Wisdom Teeth Quiz: True Or False?

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How much do you know about evaluating your wisdom teeth? Do you know what comprises a healthy set of teeth that can remain in your smile – or what types of concerns cause us to suggest wisdom teeth removal? If not, we always recommend that you stop in to see us for a scheduled visit. We will examine your smile, discuss your unique needs, and further explain the details associated with your third molars. In the meantime, we invite you to make your way through a brief quiz that will highlight the information you do know and help fill in the areas where you could use an additional fact or two.

True-or-False Quiz: Wisdom Teeth

  1. True or False: If your wisdom teeth never erupt then you can assume you simply don’t have any and don’t need to worry about wisdom teeth removal.
  2. True or False: The only reason to schedule wisdom teeth removal is if your third molars are threatening your alignment. If they grow in successfully, it’s best to keep them.
  3. True or False: While wisdom teeth may cause some discomfort, particularly if they are impacted or developing on an angle, they will not cause any serious long-term problems.

Quiz Answer Key

  1. False. In some cases, a patient simply never develops wisdom teeth. However, when third molars fail to make an appearance it is often the result of impaction. An impacted tooth is one that does not erupt, which may lead to serious oral health consequences if neglected.
  2. False. In addition to protecting your alignment with wisdom teeth removal, we also suggest it to prevent problems associated with impacted wisdom teeth, which may lead to infection. Or, if your teeth erupt successfully but become too difficult to keep clean (promoting tooth decay and gum disease) we may suggest removal.
  3. False. Neglected wisdom teeth may result in serious discomfort, the accumulation of bacteria, periodontal problems, the spread of infection, and tooth damage. 

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).

Does My Child Need Wisdom Teeth Removal?

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Wouldn’t it be nice if you received an announcement in the mail, letting you know that your child’s wisdom teeth were on their way? If only life were so easy. However, the good news is that we are here to help with all things third molars when it comes to protecting your child’s smile. Perhaps you are not quite sure when or how to begin monitoring your son or daughter’s smile for this final set of teeth. Or, maybe your child is experiencing symptoms. Whatever the case, we can assist you in determining whether wisdom teeth removal is right for your child (and when to follow through with surgery).

If Your Child’s Smile Feels Fine

Just because your child’s smile feels okay does not mean you should wait. In fact, monitoring your son or daughter’s smile before and during the wisdom teeth development process allows us to determine whether wisdom teeth removal is necessary quite early. We can accomplish this feat with the use of digital X-rays. If the teeth appear to be problematic, which might mean they are growing in on an angle or fail to erupt – we can remove them without consequence. Growth of third molars typically begins during late teen years or early 20s, so we can begin seeking them out during your child’s teenage years.

If Your Child Is Experiencing Symptoms

Perhaps your child suddenly complains of discomfort behind existing molars or gum problems. Or, your child’s wisdom teeth may have grown in successfully but are proving extremely difficult to keep clean. Whatever the problem, we will examine your child’s smile and provide you with a care plan for wisdom teeth removal, so we may restore your son or daughter’s oral health.

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).

Q&A: Curious About Implants?  

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We usually find that the more a patient learns about implants, the more they want to know about treatment. The good news is that we are happy to answer just about any inquiry that pops into your mind. The more you know about this extremely effective tooth replacement solution, the easier it will be for you to recognize the value in its benefits. It is important that you remember we make time during visits and consultations to address your concerns or clear up confusion. However, for now, we would like to immediately address some frequent questions about dental implants with answers that may help you feel more certain as you make plans to restore your smile.

Q&A: Dental Implants

Question: What makes dental implants the most stable tooth replacement option?

Answer: An implant and its restoration make up the only treatment that restores your entire tooth. Other prosthetics, such as traditional bridges and dentures, restore the portion of your tooth that rests above your gumline – but they do not replace your roots. An implant (and prosthetic tooth) restore your roots and the visible part of your tooth. Since this tooth replacement receives anchored support from your jawbone, it offers exceptional stability.

Question: What makes an implant restoration look so natural?

Answer: We typically restore a dental implant with a dental crown composed of a lifelike material, such as porcelain or zirconia. These materials display properties similar to natural teeth. They are composed of multiple layers of translucent material, for example, similar to your tooth’s construction. They also reflect light in a similar fashion. Finally, we match the color of the restoration to surrounding teeth.

Question: Are dental implants a new fad or is this something that has grown a solid reputation over time?

Answer: No, implants are not a trend. In fact, they have provided patients with a stable tooth replacement solution for more than 20 years.

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).

Learn About The Spear Study Club

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Did you know that dentists participate in continuing education? Are you aware that we are consistently keeping up with advances in dental technology and finding ways to better serve and communicate with our patients? As for our particular team, we have been participating in a dental study club for several years, promoting additional education for ourselves as well as area dentists. Learn more to find out how our knowledge and dedication affect you.

