Post-Surgery Recovery: What To Expect

Posted by

We recognize that while many patients are aware of the significance associated with oral surgery, many worry about post-surgery recovery. Rather than allowing your concerns to get the best of you, we encourage you to become more familiar with what you can expect as you heal. Fortunately, the benefits of surgery far outweigh the potential mild inconvenience you may experience after your treatment. Even more wonderful is the fact that you can expect to head home fully informed and prepared to return to your usual daily life in no time.

First, You Will Receive Take-Home Literature

We understand that some patients worry they will not know what to do after surgery, particularly because they will leave their procedure while under sedation. Rest assured, you will not need to remember every detail about post-surgery recovery. Our practice will send you home with detailed instructions according to your particular treatment. Remember, however, that we are always happy to take your call if a question arises.

Expect New Sensations That Will Subside

True, recovery may mean a tiny bit of discomfort and some swollen tissue, but you do not need to sit in fear of anything serious. Your body is doing its best to heal quickly and effectively, so minor changes and unusual sensations are not at all uncommon. We will provide you with the means of achieving excellent comfort during your recovery period. Suggestions and options may include the following:

  • Information regarding how to rely on cold or warm compresses
  • A prescription for pain medication, so you can remain completely comfortable following your oral surgery

Some Rest And Temporary Changes Will Be Necessary

Surgery can take a bit of a toll on your body – fortunately, by following our instructions, you can enjoy successful post-surgery recovery. You may need to rest at home for a few days. In addition, we will let you know if you need to alter your usual daily dental habits or typical daily medications. Follow our lead and you will find yourself in excellent shape.

ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

More Questions About Dental Implant Candidacy

Posted by

While you may determine that dental implants seem like a wonderful fit for your missing teeth, candidacy requires a bit more than an enthusiastic desire (thought it’s a good start). When it comes to qualifying for implants, if you have a strong, healthy jaw and your mouth is in decent health, you are on the road toward shaping up as an excellent candidate. However, we often find that patients visit us with a variety of specific concerns that can be difficult to clear up on their own. Allow us to help you discover more about your candidacy with answers to some common questions.

Q&A: Dental Implant Candidacy

Question: Do I need to quit smoking? Will my smoking habit disqualify me for dental implants?

Answer: Not necessarily. It’s true that smoking and tobacco use in general may lead to oral and other health problems. Smoking is also often related to the incidence of dental implant failure. However, this is not an instant means of disqualification. Speak with us, so we can discuss the possibilities.

Question: What if I’m not in perfect health? Will you immediately turn me away for oral surgery and implant placement?

Answer: The goal is to ensure you can make it safely through a surgical procedure. If so, you are likely a good candidate for dental implants. Because each patient visits us with a unique set of circumstances, we will need to schedule a consultation with you to make a final determination.

Question: I’ve heard that implants have a 98 percent success rate – what are the chances that I make a good candidate for implants that will last?

Answer: If we determine that you make a good candidate for dental implants then the chances are immediately quite high that you will have a successful experience and that they will last. The main factor in long-term implant wear is good care. Schedule consistent cleanings and checkups and care for your smile for the best results.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Dental Implants: Team Support

Posted by

Patients often ask us who is going to place the dental implant during oral surgery, who will restore the implant, and how their referring dentists will become involved in the process. These are excellent questions for which there is not a single answer. While every treatment will include the participation of multiple dental professionals, the needs of every patient are completely unique. In addition to reassuring you that you can expect the assistance of a supportive team, allow us to shed some light on what else you can expect from this experience.

Who Is Involved In The Process?

First of all, it is important to remember that you are involved in the experience just as much as the dental professionals surrounding you. If you have questions along the way or concerns, we encourage you to speak up, so we can ensure you feel confident and informed about what is happening and happy with the outcome. You can expect the course of treatment to include contributions by your referring dentist and a member of our team (your oral and maxillofacial surgeon).

Who Plans My Implants?

