PROCEDURES

Wisdom Teeth Extraction: Wisdom teeth (or third molars) are the last teeth to appear. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they grow sideways, appear partially or become trapped in the bone. This can lead to infection, damage to neighboring teeth and other problems. Eruption of wisdom teeth can cause properly aligned teeth to shift and cause crowding. The removal of wisdom teeth is commonly performed on an outpatient basis in the hospital or in the oral surgeon's office.

Dental Implants: Dental implants are long-term replacements for missing teeth. Made of titanium metal, they are placed in the jaw by an oral surgeon, where they fuse with the bone. Once this fusion is complete (typically 3 to 6 months) a dentist will make a tooth-shaped crown to fit on top. Implants can also be placed in areas where there are numerous missing teeth. This can give support to a denture that in the past was ill fitting.

Jaw and Orthognathic Surgery: Sometimes the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible) do not meet or align correctly. The patient may have a protruding jaw, an open bite or experience frequent jaw pain. This misalignment can cause difficulty in chewing. Surgery provides a long-term solution, thereby protecting the teeth and improving jaw function, and can also improve the esthetic appearance of the jaw. Hospital stays are usually short. Surgery is performed inside the mouth so there is no scarring.

TMJ Disorders: Various problems with the joints on each side of the jaw are called temporomandibular joint disorders. This can include discomfort in front of the ears when chewing. The disorder may also cause clicking and locking of the jaw joints. Symptoms arise when the joints of the jaw and the chewing muscles do not work together correctly. Early detection and treatment is important, because some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions. In certain cases medication and physical therapy may prevent the need for surgery.

Reconstructive Surgery: Injury to the upper and lower jaws sometimes requires surgery to repair hard and soft tissue. Dr. Robinson and Dr. Sleet are experienced in both the art and the science of treating mouth and facial injuries that result from accidents, tumors, long-term denture wear and other causes.

Oral Pathology: Normally the skin (mucosa) in the mouth is a smooth and pink in color. A significant change to this appearance may be a warning sign of an ulcer, tumor or some other problem. It is sometimes necessary for an oral surgeon to take a tissue sample (biopsy) and send it to an oral pathologist to be studied to determine the cause.