How Missing Teeth Can Affect Your Health

Venture Creative on December 9, 2021

How Missing Teeth Can Affect Your Health

Ever wonder what it’ll be like if you had missing teeth? While it doesn’t take a genius to explain that there are effects of having missing teeth, it’s more than just aesthetic-related concerns. In fact, missing teeth can affect your health in different ways. 

Missing teeth mean that your mouth is prone to a variety of illnesses and disorders, especially the distortion and deterioration of the jawbone structure. When the jawbone structure experiences deterioration, the roots can lose their strength. You shouldn’t waste any time replacing missing teeth before it becomes a greater cause for concern.

Here are a few health risks associated with missing teeth. Nearly all of these risks can cause long-term effects and severe lifestyle implications if you leave them untreated for long.

  • Effects on Your Smile

There’s a huge variety of effects that missing teeth can have on your smile. You might become shy and highly subconscious about your missing teeth condition. This can cause you to avoid social interactions, so you don’t have to smile so often, leading to anxiety, phobias, and depression. Additionally, when your teeth sockets are empty, it can cause the remaining teeth to shift to the empty spaces, which makes the existing teeth structure crooked. This can put a further strain on your mental health regarding your smile.

  • Risk of Gum Diseases

This is also a no-brainer, but many people fail to realize it or choose to ignore it on purpose. But not paying attention to the risks of gum disease can prove detrimental to your overall health as well. Gum disease is a culprit behind many types of health conditions such as digestive issues, stomachaches, and even serious internal infections. The empty tooth pockets that once housed your teeth are now safehouses for bacteria.

  • Jawbone Density Loss

Jawbone issues are highly common among those who start losing their teeth due to an injury, medical condition, or other reason. Teeth allow the jawbone to hold well, which gives your face proper structure. This also promotes the density and keeps the jawbone strong for the timeline. Since missing teeth no longer stimulate the jawbone, bone loss occurs through bone density loss.

  • Prolonged Bite Problems

Whether you have bite problems, losing one or more teeth can cause the problem to become persistent. This is because the missing teeth provide the necessary gaps for the remaining teeth to overlap each other and become crooked due to exerting pressure. Of course, you can’t just stop chewing or biting forever. Hence, contacting the right healthcare expert is significant. 

Conclusion

Get the best oral and facial healthcare to ensure proper treatment for your face and mouth. Your teeth are a vital part of your daily life, and quite frankly, most people tend to ignore oral healthcare, which is already a cause for concern. However, Dr. Shawn B. Davis, DMD, at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute, can help you take care of several dental conditions by providing effective solutions.

Meet with Dr. Shawn B. Davis, DMD, by making an appointment at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute. Call us at (435) 740-8296 for more information. Check out our website for more information.

What Is Bone Grafting and Why Do I Need It?

Venture Creative on December 3, 2021

(Source)

What Is Bone Grafting and Why Do I Need It?

Bone grafting is a medical procedure that can occur in nearly any part of the body. The procedures for bone grafting are rather simple but require expert surgical skills. When bones break or deteriorate in an area of the body, your doctor may advise replacing these broken bones.

A surgeon safely removes damaged bone fragments from one part of the body and replaces them with healthier ones; this process is called bone grafting. For most reasons, bone grafting is a cosmetic procedure to restore and improve the contour and shape.

Why Do You Need Bone Grafting? – Jaw Bone Density

Bone grafting can become necessary when there’s a need for dental implants. The basic requirement for dental implants is that you must have a strong jaw bone to hold the implants in place securely and tightly. However, it may be unsafe to insert dental implants if your jaw bone appears to have signs of deterioration or damage. 

A dentist may use bone grafting to restore the jaw bone before placing dental implants. A bone grafting procedure can take several months to heal. The body absorbs the graft during the healing stage, and the added bone combines strongly with the area bone.

Jaw bone density issues are quite common and mainly affect adults. The Jaw bone can weaken with age and can deteriorate faster if any of the following conditions are part of your overall health:

  • Tumors
  • Periodontal diseases
  • Sinus abnormalities
  • Congenital disabilities
  • Trauma

The main reason for issues in jaw bone density is that, as people age, they start losing their teeth. Although decay, injuries, and trauma to the jaw can occur at any time, old age can be more susceptible to tooth problems. Loss of teeth can weaken the jaw bone and lead to its deterioration. The longer your mouth suffers tooth loss, the higher the degradation of your jaw bone will be. That is why you may require bone grafting before any dental implants.

What Kind of Bone Grafts are There?

Surgeons use several types of bone grafts for different patients, depending on their underlying medical conditions. All bone graft types comprise different types of material.

  • Autograft
  • Alloplast
  • Allograft
  • Xenograft

Conclusion

Do you require jaw bone treatments at the hand of one of the best specialists around? You should pay a visit to the Oral & Facial Surgery Institute in Utah. Dr. Shawn B. Davis, DMD, is a renowned oral and facial health issues specialist who can help you with right jaw bone density conditions through bone grafting techniques.

Find out more through the official website of the medical institute. Contact at (435) 228-7282 to meet with Dr. Shawn B. Davis today.

Are Teeth Extracted Even When Not in Pain?

Venture Creative on November 30, 2021

There are several reasons that a tooth may be extracted. Sometimes, those decisions are made even when the tooth is not causing pain. Here are some of the most common reasons a painless tooth may be extracted. 

Tooth Decay

How many times have you gotten an x-ray to find out that you have a cavity (or several) that need attention? Many times tooth decay doesn’t cause pain. It is even possible, and fairly common, for a tooth to decay so badly that an infection reaches the inner part of the tooth known as the pulp. Unless the nerve becomes exposed or is being severely affected, the tooth may or may not cause you discomfort. Often in such cases, a painless tooth may need to be extracted due to the level of decay or infection.

Space Concerns

SImply, there is only so much space in your mouth to house teeth. Sometimes people grow more teeth than their mouth can handle. Or, you may have wisdom teeth wanting to grow that simply don’t have enough room at the back of your jaw. In this case, healthy, pain-free teeth may need to be removed to allow your other teeth to settle into a comfortable, attractive place. This can be done as a preventative measure before there is an overcrowding issue, or it can happen once the issue has already arised. 

Gum Disease

One of the most common oral problems facing Americans is gum disease. Thankfully, many methods of reversing and treating this disease do exist and are accessible to you. However, if the condition is bad enough, teeth may become loose if your jawbone is affected by the disease. For your safety, those teeth may need to be extracted. 

Conclusion

Yes, teeth do sometimes need to be extracted when they are not in pain. However, they are only removed when absolutely necessary and when the tooth can not be treated in another way. If you are wondering about the health of your teeth, visit Shawn B. Davis at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute. Call the office today: (435) 238-7083

4 Tips on Soothing Tooth Extraction Pain

Venture Creative on November 15, 2021

Getting a tooth extracted is sometimes an inevitable part of life and your journey to keeping your oral health in the state you need it to be in. Unfortunately, most surgeries do come with a small amount of discomfort while your body works to repair the surgical site. When it comes to teeth extractions, you may have a tender side of your face for a couple of days following the procedure. In that case, here are 4 tips on soothing tooth extraction pain. 

Tip 1: Use Tooth Extraction Prescribed Medications

Pain meds may be your best friend after getting a tooth extracted. Not only can your prescribed medications help alleviate your pain symptoms, they also can work to minimize inflammation and swelling, making your mouth less sore and heal more quickly. This can help you sleep well by makine the surgical side of your face less painful to the touch.

Tip 2: Use a cold pack or heating pad to soothe pain.

A cold pack is good for reducing swelling and numbing the painful area. A heating pack on the other hand won’t serve a purpose in reducing swelling, however many have reported that the warmth helps soothe the sore area and can aid in your night of sleeping.

Tip 3: Elevate yourself when in bed.

Elevation is a long-used trick in the medical field to reduce blood rushing to or filling an area of the body. Working the same as elevating your feet does, keeping your head elevated will prevent too much blood from rushing to the surgical site causing swelling and unnecessary discomfort. 

Tip 4: Ask your surgeon for their expert recommendations.

Oral surgeons are trained professionals with years of tooth extraction experience and your surgeon may have specialty tips or tricks to help you rest after your procedure. Be sure to ask them before your extraction what they would recommend.

