Steps to Take Before Receiving Anesthesia

If our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania have reached the conclusion that you need an oral surgery procedure, then it’s important to know what steps to take before arriving at the office. To ensure that everything goes smoothly, there are certain requirements that need to be obeyed by the patient. If you do not comply, we may or may not be able to proceed.

We understand that it’s hard to fast, but you may not eat or drink anything for eight hours prior to the appointment. For your oral surgery procedure, it’s important to have a friend or family member accompany you to your appointment to drive you home, as you may experience some after effects of anesthesia. It is also recommended that you dress comfortably in loose-fitted clothes and low-heeled shoes. For ladies, nail polish shouldn’t be present at the time of surgery and all jewelry will need to be removed.

If you have questions or concerns about oral surgery, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.

Diabetes and Implants

American Diabetes Month is observed in November, and we at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania want to send it off with a word about implants. Placing implants is one of our specialties which makes the biggest positive difference in patients’ lives, but people with diabetes were not always sure whether they could receive them.

Diabetics are at increased risk for gum inflammation (gingivitis) and periodontal disease. This means they are at increased risk of losing jaw bone structure and would benefit from implants, which help to stabilize other teeth. But implant failure was long associated with chronic inflammation and people with uncontrolled blood sugar take longer to recover from wounds. Placing implants requires surgical incisions, which led doctors to question diabetic patients’ candidacy.

In recent years, the American Dental Association has taken steps to resolve this problem by surveying the available scientific studies. Their conclusion is that diabetic people do not have higher rates of implant failure than the general population. In people with uncontrolled diabetes, the longer recovery time and need to control inflammation are important factors to consider, but fixed prosthetics are not off-limits to them.

Drs. Bahram, Richman, Mohan and Dieu operate at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania at 2546 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145. To schedule an appointment, call 215-463-4141 or visit OralSurgeryPA.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Risks Associated with Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Depending on the patient, wisdom teeth can cause a variety of complications. Most of us know by now that wisdom teeth are the final set of molars that develop between the ages of 17-24. Most of the time, they remain impacted, which means that there isn’t enough space in the mouth for them to grow and blossom into teeth that are useful. Warning signs of impacted wisdom teeth can include frequent headaches that can cause tension in the neck. If your wisdom teeth are causing you discomfort, it may be time to contact the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania.

Wisdom teeth extraction isn’t always necessary, but it’s highly recommended. This is because wisdom teeth, especially impacted ones can increase a patient’s risk of developing an infection. Headaches may develop as a result of tension and irregular pressure in the jaw due to wisdom teeth development. When left untreated, impacted wisdom teeth will do more harm than good. If you don’t want to live with a permanent toothache, it’s important to consider extraction.

If you have questions or concerns about oral surgery or post-op care, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.

Cheek Swelling After Extraction

The worst part of extraction is over - the anticipation, the anxiety, and of course, the procedure itself. It’s time for our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania to send you home with post-op care instructions that tell you how to eat, how to manage pain, and how important it is to resume your oral hygiene routine after surgery. It’s important to know that you may notice some swelling in the cheek area, so don’t be surprised if you have “squirrel cheeks” for a few days.

For the first 24 to 48 hours post-op, you’ll want to reduce as much swelling as possible. Don’t be embarrassed that your cheeks are a little swollen, that’s perfectly normal. To reduce swelling, apply an ice pack for several minutes, several times a day. This will calm the inflammation and assist in the healing process. Swelling should subside after four days, if it persists more than seven days, please give us a call so that we can address the situation.

If you have questions or concerns about oral surgery or post-op care, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.

Alcohol and Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is one of our top concerns at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. We strive to educate the public about risk factors, including tobacco use and HPV and to recognize signs of pathology, such as soreness and discoloration. Recently, the American Society of Clinical Oncology released a statement which warned that alcohol is also a major risk factor for many cancers, including oral cancer.

Why alcohol causes oral cancer is still unclear. Current understanding of the evidence indicates that alcohol breaks down the lining of the mouth and that when it rebuilds, its DNA is damaged, causing the tissue to be deformed. Distinguishing alcohol effects from tobacco effects had been a problem for a long time, but scientists are now confident that alcohol in any amount increases cancer risk. Heavy drinking and drinking combined with smoking are still more dangerous, but the type of alcohol consumed is irrelevant.

There is some good news. The same study also found that when people stop drinking, their risk of oral, oropharyngeal, and other aerodigestive tract cancers declines to the level of non-drinkers.

Drs. Bahram, Richman, Mohan and Dieu operate at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania at 2546 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145. To schedule an appointment, call 215-463-4141 or visit OralSurgeryPA.com and fill out a contact sheet.