We will all plan your implants together. We will maintain close communication with you and your dentist to make sure the process moves along smoothly. By collaborating in a team effort, we will begin with detailed case planning, creating and looking over advanced imaging or models of your mouth. The goal is to plan strategic placement of an implant in your smile for a beautiful finish and stable support. In part, our meeting and planning will focus on what type of restoration you desire. For instance, you may choose a dental crown to replace a single tooth. Or, you may replace multiple teeth with a bridge, partial denture, or full denture.

Who Restores My Implants?

Once your dental implants have “become one” with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration, it will be time to permanently restore the implant. Either your dentist or the oral and maxillofacial surgeon you are working with on our team will place your restoration, depending on the unique care plan we have tailored to your smile.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Common Reasons For Sedation Dentistry

Posted by

You may assume, like many patients, that receiving additional relaxation through sedation is something we offer only for specific procedures. This is simply not the case. We would like you to wrap your mind around the following portion of our dental care philosophy: We strive to ensure you feel comfortable and relaxed. We encourage you to take this information and make sure to speak with us about any aspect of care that causes you hesitation or discomfort. You will find that a diverse array of reasons for sedation dentistry tend to qualify you for treatment, so you can enjoy a relaxing, tranquil experience every time you visit us.

Reason #1: You Desire Additional Numbing

Perhaps you have either found that you do not feel completely numb as a result of a local anesthetic – or you feel anxious about it wearing off. Whatever your concern, choosing sedation dentistry offers additional analgesic effects, while taking the edge off of your nerves. You will be able to enjoy a comfortable, relaxed treatment.

Reason #2: You Are Anxious (Mild To Severe Nerves Qualify)

In some cases (many, in fact) patients suffer from nervousness. This exists on a broad spectrum, ranging from mild nerves that cause one to feel a bit uneasy to severe dental anxiety. Severe nerves can cause a patient to avoid scheduling visits or keeping them. You can feel comfortable planning treatment with the knowledge that sedation will keep you calm and at ease.

Reason #3: You Require Extensive Work

Patients requiring extensive dental work within short periods of time may feel concerned about becoming restless. This is yet another area in which sedation may help.

Reason #4: Your Gag Reflex Is Problematic

Do you feel optimistic about dental care but you cannot seem to make it through even a gentle examination without gagging? Speak with us about your gag reflex, so we may determine whether sedation dentistry may be of assistance.

ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Dental Implant Benefits

Posted by

Choosing the appropriate tooth replacement solution for your smile is often easiest accomplished by paying close attention to the ways a particular treatment benefits your smile. Once you rule out those dental prosthetics that don’t work for you, you may wish to focus on the major highlights of those that do. If you are considering dental implants to restore your smile, for instance, becoming more familiar with treatment advantages may greatly contribute to your ability to make a confident, informed final decision.

Dental Implant Benefits

  1. They Protect Your Smile Alignment. You know that a dental implant is a titanium post that replaces your tooth’s roots – this is the only tooth replacement solution that restores missing roots. Fortunately, one benefit of this feature is that the implant acts as a placeholder, providing significant protection against the misalignment that occurs as a result of tooth loss.
  2. Implants Restore The Beauty and Function of Your Smile. Restored implants look and function like your natural teeth. Unlike other prosthetics that may result in slippage or other concerns, an implant is fused to your jawbone, which provides exceptional stability to the restoration of your choice. The result? A smile that looks natural and lifelike. You can also expect to return to your previously enjoyed effective chewing abilities and capacity for articulate speech.
  3. Implants Keep Your Jaw Healthy. Did you know that the roots of your teeth stimulate your jawbone? This process keeps your jaw healthy and full. When you lose one or more teeth, the stimulation decreases – this may result in the resorption and subsequent break down of your jawbone. As a result of the way dental implants replace your roots, you can expect the stimulation process to become active again, as well.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Sinus Lift For Implant Prep: Your Questions

Posted by

Have you been told that you do not qualify for dental implants? This is something patients often hear when they have been missing teeth for an extended period of time. You see, the roots of your teeth stimulate your jawbone to remain full and healthy. When you lose your teeth, your jawbone may deteriorate. This can present problems because you need an adequate amount of bone tissue to support implants. Fortunately, depending on your particular needs, you may qualify for bone grafting and a sinus lift to assist you in becoming a candidate for implants.

