Post Surgery Bone Graft

A bone grafting procedure is when there is a missing or damaged tooth that needs to be repaired. Our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania want our patients to know what to expect the days following a bone graft.

Since bone grafts are made up of particles, you may notice some granules in your mouth the days after surgery. While the particles aren’t a cause for concern, there are ways to limit the number of particles that are dislodged. After surgery, avoid rinsing, smoking, spitting, and touching the wound to limit the number of particles. It is important you don’t blow your nose or sneeze holding your nose, make sure your mouth is wide open.

One full day after the bone graft you may brush your teeth gently to clean your teeth and to prevent messing with the repaired area.

Remember to take the antibiotics as shown on the label to start the recovery process. Before you know it your mouth will be back to normal and healed.

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

April 2019: Oral Cancer Awareness Month

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Dental professionals are often the first to detect and diagnose oral cancer in patients. That is why it is important that you schedule an appointment with Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania anytime you experience abnormal oral symptoms. Schedule an appointment ASAP with Drs. Bahram, Richman, Mohan, and Barunas when experiencing new symptoms lasting over two weeks.

 

When strange oral symptoms refuse to heal or take over two weeks, schedule an appointment. This is often the first signs of a serious underlying medical problem. Call our office immediately if you notice any of these symptoms:

 

Lumps or hard spots in the mouth, bumps that bleed easily, a strange coloring of the gums, mouth sores or ulcers that take over two weeks to heal, a lump on the outside of the neck that has been there for at least two weeks.

 

When it comes to HPV-caused oropharyngeal cancer, symptoms can differ than other types of oral cancer. These symptoms manifest as a hoarse or sore throat, problems swallowing, a constant cough, and/or pain in one or both ears.

 

There are a few major risks that can lead to oral cancer. Partaking in heavy smoking and drinking is the largest factor. Engaging in other tobacco products, like chewing tobacco, is also detrimental to your health. Another risk is contracting the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus 16.

 

If you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms, contact Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania immediately. We have four offices located in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights, PA. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Bahram, Richman, Mohan, and Barunas, visit our website or call our main South Philadelphia office at 215-463-4141.

Bone Grafting

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, our staff works daily to supply our qualified patients with dental implants. In some cases, a patient might require a Bone Graft before being eligible. But what exactly is bone grafting?

Bone grafting occurs when a section of the jawbone associated with missing teeth begins to disintegrate. This leaves the bone in poor condition, either not strong enough or large enough to house implants. An x-ray will be taken to determine how much jaw bone is available. Depending on the results, a bone graft will be needed. Thanks to today's technology, our staff at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania have the ability to grow bone where needed. The bone is acquired from a tissue bank, where we determine the necessary size and width. This also gives us a chance to guarantee the functionality and appearance of the graft.

Bone grafting can repair implant sites compromised due to previous extractions, structural damage, gum disease, and injuries. Once everything has been given the all clear, your bone graft surgery will be scheduled.

At the procedure, you will be brought under general anesthesia. An incision in the skin will open up where the graft is being placed. The bone will be put into place, held using: pins, plates, screws, wires, and/or cables. Afterward, the incision will be stitched and bandaged.

Recovery depends on the size of the graft and other health variables. Typical recovery can take place from two weeks to up to a year. Avoid vigorous activities as long as your doctor suggests. Make sure to follow all postoperative instructions received.

If you’re in need of an oral surgeon or bone graft surgery, schedule an appointment with the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania today. Our offices are located across the Philadelphia, PA area. You can visit our website to schedule an appointment, or call 215-463-4141.

 

Impacted Canines

Put simply, an impacted tooth is a stuck tooth that can’t fully emerge from the gums. Most cases of impacted teeth involve the third molar (wisdom) teeth. The second most common teeth to become impacted is the maxillary cuspid (upper eyetooth). At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, our team can help with these canine impactions.

 

The cuspid teeth are crucial for biting. They are designed to be the first teeth that touch when your jaws close together, guiding the rest of your teeth into place. The cuspid teeth are usually the last teeth to come in. Upon impaction, the cuspid will make every effort to reach its proper spot on the dental arch.