What Is The Spear Study Club?

It is a prestigious dental study club, where dentists meet in a supportive environment. Experienced, highly skilled teams from area practices gather to work with one another – and to learn together – to promote a community that offers exceptional dental care to its patients.

The Spear Club In Sonoma County

Since bringing the Study Club to Sonoma County five years ago, we have been meeting once a month. Our goal as a community is to learn more about interdisciplinary treatment of patients, ensuring our standards remain sky-high.

What Does This Mean For Patients?

We hold our ability to communicate clearly and effectively with patients as a top priority. This means that, though we have completed our required education as dentists, we are always learning more to ensure we provide you with the highest level of dental 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).

Health Benefits Of Dental Implants

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Has the idea of filling the open spaces in your smile with dental implants crossed your mind? Perhaps the simple advantage of replacing your entire tooth (from the root to the crown) is enough to send you reeling with excitement. On a deeper level, however, you may find yourself wondering if – and how – implants are a step above your other dental prosthetic options. We suggest that you learn more about the varied and impactful health benefits of implants. This greater understanding of the ways implants can improve your life may assist you in cultivating certainty as you make your final decision to complete your smile.

General Health

Replacing your missing teeth with dental implants can protect your general health. Implants provide you with the greatest stability of all dental prosthetics, which means you can go back to eating the foods you love (rather than avoiding healthy foods simply because you cannot chew them). The result? Greatly improved nutrition.

Oral Health

Dental implants protect your oral health, as well. First, missing roots can result in jawbone deterioration. Replacing them with implants restores essential stimulation that keeps your jaw tissue healthy. Implants also provide the following:

  • Alignment Protection: They act as placeholders, which keep your teeth in alignment instead of shifting toward open spaces.
  • Bite Protection: Implants restore balance to your bite, which promotes comfortable speaking, eating, and protects against problems like bruxism and TMJ disorder.

Emotional Health

Your emotional health often suffers as a result of tooth loss. Fortunately, dental implants fully restore your teeth and the beauty of your smile, greatly improving your confidence. As a result, you may find you feel more comfortable in social settings, gaining momentum in your career, and feeling ready to succeed in multiple areas of your 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).

Bone Grafting Quiz

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Have you recently learned that you may need bone grafting to improve your chances for dental implants? If so, you have likely found yourself instantly full of a variety of questions. While you know that grafting offers exceptional benefits – namely that you will be able to complete your smile with the solid stability of implants – that may be as far as your knowledge goes. Or, if you’ve spoken with us at length or completed a bit of research, you may feel you’ve become quite knowledgeable on the subject. Either way, do yourself a favor – see if you need additional info by taking a brief quiz. And remember, we are always happy to answer your questions.

Bone Grafting Quiz: True or False?

  1. True or False: The transplanted bone tissue can come from your own body (such as from the chin or hip). Or, you may choose from other options, such as cow bone, human cadaver bone, or synthetic “bone.”
  2. True or False: Bone grafting does not enjoy a very high success rate but because it is often the only option for receiving dental implants, it is worth the attempt.
  3. True or False: Bone grafting may either promote the growth of new bone tissue or existing bone will fuse with the new tissue, creating a strong foundation for a future implant.

Quiz Answer Key

  1. True. We will speak with you about your needs and your options, determining the best bone source for your particular requirements, while examining the pros and cons.
  2. False. Bone grafting actually has a high rate of success. Failure is a slim possibility – fortunately, we can remove an unsuccessful graft and place another.
  3. True. A successful graft will restore the lost bone structure and volume, creating a strong, supportive base into which we may place an implant post. 

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).

Osseointegration: What Is It?

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Have you have been learning more about dental implants because you think they may offer you the teeth replacement solution best for your needs? If so, you’ve been becoming familiar with some new terms like “osseointegration.” While you may have a general understanding of what this means – essentially that your bone tissue will fuse with your implant post after placement – your knowledge may stop there. However, your curiosity may be getting the best of you. For a bit more information about this interesting process, allow us to provide you with additional details by answering questions often brought up by patients during visits.

What Is Osseointegration?

Osseointegration is a term used in dentistry to describe the way your jawbone fuses with your dental implant post. After we place the implant into your jaw tissue, the two will essentially “become one,” which offers exceptional stability. The cells of your bone, which is living tissue, will attach to the titanium post, causing them to “integrate” or connect.

Where Did The Idea Come From?

This process and its name first made an appearance in the 1950s. Scientist and professor, Per-Ingvar Branemark used titanium chambers implanted into rabbit bone to study blood flow. When he gathered his findings and attempted to remove the chambers from the bone, he discovered that they had bonded and that he could not extract the titanium devices.

