Apicoectomy

Many dentists perform root canals to save and repair teeth that are badly damaged or infected.  During a root canal, a dentist removes any inflamed or infected tissue and thoroughly cleans the root canal system. In about 90% of cases, the tooth heals and doesn’t require further treatment. When an infection won’t go away or the canals become re-infected after root canal treatment, our doctors can perform an apicoectomy.

An apicoectomy is also called a root-end resection and is performed to remove damaged tissue and seal a tooth’s root from any further infections.  The procedure involves a small incision in the gums, followed by removal of any infected tissue and finally the end of the root tip itself.  A root-end filling is placed there to act as a seal, preventing reinfection. The gum is sutured, and most patients only feel slight discomfort or swelling during healing.  If you have a tooth infection lingering after a root canal gone wrong, please contact us to discuss your treatment options.

To learn more about the apicoectomy procedure and all the services we offer, 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.

Thank You for Your Positive Testimonials!

The doctors and staff of Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania appreciate feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our staff would not only like to thank Sherrise Pritchett for this five-star review, but we would like to thank her for being an excellent patient. If you recently experienced exceptional service from us, please let us know!  

From the moment we walked in the door the staff was very welcoming. Also, like so many times at other physicians’ offices, we didn't have to wait forever to be seen but only about 10 minutes. Thank you for that, I have a really bad back so sitting for a long time is very painful. The nurse who took my x-rays and blood pressure was very hospitable as well as informing. The doctor was very professional yet friendly and caring. The person with regard to payment and cost for future work was very professional and kind and we so appreciated the doctor's kindness in giving us a break on the cost for the day and the future visit. Once we know that we have obtained the monies for the procedure we will call for an appointment. Again, thank you." –Sherrise Pritchett

To leave a review or 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.

Headaches and Wisdom Teeth

Do you suffer from frequent headaches? Have you ever had your wisdom teeth removed? If not, your wisdom teeth may be the reason your headaches won’t let up. Wisdom teeth are the third molars that erupt between 17 and 22. When they don’t erupt and stay impacted (under the gum) this can affect the nerve that causes headaches. When this happens, our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania may suggest wisdom teeth extraction.

Wisdom teeth cause problems regardless of what stage they’re in. Aside from frequent headaches, common symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include throbbing pain in the back of the mouth, swollen or tender gums, and/or swelling around the jaw. Impacted wisdom teeth can damage the teeth around them. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you will benefit from a tooth extraction. Extracting wisdom teeth means extracting the problems that come with them and our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania want you to have a healthy and pain-free smile.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral surgery, 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. 

What is a Bone Graft?

Bone grafting is a common procedure for the doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania.  Bone graft is the term for harvesting bone material from a healthy location and grafting it to a location that is broken or weakened.  For oral surgeons, this procedure is limited to a small graft on the jaw bone.  Missing a tooth for any amount of time can leave the jaw bone vulnerable and compromise its structure over time.  When a patient needs an implant to replace a tooth, a bone graft can reinforce the jaw bone so it is strong enough to handle the placement of an implant. 

It is helpful if the bone graft is placed at the time of the tooth extraction.  The bone graft will be then monitored over the course of months.  When the jaw bone has strengthened enough to handle the placement of an implant, your dentist can move forward with your plan of care.

To learn more about bone grafting and all the services we offer, 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.

Smoking after Oral Surgery

You may think about reaching for a cigarette after oral surgery, well our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania have one word for you – DON’T. Smoking after tooth extraction can not only reopen stitches, it can cause complications that lead to infection and a longer recovery time. Allow us to explain more reasons why you shouldn’t smoke after oral surgery.

We aren’t here to give you a lesson on putting the pack down; instead, we are here to warn you. Smoking after oral surgery delays the healing process and can increase the risk of painful dry sockets. A dry socket can expose underlying bone and nerves and will be extremely painful once developed. Generally speaking, smoking increases the risk of infection so it’s important to refrain during recovery. We understand that this may be challenging, but at the same time, hope that surgery can be a starting point for you to quit.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral surgery, 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. 

Thank You For Your Reviews!

The doctors and staff of Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania appreciate feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our staff would not only like to thank Diana for this five-star review, but we would like to thank her for being an excellent patient. If you recently experienced exceptional service from us, please let us know!  

"I've been to Dr. Richman a few times.  I have bad dental problems, and he is the only doctor I trust. I actually went out of my way to see him a few years ago, I’d never see anyone else!  No worries here-he is kind, understanding, and makes you feel at ease (I’m a very ‘nervous nellie’) I promise you won't be disappointed!"

To leave a review or 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.

Post-Operative Lip Swelling

As specialists in tooth extractions, we at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania regularly give patients local anesthetic. This has the advantage of having the fewest side effects, but there is one common complication, which is the swelling that occurs if the patient bites their lip shortly after the surgery.

Because of how the nerves of the mouth are structured, numbing the extraction site requires numbing most of the mouth. Regardless of what kind of anesthetic is used, the effect may last for several hours. Because of this, it is easy for patients, especially children, to bite down on their numbed soft tissue. When this happens, the tissue commonly swells up to several times its normal size and turns white.

While the swelling is unpleasant to look at and may be uncomfortable, it is usually something that goes away after a few weeks without causing any lasting harm. Over-the-counter painkillers are usually all that are necessary or appropriate. However, if the patient continues to chew on the ulcerated tissue, it could develop an infection, which would result in a fever. This is why it is important for the caregivers of children undergoing wisdom tooth or other extractions to do their best to make sure their child knows not to chew their numb lip.

Drs. Bahram, Richman and Dieu operate at the 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.