Tooth Extraction Expectations

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, one of our doctors may recommend wisdom teeth extraction when they become bothersome. Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that patients develop in their late teens or early twenties. These teeth can become misaligned, and when that happens they can crowd or damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone, or nerves. Additionally, if they are impacted (enclosed in the gum tissue) they can cause pain, swelling, and even an infection if left untreated. The idea of oral surgery is scary enough, but fortunately, our doctors will make you feel as comfortable as possible.  

To prepare you for the extraction procedure, our doctors may perform the following:

• Expose the bone and tooth by making an incision in your gum tissue


• Remove bone that's blocking tooth root access


• Break your tooth into sections to make removing the pieces easier


• Remove the tooth completely


• Clean out tooth or bone debris once the tooth is removed


• Stitch up your wound site if necessary to promote healing


• Control bleeding by placing gauze over the extraction site

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral surgery or appointment scheduling, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, 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. 

Extraction Site Preservation

If a patient is missing teeth due to tooth extraction, or facial trauma, it’s important to fill the empty space where the natural tooth once lived. Since wisdom teeth are located in the back of the mouth, the site from extraction will heal on its own with no complications. However, if it’s necessary for other teeth to be removed, plans must be made to fill the empty space. Fortunately, the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania have plenty of options for you to choose from.

If a tooth is removed and nothing is done with the extraction site, the jaw bone will degenerate and change shape during healing and can cause your teeth to shift. This can create problems in your bite and affect your ability to speak and chew. Depending on your individual needs, one of our doctors can determine if you would benefit from dental implants or another method of treatment to restore your smile. Once a recommendation is made, a treatment plan will follow.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral surgery or extraction site preservation, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, 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. 

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.

Tooth Extractions

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we know finding out you need a tooth extracted is stressful. We want patients to feel comfortable and confident that an extraction is a standard procedure and they can expect the best care. Tooth extractions are performed for various reasons.  Some patients with advanced periodontal disease or serious decay to a tooth may need extractions. Teeth that are broken or impacted may also need to be removed.

During an extraction, the patient is numbed with anesthetic and should not feel pain.  The patient will only feel pressure around the tooth.  This pressure is from the tooth being rocked back and forth in its socket, in order to widen the socket and make removal easier. Some extractions may require sectioning the tooth. If a tooth has a curved root or a particularly tight socket, your doctor will cut the tooth into sections and remove each section rather than the entire tooth at once.

To learn more about extractions and all the services we provide at our practice, 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.

Why Extractions Can be Necessary

Keeping your real teeth is the ideal situation; however there are times where it just is not possible. At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we want our patients in the Philadelphia, PA area to understand why extractions may be necessary.

When teeth become decayed or infected to a certain point, it is best to extract the tooth. When the tooth will not be able to be repaired, or gum disease has recessed too much gum tissue, the tooth may not physically be able to stay in your mouth. In addition, infections can be dangerous. It can spread to other areas of the body, and can be especially dangerous to patients with compromised immune systems.

In other cases, the teeth just will not fit properly inside the mouth. When teeth are overcrowded, a tooth can cause damage to other teeth, promote bacteria growth, decay, infection, and pain. Teeth may need to be extracted to make room in the mouth for the other teeth to fit comfortably and healthily. Wisdom teeth are especially known for this problem.

It is ideal to keep your real teeth, but sometimes it is the better choice to extract. To learn more about extractions, contact Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania in our Philadelphia, PA office at (215) 463-4141. You can also contact us and learn more about extractions through our website, www.oralsurgerypa.com. 

Oral Cancer

We understandably don’t like to think or talk about cancer, but confronting this serious issue is imperative to good health practices.  In the dental health community, we are especially concerned with our patients’ understanding oforal cancer and all necessary screening and preventative measures. Like other forms of cancer, oral cancer can be extremely costly and difficult to fight once it has progressed; but also like other cancers, when it’s diagnosed early, patients greatly improve their prospects for a full recovery.  

 

Since there are a number of behaviors and lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of oral cancer, patients should be aware of the following factors and get a screening if any apply to them:

• Patients over fifty who use any tobacco products, drink frequently or heavily, and/or have a history of oral cancer in their family.
• Patients who have been infected with HPV.
• Patients who regularly experience sores or pain in the oral cavity, especially if due to damaged teeth or past dental work.
• All patients over eighty.

Extractions

In most cases, extractions are straightforward procedures that are the first step in replacing a tooth that’s been severely damaged, decayed or infected.  Although many patients may feel apprehensive about this procedure due to pain, the extraction process is virtually painless, thanks to resources like anesthetic and sedation.

 

There are several options to have teeth replaced after an extraction such as dental implants, bridge,partial denture . We will be glad to discuss all those options during the consultation. 

 

To ensure that your extraction recovery is comfortable and free of any complications, proper aftercare is very important. When you comply with all post extraction guidelines, you’ll minimize any swelling and soreness you may feel and ensure that your gums heal and stay healthy.  We help you determine the specific aftercare you need based on your individual case, but as general guidelines, comply with the following:

• Avoid strenuous activity and get plenty of rest.
• Follow all prescribed recommendations including the proper use of aftercare medications.
• Enjoy soft, mild foods that are specified as part of your post-op diet.

For complete information on what you can expect during and after your extraction, please view our website: http://www.oralsurgerypa.com/oral-surgery/tooth-extraction.html. You may also contact us for answers to your questions and concerns.