 

It is recommended by the American Association of Orthodontics that a panorex screening x-ray and examination be performed on all dental patients by the age of seven years old. This allows the dentist to predetermine any issues with the child's adult teeth. If by ages eleven to twelve the eruption pathway for the impacted tooth is clear, then most likely the tooth will emerge without intervention. If it hasn’t emerged by ages twelve to thirteen than other actions must be taken. Together, your orthodontist and oral surgeon will work with you to achieve the best possible result.

 

The most common outcome will start with the orthodontist placing braces onto the patient's teeth to create space for the impacted tooth. Once the space is clear, the next step is with the oral surgeon. At the surgeon's office, the gum covering the impacted tooth will be lifted. If there is a baby tooth present, it will be removed. A bracket with an attached chain will go onto the cuspid, attaching it back to the orthodontic wire. Shortly after surgery, the patient will return back to the orthodontist. A rubber band will be attached to the chain to gently force out the impacted tooth. It can take upwards of a year for the impacted tooth to fully emerge.

 

Dr. Bahram, Dr. Richman, Dr. Mohan, and Dr. Barunas are available at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania offices across the Philadelphia, PA area. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call one of our four locations.

 

 

Apicoectomy

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, our staff has saved and repaired teeth that are badly damaged or infected. Although we don’t perform root canals, we do perform Apicoectomy. In the cases where root canals are not enough, an apicoectomy is the next step. It is the most common surgery used to save damaged teeth.

 

An apicoectomy removes damaged tissue and seals a tooth’s roots from further infections. The procedure details a small incision made in the gum tissue, exposing the bone and inflamed tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the end of the root tip. A filling is placed to prevent infection, and the gum is sutured closed. The bone will naturally begin to heal around the root after a period of months. Afterward, the full function will be restored. Following the procedure, there may be slight discomfort and swelling while it heals. Follow any post-operation instructions given to you by our doctors. For pain relief, use medications approved or prescribed by your doctor.

 

If you have a tooth infection lingering after a root canal, or suspect something might be wrong, please contact us to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the apicoectomy procedure and our other services, visit https://www.oralsurgerypa.com/ for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bahram, Dr. Richman, Dr. Mohan, or Dr. Barunas in the Philadelphia, PA area, call 215-463-4141.

 

Bad Breath

Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can be caused by bad oral hygiene and could be a sign of more serious health problems. Our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania restore and replace patient’s teeth using dental implants. To perform implants, our patients need to have enough quantity and quality of bone available. The bones in your mouth breakdown when gum disease reaches an advanced state, but halitosis is an early warning sign.

When teeth aren’t brushed and flossed regularly, food particles stick to your teeth and bacteria builds. We encourage patients to practice good oral hygiene by brushing twice a day and flossing. If you always have a bad taste in your mouth, gum disease may be forming because of plaque buildup. When left untreated, gum disease can spread to bones or tooth roots and require a bone graft.

Other potential causes for bad breath include yeast infections and cavities. We advise our patients to practice good oral hygiene such as regular brushing and flossing to prevent bad breath and other infections.

If you have any questions about oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgery.pa.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.

Cleaning a Night Guard

We at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania treat a lot of people who have suffered damage from temporomandibular joint disorder. Many of them damaged their teeth by grinding or clenching them at night. But some people have a lot of success using night guards to avoid tooth damage or protect replacement teeth. Since we want patients to be able to enjoy their teeth for as long as possible, we wanted to provide some guidance on cleaning night guards and preventing oral infections.

Wearers will remove their night guard each morning upon waking up. There are antibacterial rinses commercially available for soaking night guards in, and antibacterial soap and water work well for cleaning, too. But people still commonly brush their night guards to ensure they have removed bacterial build-up. If they do, it is important for them to avoid hard-bristled toothbrushes or toothpaste with extra fluoride, which won’t protect plastic and may even scratch it.

The protocol for maintaining a night guard doesn’t differ too much from maintaining a denture, except for one key thing: a night guard needs to be kept dry. The case it is kept in should be ventilated and should also be cleaned daily with antibacterial soap. When not in use, the night guard should be kept out of extreme heat, which could warp it. A wearer should always brush and floss prior to putting it back in at night.

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