Are Dental Implants Painful?

If you are receiving dental implants in the near future, our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania don’t want you to be frightened, we want you to be informed on what to expect. Pain is a common concern among individuals who are considering dental implants and we want you to know that while some discomfort is expected, it shouldn’t be your primary concern.

As with any major dental procedure, or surgery in general, some discomfort is to be expected during the recovery process since it is a surgery that typically involves removing teeth, cutting gums, drilling into the jawbone and inserting a titanium post. The procedure itself is not painful since it is performed with either general or local anesthesia to completely numb your mouth. If you’re anxious about the discomfort during the procedure and being aware of drilling noises and forces being applied to your mouth, please ask us about our sedation options.

If you have questions about dental implants or sedation options give us a call. For more information about the services we provide, contact us in one of our Philadelphia, PA area locations today. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, call 215-463-4141 or visit www.oralsurgerypa.com. 

Cleaning Your Dental Implant

When visiting the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we make sure that you receive the highest level of service and ensure that our dental work is of the highest quality. If you’ve recently received a dental implant, you’ll want to protect your investment. To ensure that you maintain great oral health, this level of quality that we provide needs to extend into your personal oral hygiene routine. Allow us to inform you how to take care of your dental implant.

To ensure the long life of a dental implant, some special techniques and efforts are required to keep the implant clean and free of dental plaque. Plaque may cause infection in the tissues around the implant and lead to its ultimate failure. No single device has been shown to remove plaque from all surfaces of the dental implant; however you should take care of them as you would your natural teeth. To achieve long-term success of your dental implant you should brush at least twice a day and floss between your teeth once daily.

If you have questions about how to maintain oral care for your dental implant, give us a call. For more information about the services we provide, contact us in one of our Philadelphia, PA area locations today. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, call 215-463-4141 or visit www.oralsurgerypa.com. 

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

If you avoid eating cold foods or drinking hot beverages because your teeth are sensitive, it may be time to get a check up at your dentist. Some of the causes include tooth decay, a cracked tooth, worn tooth enamel, worn fillings and tooth roots that are exposed as a result of aggressive tooth brushing, gum recession and periodontal disease.

The inside of your tooth is primarily made up of a material called dentin, which contains microscopic tubules filled with tiny nerve endings. A hard outer layer of enamel protects the dentin within the crown portion of your tooth, and the dentin extending down to the root of your tooth is protected by a layer of cementum. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), dentin hypersensitivity or nerve irritation occurs whenever dentin loses its protective covering of enamel or cementum, exposing the nerve endings to hot, cold, acidic or sticky foods, causing you pain.

For more information about the services we provide, contact us in one of our Philadelphia, PA area locations today. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, call 215-463-4141 or visit www.oralsurgerypa.com. 

What Can I Eat after a Frenectomy?

A frenum is a fold of tissue in the mouth found between the upper two front teeth, under the tongue, and on the sides of the gums. When a frenum constricts the movement of your lips or tongue too much, our doctors at Oral Surgery Consults of Pennsylvania will perform what is called a Frenectomy. A frenectomy is an oral surgery procedure in which the frenum is cut.  Recovery time for a frenectomy is short – generally about 24 hours. During this time, you will be advised to follow a soft diet.

A soft diet consists of foods that are easy for you to chew and swallow. You can consume pureed, mashed, ground, chopped and moist foods. Starchy foods that are recommended include rice, pasta such as macaroni, rolls, muffins, soft bread and tortillas. Fruits and vegetables include applesauce, fruit or vegetable juice, avocado and ripe bananas. Dairy choices include cheese sauces, cottage cheese, milk, milkshakes, soft ice cream and plain yogurt.

For more information about the Frenectomy procedure and aftercare, contact us in one of our Philadelphia, PA area locations today. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consults of Pennsylvania, call 215-463-4141 or visit www.oralsurgerypa.com.