Friday, June 29, 2018

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

As providers of biopsies, we at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania work with patients who are battling cancer. Facing a diagnosis of cancer does not mean that a person’s oral health should be neglected, but it can create complications in the form of osteonecrosis of the jaw. We want our patients to be able to understand why cooperation between oral surgeons and oncologists is so important.


Osteonecrosis of the jaw is when exposed jaw bone tissue dies. It can happen as a result of herpes or severe periodontal disease, but is usually a side effect of undergoing dental extractions while on bisphosphonate medication. These treatments are used to slow bone disintegration in people with osteoporosis or who are undergoing cancer treatments such as radiation and steroid use. Some symptoms of osteonecrosis include pain, swelling, and the failure of gums to heal after extractions.


While osteonecrosis may sound terrifying, it is often responsive to conservative treatments such as antibiotic rinses. It is also a very rare problem and not particularly associated with implant placement. But because there is no good way to predict whether someone will suffer osteonecrosis, it is important for patients to share with their oncologists whether they expect to need significant dental work and to have tooth extractions done early in their cancer treatment.


The Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.


 

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Uses of a CT Scanner

The offices of the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania are fully equipped for our patients’ diagnostic and treatment needs. One of the most important pieces of equipment we have is the computed tomography (CT) scanner. This kind of x-ray allows us to see the patient’s bone structure in much greater detail than can be done in most dental practices.


Typically, x-rays only allow a few views of a person’s mouth. By contrast, the CT scanner rotates around the patient's head, capturing images from every angle. This is important because the success of implant placement depends on where they are put and how much bone structure the patient retains. Following implant placement, the patient will need to periodically undergo imaging tests to ensure the bone and implant are integrating. If they are not, the implant must be removed. During apicoectomies, use of a CT scanner is also necessary to locate the tips of tooth roots. Often, an initial root canal fails because it did not account for an unusual tooth shape.


 The use of a CT scanner presents very little risk of radiation exposure to the patient. It takes less than a minute, is painless, and does not require any special preparation.


The Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.


 

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Impacted Tooth Exposure for Orthodontics

When a tooth is impacted, this simply means that it’s stuck and not able to erupt and maximize function. The problem with impacted teeth is that they often become infected, and may cause significant bone loss, resorption of roots of adjacent teeth, as well as gum recession. If a patient requires orthodontic treatment, but exposure is necessary to make room for the brackets, our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania can perform this procedure.


In a simple surgical procedure performed in our office, the gum on top of the impacted tooth will be lifted upward to expose the hidden tooth underneath. If a baby tooth is present, it will be removed as well. Once the tooth is exposed, one of our oral surgeons will bond an orthodontic bracket to the exposed tooth. The bracket will have a miniature gold chain attached to it which will allow the oral surgeon to guide the chain back to the orthodontic arch wire where it will be temporarily attached. Once the patient is stitched up, shortly after surgery they will return to the orthodontist.


If you have questions or concerns about oral surgery or impacted tooth exposure for orthodontics, 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.

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Risks Associated with Oral Cancer

Oral cancer can affect any of the working parts of the mouth or oral cavity. This includes the lips, the tissue that lines lips and cheeks, teeth, the tongue, gums, and the roof of the mouth. Oral cancer may also reside in the throat, tonsils, and base of the tongue. It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms and considers oral cancer screening to detect problems early when they are easiest to treat. At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we can examine these areas and treat concerns accordingly.


If you smoke, drink excessive amounts of alcohol or have a poor diet, changing these habits can decrease the chances of developing oral cancer. Also, if you’ve had oral cancer before, you may be more likely to develop it again, so keeping up with regular dental visits is important. If you notice mouth ulcers that do not heal, pain when swallowing, a sensation that something is stuck in the throat, or pain in the neck or ears that isn’t going away, schedule a consultation with one of our doctors to treat the problem.


If you have questions or concerns about oral surgery or oral cancer, 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.

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Why are Teeth Extracted

When a patient needs a tooth pulled, there’s nobody better in the Philly area than the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. But why do teeth need to be extracted, anyway? There are a number of possible reasons and we want our patients undergoing extractions to understand why it is in their interest.


Sometimes, teeth are severely infected. In these cases, they would usually undergo a root canal and we provide apicoectomies, or root tip replacements, when an initial root canal fails. However, even this may not be enough for the most stubborn infections, and some patients have a compromised immune system which prevents them from fighting off an infection in time to prevent it from entering the bloodstream. It may also happen that the gums are infected and are unable to keep the teeth stable. These cases require the assistance of a periodontist, or gum disease specialist, but they may not be able to stabilize the teeth. A tooth that has suffered a cracked root would also need to be removed since that injury does not heal.


Sometimes teeth are also removed due to overcrowding. This is often the fate of wisdom teeth. If canines or lateral incisors are impacted, they would usually be exposed so an orthodontic bracket can be glued to them and they can be guided into position, but this may not be practical if there are other alignment issues.


The Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.