Questions and Answers: Sinus Lifts

Question: My jawbone is not healthy enough for implants. Where do I begin?

Answer: We will need to provide bone grafting to restore the height of your jawbone – if there is inadequate tissue volume then you will simply not have a sufficient amount of bone tissue into which we may insert the dental implants.

Question: Do I also need a sinus lift? Or is the bone grafting all I need?

Answer: If you are missing teeth from your upper jaw, the bone may have become quite thin. To rejuvenate the fullness of your jawbone, we will suggest bone grafting. However, the floors of your sinuses that rest over your upper jawbone may rest too low (as a result of thinning bone tissue) to provide adequate room for the bone grafting. Fortunately, we can lift the sinuses to create the required space.

Question: Will I need a sinus lift and then bone grafting as two separate treatments? That seems very time consuming.

Answer: No. Fortunately, we may perform both treatments during the same surgery, so you will not need to worry about additional effort or time away from your usual daily life.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Your Questions About Nitrous Oxide

Posted by

Finding out that you have anesthesia options to help alleviate stress and anxiety during dental care is often a major relief for patients. However, you may be similar to many of our patients who prefer to feel fully informed both about their options and the details of each. We appreciate this desire and enjoy answering your questions. For instance, if you have been considering nitrous oxide for a tranquil dental visit, you may find yourself wondering about how it works and how it might affect your day. Fortunately, you will find this gentle yet effective option works for nearly everyone and offers many benefits.

Questions And Answers: Nitrous Oxide

Question: What is nitrous oxide?

Answer: Also referred to as “laughing gas” nitrous oxide is a type of sedative that can calm your nerves. The term laughing gas refers to its tendency to cause patients to feel giggly. In general, we suggest this anesthesia option for patients who would like additional numbing during treatments or a gentle method to ease nerves.

Question: Who qualifies for nitrous oxide?

Answer: Nitrous oxide is a gentle anesthesia option that works for most patients, including children. We will speak with you before your visit or procedure to ensure you are healthy enough to receive laughing gas.

Question: Does this type of anesthesia require an injection?

Answer: No. One of the benefits of this sedative is that it is appropriate for individuals with a fear of needles.

Question: Will I fall asleep? Do I need a ride home?

Answer: No, you will remain conscious during your treatment. To administer nitrous oxide, we will place a mask comfortably over your nose and mouth. As you breathe in, the medicine will quickly take effect. When we finish providing you with the sedative, it will wear off just as quickly. This means you will be able to drive yourself home or back to your daily plans.

Question: Does everyone receive the same dosage?

Answer: No. Another benefit of this anesthesia is that we can control the amount that you receive during your treatment, either increasing or decreasing the dose. This makes for comfortable, customized care.

ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Restoration Options For Dental Implants

Posted by

If you are a patient who has chosen implants to replace your missing teeth, you have likely already become familiar with the complexity of this restorative solution. From learning more about the procedure itself to what you can expect from recovery, you know that implants require a series of steps and a personalized treatment plan. As for the amount of teeth you are replacing and what type of approach you prefer, getting to know your restoration options for your dental implants is essential. Fortunately, by forming a solid understanding of your diverse array of solutions, making your final decision will come much easier. Learn more:

