Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Common dental-related issues that can be corrected with surgery include: wisdom teeth, crowded teeth, TMJ, sleep apnea, and tooth fractures. Our dentists can help you with these issues by using surgical techniques within our office.
Wisdom teeth and tooth extractions are needed most usually due to overcrowding of teeth. In these cases, the mouth is too small for the amount of teeth present or the teeth are growing in directions that cannot be corrected by orthodontics.
TMJ, or temporomandibular joint is a small joint in front of the ear that allows the lower jar to move. It is the most commonly used joint in the body, so developing a dysfunction of movement is not unusual. Symptoms include headaches, earaches, and limited ability to open your mouth. Conservative and radical treatments are available. Conservative treatment includes bite guards and possibly medication to help relaxation of the muscles. Surgical techniques include arthroscopic surgery or repair of the damaged tissue.
Sleep apnea is commonly known as a “silent killer” because it happens when we are supposed to be asleep and resting. It is the inability to breathe while sleeping. Over time this can cause an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and even decreased libido. Dentists are able to help patients with sleep apnea not only with conservative treatment, such as C-PAP machines but also with surgery. The common types of surgery are:
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
- Hyoid Suspension
- Genioglossus Advancement (GGA)
- Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA)