Steps to Take Before Receiving Anesthesia

If our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania have reached the conclusion that you need an oral surgery procedure, then it’s important to know what steps to take before arriving at the office. To ensure that everything goes smoothly, there are certain requirements that need to be obeyed by the patient. If you do not comply, we may or may not be able to proceed.

We understand that it’s hard to fast, but you may not eat or drink anything for eight hours prior to the appointment. For your oral surgery procedure, it’s important to have a friend or family member accompany you to your appointment to drive you home, as you may experience some after effects of anesthesia. It is also recommended that you dress comfortably in loose-fitted clothes and low-heeled shoes. For ladies, nail polish shouldn’t be present at the time of surgery and all jewelry will need to be removed.

If you have questions or concerns about oral surgery, 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.

Diabetes and Implants

American Diabetes Month is observed in November, and we at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania want to send it off with a word about implants. Placing implants is one of our specialties which makes the biggest positive difference in patients’ lives, but people with diabetes were not always sure whether they could receive them.

Diabetics are at increased risk for gum inflammation (gingivitis) and periodontal disease. This means they are at increased risk of losing jaw bone structure and would benefit from implants, which help to stabilize other teeth. But implant failure was long associated with chronic inflammation and people with uncontrolled blood sugar take longer to recover from wounds. Placing implants requires surgical incisions, which led doctors to question diabetic patients’ candidacy.

In recent years, the American Dental Association has taken steps to resolve this problem by surveying the available scientific studies. Their conclusion is that diabetic people do not have higher rates of implant failure than the general population. In people with uncontrolled diabetes, the longer recovery time and need to control inflammation are important factors to consider, but fixed prosthetics are not off-limits to them.

Drs. Bahram, Richman, Mohan and Dieu operate at 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.

 

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.

Alcohol and Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is one of our top concerns at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. We strive to educate the public about risk factors, including tobacco use and HPV and to recognize signs of pathology, such as soreness and discoloration. Recently, the American Society of Clinical Oncology released a statement which warned that alcohol is also a major risk factor for many cancers, including oral cancer.

Why alcohol causes oral cancer is still unclear. Current understanding of the evidence indicates that alcohol breaks down the lining of the mouth and that when it rebuilds, its DNA is damaged, causing the tissue to be deformed. Distinguishing alcohol effects from tobacco effects had been a problem for a long time, but scientists are now confident that alcohol in any amount increases cancer risk. Heavy drinking and drinking combined with smoking are still more dangerous, but the type of alcohol consumed is irrelevant.

There is some good news. The same study also found that when people stop drinking, their risk of oral, oropharyngeal, and other aerodigestive tract cancers declines to the level of non-drinkers.

Drs. Bahram, Richman, Mohan and Dieu operate at 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.

 

Caries in Seniors

The high rate of tooth decay among seniors makes it especially important for our patients to understand how to properly clean implants. According to information from the Centers for Disease Control, one in five seniors has untreated tooth decay. Since it’s not just natural teeth that are vulnerable, people need to understand why seniors have the second-highest rate of caries after children.

That caries commonly develop in seniors who had good health earlier in life implies that their increased tooth decay is due to a change in lifestyle, instead of being a generational feature. Seniors often have dexterity and motor control issues that make it difficult for them to maintain thorough oral hygiene. They also often change their diets to focus more on soft food which gets stuck between their teeth more easily and tend to be high in sugar. Lots of medications cause dry mouth as a side effect, and this makes it harder to remove food debris and fight the growth of decay-causing bacteria colonies. Other issues are that seniors may not have coverage for regular cleanings or simply forget to brush and floss.

These issues are important to take into account when assessing patients for implants, but they are also all fixable. Potential implant patients should discuss how to clean implants and dentures properly with their dentist.

Our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania at 2546 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145 would gladly evaluate you for a dental implant.  To schedule an appointment, call 215-463-4141 or visit OralSurgeryPA.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Reducing Children's Anxiety

Children are commonly anxious around strangers, and at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we’re aware that particular care needs to be taken psychologically while preparing them for tooth extractions. There are things parents can do to help calm their child, but we first want to establish that we are happy to answer all their questions about what exactly will happen during the surgery and recovery.

Children usually take their cues from their parents, so we hope that if the parents feel they have a good understanding of the procedure, they will demonstrate calm and optimism. We don’t do extractions lightly and want to ensure that each child understands why they are necessary. Although we are skilled in safely applying IV sedation, it is often the case that only local anesthetic is necessary for simple extractions. Knowing that they will be free of pain, but not completely out of control is a great comfort.  Another thing parents can do to keep their child in a positive mindset is focus on planning for post-operation care. This includes things like preparing soft meals and coming up with things to do if the child misses a day of school.

Our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania at 2546 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145 will be happy to treat your child.  To schedule an appointment, call 215-463-4141 or visit OralSurgeryPA.com and fill out a contact sheet.