Oral Pathology

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we provide oral pathology procedures. If your doctor finds any suspicious bumps, lumps, or spots on the lips, gums, inside the cheeks or on the tongue, they will perform more tests through oral pathology. Your doctor will inspect your nose, mouth and throat. 

Before beginning oral pathology, we look for common signs and symptoms of oral cancer, such as the following:

 

• Sores in the mouth or gums that bleed and don’t heal


• Red or white patches in the mouth


• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness of the throat


• Difficulty with chewing or swallowing


• Thickening or lumps of the skin inside the mouth

 

During oral pathology, a biopsy may be needed. We remove a very small piece of tissue in the mouth and run it through a series of tests. The tissue is removed under anesthesia so no pain is experienced. At the laboratory, a pathologist looks for signs of cancer cells, which can take about two weeks to complete. If results are positive for oral cancer, we consult the patient about their next steps.

We push our patients to be diligent about their oral health, even encouraging them to perform self-examinations at home. If you feel that you might need an oral pathology consultation, please visit our website www.oralsurgerypa.com to schedule an appointment.

Extractions

We believe in saving the natural tooth whenever possible, but this isn’t always an option. Teeth often need to be extracted because of severe tooth decay that has caused a tooth to become cracked or fractured, severely infected or because there is not enough stability in the tooth for a crown to be placed over it.

 

Our patients know they are getting the best care possible when they visit our offices for extractions. We provide an anesthetic so that our patients don’t experience any pain or discomfort. We remove the tooth as quickly as possible, providing in-depth aftercare instructions. Most extractions heal quickly and without problem. However, wisdom teeth extractions may have a slightly longer healing process.

 

After getting the tooth extracted, patients are asked to keep gauze on the tooth for any bleeding that may occur. They must not use a straw as the sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot that is protecting the opening. If you have a problem with a tooth and are in need of an extraction, visit our office or our website, www.oralsurgerypa.com. 

Oral Hygiene and Heart Disease

Your oral hygiene affects more than just your smile. Now dentists and patients alike are gaining a better understating of how periodontal health problems that result from poor oral hygiene can have a serious impact on overall health and longevity. The reason for this is a problematic substance known as plaque.

 

Plaque forms between the teeth and around the gums when bacteria proliferation is not controlled through brushing, flossing and professional dental cleanings. This plaque buildup causes inflammation of the gums and frequently results in soreness and bleeding. As the plaque causing bacteria enter the bloodstream as a result of gum inflammation, there is a possibility that they can cause the same plaque buildup in the circulatory system. This increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other serious issues, including heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

 

While experts are still exploring the link between oral and systemic health, we here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania encourage all of our patients to take care of their teeth and gums, because maintaining a beautiful, health smile could mean a longer, healthier life.   

Oral Pathology

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we provide oral pathologyprocedures . If you or your dentist finds suspicious bumps, lumps, or spots on the lips, gums, inside the cheeks or on the tongue,  visit us for biopsy of these growths.

 

Before beginning oral pathology, we look for common signs and symptoms of oral cancer, such as the following:

• Sores in the mouth or gums that bleed and don’t heal
• Red or white patches in the mouth
• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness of the throat
• Difficulty with chewing or swallowing
• Thickening or lumps of the skin inside the mouth

During oral pathology, a biopsy may be needed. We remove a very small piece of tissue in the mouth and run it through a series of tests. The tissue is removed under anesthesia so no pain is experienced. At the laboratory, a pathologist looks for signs of cancer cells, which can take about two weeks to complete. If results are positive for oral cancer, we consult the patient about their next steps.

Call us at 215-463-4141 to learn more about oral pathology and oral cancer detection.

Apicoectomy

For most patients with an infection of the nerves or roots of the teeth, a root canal procedure is enough to get rid of the infected tissue and help save the tooth from extraction. But in some cases, it does not solve the problem, in which a procedure called an apicoectomy is needed.

 

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we provide the apicoectomy for patients who are still experiencing difficulties with their teeth after the root canal procedure is complete. The procedure removes infected tissue while still saving the tooth structure.

 

We perform the following steps when providing an apicoectomy:

 

1. X-rays are taken during the consultation to be sure an apicoectomy is needed.

2. The procedure begins by giving patients anesthesia to numb the area.

3. We make a small incision in the gum, lifting it away from the tooth.

4. A drill is used to get access to the root of the tooth, where the infected tissue can be removed.

5. We look for cracks in the tooth to decide if the tooth needs to be extracted.

6. The tooth canal is cleaned and sealed, followed by sutures if needed.

 

This procedure is very similar to a root canal, with about the same healing and recovery time. Call any of our four locations to schedule an appointment for an apicoectomy.

Pre-Prosthetic Surgery

Pre-prosthetic surgery is a necessary procedure performed by our doctors before your general dentist assists you for a  partial or complete denture. After a tooth is extracted, the area beneath the tooth is jagged or uneven, which requires pre-prosthetic surgery in many cases. The unevenness makes it difficult to place a prosthesis, so we provide pre-prosthesis surgery here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania to rectify the situation. It helps level out the prosthesis site, so your general dentist can proceed with making the partial or complete denture.

 

During the pre-prosthetic procedure, the excess bone underneath the missing teeth is removed and excess gum tissue is also removed. We also provide bone ridge reduction, bone leveling, and bone reshaping during this procedure to prepare for dentures or partials.

 

The comfort of our patients is very important, so we provide several anesthesia and sedation methods. This includes local anesthesia, general anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and conscious intravenous sedation.

 

If you have missing teeth and are thinking about getting a complete set of dentures or partials, we highly recommend making an appointment with us here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania to find out if you need pre-prosthetic surgery. Whichever is more convenient, visit us in our Philadelphia, Clifton Heights, or Folsom, PA location to learn more about this procedure and whether or not you are in need of it.

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.

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.

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. 

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.