Restoration Options

  • Dental Crown: A dental crown is a single, hollow, artificial tooth. This prosthetic is something we often use to cover damaged or weak teeth. For dental implants, we will use a dental crown as a restoration for a single dental implant post. You may replace one tooth, multiple teeth, or all of your teeth individually with this option.
  • Partial Denture: Patients missing multiple teeth may rely on a partial denture, which will gain added stability with support from dental implant posts. Partials replace multiple teeth in most configurations, from teeth next to one another to those spread across your arch.
  • Full Denture: A full denture is one type of restoration that we may support with implant posts. We may refer to partial or full dentures that rely on implants with the term “implant-supported” or “implant-retained” to differentiate them from devices that rely on traditional, implant-free support. A full – or complete – denture replaces a full arch of teeth.
  • Dental Bridge: An implant-retained bridge includes a series of artificial teeth that are all connected to one another. This means you may use this dental implant restoration to replace one tooth or up to three teeth in a row. Traditionally supported bridges are fixed, resting over your natural teeth. In this case, the bridge will rely on implant posts for support.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Compelling Reasons To Replace Missing Teeth

Posted by

Have you suffered from tooth loss? If so, perhaps you feel that replacing your teeth would be nice because it will help you feel better about your appearance. You may not give the concern any more credit than that, assuming an open space in your smile is purely an esthetic concern. However, you may find yourself shifting your perspective once you become familiar with some extremely compelling reasons to replace those missing teeth of yours. Rest assured, we offer dental implants and oral surgery solutions to restore your smile according to your unique needs.

A Better Daily Quality of Life

Replacing your teeth with prosthetics like dental implants may greatly improve your daily quality of life because you rely on your teeth for important functions. For instance, without a full set of teeth, communicating verbally without difficulty can become an excruciating challenge. You will also find that your daily ability to chew the foods you enjoy may become impossible – you may need to completely change your diet just to accommodate your tooth loss.

Ease of Dental Hygiene

Filling the spaces in your smile with dental implants can improve your dental hygiene. First, recognize that implants require nearly identical care to that of your natural teeth. Fortunately, filling the spaces in your smile means you will be able to brush and floss without frustration. You will also be able to make your way comfortably through a meal without worrying about food becoming trapped where your teeth once resided.

Protected Smile Alignment

Ignore your tooth loss and you may find that your smile becomes misaligned. Choose a prosthetic like dental implants to act as placeholders in your smile and you can preserve the current organization of your smile’s teeth.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Protecting Your Smile From Tooth Loss

Posted by

Dealing with tooth loss is something that happens to many adults. Fortunately, you are not alone and you have many options within reach to complete your smile. For example, we offer dental implants to restore your teeth from roots to crown. While you should feel excited and confident about making choices to replace your teeth, you may also find yourself wondering what you can do to prevent future tooth loss. By becoming familiar with details regarding preventive care and what might cause you to lose your tooth, you’ll become a pro at keeping your smile in excellent health in no time.

Common Reasons for Tooth Loss

Rest assured, your teeth are strong and restorative dentistry offers many treatments to repair an unhealthy or damaged tooth. However, certain problems may progress too far (or damage may become too severe) for you to keep your tooth. In some cases, such as impacts from sports, an accident that severely breaks your tooth may be difficult to avoid. In other cases, your tooth may become extremely ill as the result of gum disease or an infection. These are progressive illnesses that are often completely avoidable with consistent preventive care.

How To Protect Your Smile

Prevention, prevention, prevention. Your best solution when it comes to preventing tooth loss is keeping problems from arising in the first place. If you’re worried about strong impacts, you may consider an athletic guard that can protect your teeth in high-risk situations. As for oral disease, such as tooth decay or periodontal problems, your answer is easy:

  • Brush your teeth twice daily
  • Floss once daily
  • Schedule six-month preventive visits for dental cleanings and checkups
  • If something goes wrong with your tooth, address it immediately rather than waiting (which may leave you requiring a tooth removal and then a tooth replacement solution like dental implants)

What To Do About Tooth Loss

Speak with us about the open space in your mouth right away. We understand that you may feel embarrassed but we urge you to understand our perspective: Helping you enjoy a comfortable, complete smile and improved confidence is what we do. We see your smile as a challenge with exceptional potential and look forward to offering solutions that guide you back toward optimal health and comfort.

ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).