Why Does It Work?

Patients are often curious why the body does not reject dental implants. This is because of something called “biocompatibility.” It means that a particular material is compatible – or will work with your living tissue – without causing harm. In addition, in the case of titanium, it is a porous material, which means your bone tissue can connect around and throughout the metal.

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 Wisdom Tooth Consultation

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Are you wondering if you are you need of wisdom tooth removal? Fortunately, finding out whether you have wisdom teeth, if they’re developing well or may present a problem, and whether you may require their removal is all quite easy to accomplish. You simply need to schedule a wisdom tooth consultation with us to find out more about your unique smile needs. It is important to remember that even if every friend and family member you know has had a particular experience with keeping their third molars (or requiring removal), each patient is different. Learning more about your own needs is always the best approach to maintaining good oral health.

Examining Your Smile

During your wisdom tooth consultation, we will thoroughly inspect your smile visually and with the assistance of digital X-rays. With the help of these images, we can decide whether you require surgery. We will also discuss your current health and health history to determine whether oral surgery is safe for you.

Discussing Your Oral Surgery

Another important aspect of your wisdom tooth consultation is taking time to discuss what you can expect from oral surgery to remove your wisdom teeth. You may have preconceived notions about this beneficial treatment, so we will set aside time for you to ask questions and voice concerns. We will also explain the steps of surgery, how to prepare, why you need the treatment, and your sedation options for a comfortable procedure.

Creating A Comprehensive Plan

Preparing for your wisdom tooth removal surgery means that you will need specific instructions regarding getting ready for the procedure. This may include everything from avoiding eating and drinking before your treatment to what to wear, as well as information about the financial aspects of treatment. We will also explain what the recovery process will be like and how to make your healing time successful and comfortable.

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 Recovery Tips

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In many cases, we find that patients feel much more overwhelmed at the thought of dental implant recovery than they do about the surgery itself. The good news is that you don’t have any reason to worry about either aspect of your experience. In addition to ensuring you enjoy comfortable treatments, we also speak with you at length regarding what to expect when you return home as you heal. To get a head start on making the most of your post-operative time, consider some helpful tips.

Tip#1: Pay Attention To Bleeding

Bleeding is normal in most cases after dental implant surgery. However, it should taper off after approximately 24 hours. Pay attention to your bleeding. If it is noticeable, you may wish to bite down on gauze for around a half hour until it subsides. However, if you cannot control the bleeding, please contact us right away.

Tip #2: Protect The Surgery Site

It’s important that you do not harm the wound site. Simply avoid coming into contact with the area as much as possible to allow it to heal. In addition, avoid spitting or making a sucking motion with your mouth to prevent trauma for the first 72 hours.

Tip #3: Apply A Cold Pack

You may alleviate swelling by holding a cold pack against your cheek. Make sure you do not place frozen material, such as ice, directly against your skin. Instead, cover the ice with a towel, bag, or other material. Holding this over your cheek near the dental implant site will offer relief. Follow this tip as much as you can for the first day and a half.

Tip #4: Stay Hydrated

Make sure you hydrate yourself – particularly after abstaining from liquids for your dental implant surgery. Drink hydrating liquids, like water, to remain comfortable and promote effective healing.

Tip #5: Rest, Rest, Rest

Don’t overdo it immediately after surgery. Your body will need to recover and your wounds will need to heal. Don’t lift anything heavy, bend at the waist, or engage in exercise for at least a few days.

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).

Surprising Facts About Tooth Loss

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We often find that patients dealing with tooth loss visit us with a mind full of misinformation. In some cases, patients simply feel isolated as though they’re the only individuals in the world dealing with a missing tooth (which is simply not true). In other cases, patients feel excited about tooth replacement options like dental implants but know very little about the details. To find out more about the truth behind tooth loss, we encourage you to consider some surprising facts.

Fact #1: Losing A Tooth May Lead To … Braces?

When you lose a tooth in your smile, an open space is left behind. Unfortunately, your remaining teeth are not settled permanently – they may begin to migrate into that open area. The result? A misaligned smile that will require orthodontic care. Fortunately, tooth replacements like dental implants will act as placeholders, keeping your smile intact.

Fact #2: You’re Not The Only One

Over 30 million individuals in our country are missing a complete series of teeth on a single arch or both arches. It’s important to keep in mind that you’re not the only person dealing with tooth loss. Whether it’s one tooth or multiple teeth, there are millions of other patients seeking teeth replacement options, too.

Fact #3: Dental Implants Are More Popular Than You Think

Patients often assume dental implants are a lucrative choice when it comes to replacing a tooth or teeth. Contrary to this thought, millions of Americans are walking around with implants in their smiles, a figure that is rapidly growing every day.

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).