost several molars and do not have sufficient bone mass for implant surgery. In regards to sinus positioning, some people are born with their maxillary sinus located abnormally close to the jaw, which can inhibit dental implant procedures.

Sinus and bone augmentation begins with your dentist taking CT scans or digital X-rays of a patient’s jaw and sinus cavity. Following a sinus lift, dental implants can be safely installed between five and 10 months later. Recovery is minimal and involves some swelling and bleeding that subsides within a few days of having the procedure.

To learn more about our experienced team here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, please visit www.oralsurgerypa.com. 

Bone Grafting

Some patients do not have the proper amount of bone mass in their jaw to allow for the placement of dental implants. However, thanks to recent developments in bone grafting, people who would not have qualified a few years ago are now able to use dental implants to complete their smile and protect their oral health. In the Philadelphia, PA area, these patients turn to Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania for high-quality dental care they can trust.

Whether you need bone grafting or not, if you are looking to receive dental implants, Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania can make it happen. To schedule an appointment and begin your journey toward a complete and beautiful smile, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com.