Common Problems

Impaction

One of the most common problems oral surgeons treat is the impaction of wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth often appear in the late teens or early twenties and often lack proper space to erupt fully or at all, thus causing impaction. This can cause numerous problems including the crowding of adjacent teeth or inflammation under the gums. Our surgeons have completed extensive training to surgically remove wisdom teeth under anesthesia.

Loss of Natural Teeth

Missing teeth can lead to more serious problems including tooth decay, an uneven bite, and stress on adjacent teeth. A bridge is used to replace a missing tooth or teeth when there is a tooth on either side of the missing tooth. A false tooth is joined to the natural teeth with cement, forming a bridge that cannot be removed by the patient. When a patient is missing all of his/her natural teeth, complete dentures are used to restore function and appearance. For patients who experience lack of stability and poor chewing function with dentures, dental implants may be used. Replacing missing teeth not only improves the appearance of your smile, but it can also improve your overall oral health.

TMJ Disorder

TMJ refers to the painful symptoms related to Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction, or your complex jaw joint. Some symptoms may include a clicking, popping or pain in the front of the ear, headaches, pain in the joint itself, teeth that no longer touch when you bite and limited movement of the lower jaw. Also, if it is hard to use your front teeth to bite or tear food and if your teeth seem sensitive, loose, broken, or worn, you may have the symptoms of TMJ.

Facial Trauma

Facial trauma can occur as a result of numerous possibilities, including motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, violence and work-related injuries, just to name a few. In addition to the physical trauma this may cause, a high level of emotional trauma occurs as well. Depending on the type of trauma, treatments may range from facial sutures to wiring the jaw shut.