Common Reasons For Sedation Dentistry

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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).

Bone Grafting: Prepare Your Jaw for Implants

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Have you been excitedly reading up on dental implants and the advantages they may offer you? If you answer, “yes” to this question and also suffer from jawbone deterioration, you may feel a bit hesitant to schedule an appointment to discuss choosing implants to replace your missing teeth. Patients often worry a consultation will prove to be a waste of time or that they may find themselves embarrassed if implants do not offer an option. Fortunately, we offer bone grafting for patients in need of restored jaw health and volume.

What Causes Jawbone Deterioration?

Your jaw may lose some of its bone tissue as the result of tooth loss. You see, when you lose a tooth, you no longer have roots. Those roots once stimulated your jawbone, which sent a signal to your body to supply nutrients to keep the bone strong. Losing those roots immediately ends that stimulation, often resulting in a lack of nutrients and subsequent deterioration. Tooth  loss commonly occurs due to infection or gum disease.

Why Is This A Problem If I Want Implants?

You need a full, healthy jawbone if you want dental implants. Why? Your jawbone provides complete support to the titanium posts. If your jawbone is damaged, it may not offer sufficient support, which means your implant will not be able to fuse with an adequate amount of bone tissue to the extent necessary to replace your tooth.

Bone Grafting Can Help

Rest assured, we will offer bone grafting to improve your ability to receive dental implants. Bone grafting is a procedure that will allow us to rebuild your tissue (or promote the regeneration of tissue) so your jawbone can support implants. We will graft – or add/attach – additional bone tissue to your jawbone. A successful graft will improve the height and width of your jawbone, which means implants become an option for your tooth replacement.

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 Implant Play-By-Play

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Dental implants provide patients with an exceptionally stable teeth replacement solution. If you have been looking for a way to replace one tooth or multiple teeth, you may find the long-term prosthetic you desire with implants if your goal is to replace your entire tooth (or teeth) from root to crown. For those set on implants, the desire to receive them comes with an interest in learning more about what one can expect from the entire process. For a quick breakdown of what the experience will entail, we encourage you to take a look at the following steps:

You Will Visit Us For A Consultation

To begin, we will need to examine your smile and speak with you about your preferences. The consultation will allow us to determine whether you are physically fit for the surgical implant placement procedure. It will also allow you to ask questions, potentially inquiring about alternative solutions before making a final decision.

We Will Take X-Rays

We will need to take X-rays of your oral cavity to provide us with the “blueprints” of your smile. You may require standard X-rays or more advanced 3D X-rays depending on your particular circumstances. For example, one patient may have a completely healthy jaw and require a single implant, while another may desire several implants to support a full denture and may suffer from minor jawbone deterioration. We will offer each patient a customized care plan.

You Will Undergo Placement and Recovery

We will place your implants. This is a surgical process that includes the creation of a minor incision in your gum tissue. We will then insert the dental implant post into your jaw tissue, replacing your missing roots. Over the course of approximately two to four months, you will recover as the post essentially becomes one with your jawbone.

We Will Restore Your Implants

To complete your tooth replacement, we will “restore” your dental implant. We use the term “restore” to mean we will “top” your implant with the restoration appropriate to your implant plan. This may include a crown, bridge, partial, or full denture.

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 Implant Candidacy: Your FAQs

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Have you done enough research into the details of implants to determine that they sound like a wonderful solution for your tooth loss? If so, have you begun the process of speaking with us about treatment or are you hesitating? We often find that patients feel excited about the exceptional benefits of dental implants but worry they will not qualify as candidates. Rather than assuming particular concerns will disqualify you, we would like to reassure you that most patients are actually well suited to this prosthetic solution. For answers to questions we commonly receive regarding this topic, we have gathered the following Q&A session. For the additional details you seek regarding candidacy, consider the following and remember to schedule a consultation:

Frequently Asked Questions About Implant Candidacy

Question: I have struggled with periodontal disease but would like dental implants. Does my damaged jawbone mean I will need to choose a different prosthetic?

Answer: Fortunately, we offer a variety of treatments to improve the health of your smile if you desire implants. This may include oral surgery, such as bone grafting or a sinus lift, to prepare your oral cavity for implant placement.

Question: I’m hoping to restore my smile immediately. Can I achieve this with dental implants?

Answer: No, implants require a lengthier course of treatment than other dental prosthetics. If you feel you are ready for the recovery process, which includes the bonding of your implant to your jawbone over the course of approximately 6 weeks to 16 weeks, then you may make an excellent candidate.

Question: Can you replace my child’s tooth with a dental implant?

Answer: The answer depends on your child’s age. We can only offer an implant to your child if he or she is 18 or older. This is because children’s jawbones are continuing to develop as they age. However, we suggest you schedule a visit for your child immediately, so we may begin planning a solution for the missing tooth.

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).