When a Tooth Cracks

Breaking a tooth is scary. While there’s no way to be completely prepared for when it happens, we at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania want people to know that teeth often can be saved, and that getting treatment quickly increases their chance of successful treatment. In this blog post, we discuss what to do immediately after discovering a broken tooth and what treatments are likely.

The molars are the likeliest teeth to break. They are the ones that can normally withstand the force of the patient’s bite, although they may break against something extremely hard. When other teeth are used for chewing, they are much likelier to break or be pushed sideways. If a patient chips or cracks a tooth, they should rinse their mouth with salt water and cover the broken crown with dental wax if they have any on hand, or sugarless gum if they don’t.

A small chip may be repairable with bonding. For this procedure, a dentist would apply and contour an adhesive material onto the tooth. But if the tooth is significantly broken, a dentist may need to reshape it in preparation for an entire new crown. The crown would be custom-made to fit the patient’s mouth and cemented over the reshaped natural enamel, which would be left in place to cover the dental pulp. If an x-ray reveals that the tooth is cracked at the root, it will need to be removed. We’ll work with a patient to determine whether an implant or a partial denture would make a better replacement.

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

 

New Patients

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we are always looking to grow our family. To take advantage of all the services we offer, we want to give you a better idea of what your first visit with one of our doctors will look like.

First time patients will go through consultation to discuss the diagnosis and treatment options for your surgery. We ask that patients bring us some form of ID, a copy of their insurance x-rays (if applicable), surgical referral slip, and a list of medications you are taking. Any new patients under the age of 18 need a parent or legal guardian present.

Our doctors advise patients that surgery will most likely be performed on the second visit after an evaluation of your medical history and the treatment necessary.

If you have any questions about your first visit, 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.

Avoiding Dry Sockets

We’re proud to say that dry sockets are rare at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. This complication following a tooth extraction is extremely unpleasant, but it is also avoidable in most cases if the patient follows simple instructions. Although only about 2-5% of people who get extractions suffer from dry sockets, we wanted our patients to better understand them so that if they get an extraction, they won’t be hearing their post-operative instructions for the first time.

A simple extraction is one in which the tooth is rocked until it can be lifted out with forceps. Complex extractions involve gum incisions and may require the tooth to be sectioned. A dry socket can result from either, though it is more commonly from the latter. Usually, blood clots would close off the empty socket, protecting it from irritating debris and pathogens, but sometimes the blood may fail to clot or the scab may come loose. If this happens, the socket will dry out painfully and be at risk for infection.

Three of the biggest risk factors for dry sockets are smoking, birth control pills, and the use of straws. The estrogen in pills can prevent blood from clotting, while smoking can dissolve the clot and suction can pull it loose. We also advise patients to avoid brushing near the extraction site on the first day after the procedure and to avoid solid foods. The socket may be cleaned with a salt water rinse.

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

 

Pros and Cons of Electric Toothbrushes

As dentists who base our practice on removing and replacing teeth, we at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania stress the importance of good oral hygiene. Many patients who wish to care for new implants are curious about which of the many oral hygiene products best suit their needs. When it comes to electric versus manual toothbrushes, it could depend on the person’s brushing skills.

When manual toothbrushes are used properly, they provide as much protection against tooth decay as electric toothbrushes. However, manual toothbrushes also have to be used for two minutes at a time, and many people do not use them for long enough to do a thorough job cleaning. There is also a risk that a manual toothbrush could scratch a denture, although people should only ever be using brushes with soft bristles and there are manual toothbrushes specifically designed for dentures. Electric toothbrushes make tens of thousands of strokes per minute without the user needing to move their hands as much and they don’t exert pressure, so some people get better results with them. But there is also a risk of overbrushing the gums.

Besides being more convenient for people with dexterity issues, the other major benefit of electric toothbrushes is that some of them come with Bluetooth technology. This allows them to interact with apps that monitor whether a patient is skipping over spots on their teeth.  The apps work on a similar principle to chewable plaque disclosing tablets, but can be used to track the brusher’s progress over multiple brushings. This sort of technology costs much more than regular toothbrushes, but may be worth it to someone who has been unable to prevent tooth decay using low-tech means.

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

 

Replace Teeth with Dental Implants

The doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania replace teeth and restore patient smiles with dental implants. Implants are a permanent restorative option for teeth that are missing or have been extracted.  They look and feel just like natural teeth, and are the most permanent and efficient means of replacing lost teeth.

An implant is placed over a series of appointments because of the healing time required.  Implants are titanium screws inserted through an incision in the gum. Over a period of 3-6 months, the jaw bone heals around the implant to become a solid, stable base for the new tooth. During this time a patient is fitted with a temporary crown, and a custom crown is created to match their smile perfectly.

After the jaw bone and gums have healed appropriately, the custom crown is placed in a second minor procedure.  The doctor may need to expose the head of the implant by removing some gum tissue, and the crown will be screwed to the top of the implant.  When this is complete the tooth looks like part of the natural smile, and with proper care will last for decades!

To learn more about dental implants 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.

Smoking with Sleep Apnea

Smoking will exacerbate any respiratory condition, and it is proven to cause snoring and lead to obstructive sleep apnea.  Patients struggling with sleep apnea should come see us at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania for evaluation. We can help patients find relief from sleep apnea, but quitting smoking is up to you!

Smoking causes upper airway inflammation, meaning the swelling causes the airway to narrow and disrupts the flow of air to the nasal passage and throat.  This causes snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.  Cigarettes are highly addictive, and some smokers seek treatment for sleep apnea but continue to smoke. Smoking with sleep apnea not only puts more stress on the heart every day, but negates any treatment a sleep apnea patient is undergoing.

Habitual smokers may feel relaxed by one last cigarette for the day, but it actually creates more complications for restful sleep. Smokers can experience nicotine withdrawal overnight, causing more waking up and restlessness.  Quitting smoking cold turkey is very difficult, but even lessening the amount of cigarettes or avoiding smoking at nighttime can help you achieve more restful sleep.  Most smokers cannot quit on their own or on their first attempt, so don’t get discouraged!

To learn more about sleep apnea and the treatments provided at the 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.

Retained Baby Teeth

We all remember the funny feeling of losing our baby teeth and watching adult teeth emerge in its place. But sometimes, baby teeth don’t fall out on their own. Dentists are generally reluctant to extract them, but there are times when we at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania recognize that it’s the best option for adult or teenaged patients whose retained baby teeth are causing problems.

A baby tooth falls out because the erupting adult tooth dissolves its root. If the adult tooth is coming in at a different angle, the baby tooth’s root may remain solid, and the patient could end up with two rows of teeth. This most often happens with the lower incisors, although it can happen to the upper ones, as well. In these cases, it is difficult for the patient to brush all their teeth, and they may have alignment problems from overcrowding or bite problems from the teeth’s misplacement. They may be referred for orthodontic work after the extraction is finished.

It’s also not uncommon for people to be congenitally missing adult teeth. This most often occurs with the upper lateral incisors. The baby tooth never falls out because nothing is pushing it. We may recommend that these patients get their missing teeth replaced with implants after the baby teeth have been extracted, if their baby teeth are causing aesthetic or bite issues.

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