Apicoectomy Following a Failed Root Canal

When root canals fail, patients find relief at the offices of the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. An apicoectomy is a treatment done after a root canal was unable to remove a dental infection. It is a minor bit of surgery that can save a patient’s tooth, and potentially their life.

The most common reason for root canals to fail is that the vessels in the tooth roots branch in a way that was unexpected and the doctor doing the root canal was unable to remove all the infected material. If the tooth’s crown had already been replaced with a prosthetic, a second attempt to drill into it may be too damaging. In those cases, it would be simpler to cut away a flap of gum tissue near the root of the tooth and observe the infection at the apex of the root. The apex and surrounding infected material can then be cut or drilled away. The apex of the root is replaced with a filling and the gum flap is sutured up.

While some soreness is expected after an apicoectomy, the sutures can usually be removed after a week. Patients are kept numb during the actual procedure, which is done using micro tools to minimize collateral damage. Patients usually resume normal activities within two weeks.

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

Thank You for Your 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 Suhee Y. for this five-star review, but we would like to thank her for accompanying her friend to her wisdom teeth extraction appointment. If you recently experienced exceptional service from us, please let us know!  

“My friend has been having major pain with her wisdom teeth for a while now and she finally made an appointment to take care of it. Let me tell you...she is DEATHLY afraid of dentists...even the thought of going for a consultation will make her cry. Well, that being said...we drove out here on early Friday morning for her appointment at 8:30 am.

We arrived about 20 min early so we checked in and waited. The women at the front desk were SO friendly and kind. They were very sympathetic to my friend. At 830am, she was called in and I walked back there with her. The dental technicians were SO INCREDIBLY nice and patient with my friend. I’m a customer service snob and these ladies exceeded my expectations!

 My friend had two of her upper impacted wisdom teeth pulled. I knew the procedure was standard but damn! It only took them around 15 minutes to complete!!! My friend was in no pain. When we got her home, I made sure to check in with her from time to time. She said that she felt really good and that she was very happy. AND it was so damn affordable (it made my friend skeptical at first).” –Suhee Y.

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.

Bite Collapse

People in need of an oral surgeon have often suffered extensive wear to their teeth. When teeth are worn down or absent, the patient may experience bite collapse, which is also known as loss of vertical dimension. Since fixing this is one of the most important aspects of what we do, we want to make sure our patients understand how it affects them.

Vertical dimension loss doesn’t only occur when tooth enamel is eroded; it can also occur when the front teeth are tilted outwards and back teeth are missing or broken. The loss of bite dimension is often evident from the appearance of the patient’s face, which may be wrinkled and have a mouth that is disproportionately small compared to the surrounding features. It also can be the cause of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), which causes pain throughout the head, neck, and shoulder and can lead to more tooth grinding.

If your teeth are worn down extensively, your dentist might refer you to Oral Surgery Consultants of Pensylvania for extractions.  After healing, you would follow up with your dentist for any restorative work.

 

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 Oral Surgery PA and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Your First Visit

Our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania are dedicated to making your experience with us a memorable one for all the right reasons. When visiting our office for the very first time, you may find the process similar to visiting your general practitioner. This is because your initial appointment will consist of a consultation, where you and our doctor will reach a diagnosis and discuss treatment options.

During your first visit, there are some things we don’t want you to forget. You’ll need to bring your surgical referral slip from your dentist or periodontist as well as any X-rays if applicable. If you don’t have X-rays, we will take them for you. In addition to those items, we will need to know which medications you are taking at the moment, as well as your insurance card and a form of ID. Please alert our office before surgery, if you have a medical condition that may be of concern. All patients under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the consultation.

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. 

Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants are an excellent option for patients who have missing teeth. Dental implants not only restore the aesthetics of a smile, they restore the function of a smile because once dental implants are placed, you’ll notice an improvement while eating your food and you may even have the urge to smile like never before. Dental implant surgery is a procedure that replaces tooth roots with metal, screw-like posts. Our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania understand that this procedure may seem frightful, which is why we are here to ease your fears.

Dental implant surgery is performed in stages and before surgery, our doctors will discuss sedation options that best suit your needs. First, the implant, that looks like a screw is placed into the jawbone. Over the next two to six months, the implant and bone will need to bond together in a process called osseointegration. Once this takes place, you will visit your restorative dentist for placement of a crown.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral surgery or dental implants, 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 Frenectomy?

A frenum is a muscular attachment between two tissues, and the procedure of removing this attachment is called a frenectomy. The doctors of Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania perform frenectomies to correct a number of issues patients may have with their teeth, lips, and tongue.

One frenum is located underneath your tongue, and removing this is called a lingual frenectomy.  Patients that have an enlarged frenum underneath their tongue may not be able to move their tongue freely.  This interferes with speech and is often called ‘tongue tie’. Lingual frenectomies are typically performed on very young patients, who can recover quickly and continue to develop their speech.

Another frenum in your mouth connects the inner surface of the lip with the gum. These are present between both the top and bottom front teeth. Removing this attachment is called a labial frenectomy. Patients who have receding gums can benefit from this procedure, because a strong frenum from the gum to the lip can cause extra pulling on the gums and lead to further recession.

To learn more about frenectomies 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.

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.