Conclusion

There are many options you can utilize to lessen the pain after you have a tooth extracted. As with any oral surgery, listen to the instructions of your surgeon. Call Shawn B. Davis at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute to answer your questions about tooth extraction. Call (435) 238-7083 now.

Dentures vs. Dental Implants

Venture Creative on October 30, 2021

You may be in two different paths of life. Perhaps you already have dentures and they are no longer serving the exact purpose you need, so you may wonder about opting for dental implants instead. On a different path, maybe you are to the point of losing your teeth or wanting to swap them for a set of artificial teeth to better your oral health or ability to eat. Here we will walk you through the differences of the two; dentures vs. dental implants.

Dentures Key Facts

Dentures are a teeth and gum set made of artificial material. The sets are carefully formed to your mouth and have a unique shape to sit in place without causing you discomfort. Dentures can be full or partial, so they can replace all of your teeth, or some of your teeth that may be missing or extracted. Most dentures are made of porcelain, plastic, or hard resin and they last roughly 5 years but will need replacing as they wear away over time or may chip if dropped.

Dental Implants Key Facts

Dental implants are surgically placed systems that sit in the jaw bone. They are used to change a person’s smile or to restore your ability to chew and eat regular, solid foods. The implants hold fake teeth securely into place. They can last up to a lifetime but it does depend on the materials used and how well they are cared for once put in place.

Conclusion

The choice of what to do with your teeth is always a decision that should be up to you and based upon your oral surgeon’s expert recommendation. Whether you decide to get dentures or dental implants, you can trust Shawn B. Davis at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute to take good care of you. Contact the office today to get started: (435) 238-7083

How to Prepare for All-On-4 Surgery

Venture Creative on October 15, 2021

All-on-4 are dentals implants that can replace an entire set of teeth with only 4 implants. This modern, simple design makes for a speedy recovery and a beautiful smile. It is also one of the most cost effective options to restore a smile to a healthy, attractive state. If you plan to have this surgery, knowing how to prepare for it is important. 

Before All-On-4 Surgery

Before your surgery be sure to talk to your surgeon about how you can best prepare for the upcoming procedure. Your oral surgeon wants the procedure to be as successful and painless as possible so they will have specific instructions on what to do before entering the office on your surgery day.

Immediately Following All-On-4 Surgery

Immediately after your oral health surgery, your surgeon will have careful instructions for you to give your mouth the best chance at recovering fully and quickly. You can expect to:

  • Avoid hard, solid foods. You will need to be one a liquid diet for a time period following the surgery in order to not irritate, damage, or injure your gums and implants.
  • Use all of the prescribed medication or mouth rinses you receive from your surgeon.
  • Gently brush the new teeth but be sure to avoid sore gums and incision points. Keeping regular oral hygiene practices in place will avoid future complications and infection.
  • Regularly rinse your mouth after eating and throughout the day. A warm water and salt mixture typically does the trick and fights bacterial growth.

Final Procedure

After your first procedure receiving the implants and prosthetic teeth, you will again visit your oral surgeon to have your permanent dentures implanted. This final surgery takes place typically months after your first visit to give your mouth time to heal from the implants. You again will need to keep your mouth consistently clean and follow all of your oral surgeon’s instructions.

Conclusion

All-On-4 surgery requires several visits with your oral surgeon and will carry a recovery time of a few months. Still, it is a simple, safe procedure that will give you a permanent, gorgeous smile that can last a lifetime. If you are interested in getting All-On-4, contact Shawn B. Davis at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute (435) 238-7083 to answer your questions and discuss your future!

TMJ Treatment and Why You Need It

Venture Creative on September 24, 2021

TMJ Treatment and Why You Need It

The temporomandibular joint connects your skull to your jaw. If it suffers damage or injury, it can result in severe discomfort in your teeth and the part where your face connects with your jaw. This pain and discomfort is temporomandibular joint syndrome or disorder. The pain originates from the nerves and muscles of the jaw that suffer damage due to injuries to the skull or jaw or both.

Once the temporomandibular joint suffers damage, it can inflame. This inflammation leads to serious pain after a short time when you use your jaw to chew, bite, crackle, or click. Further, you may also experience intense headaches and migraines in this condition that can progress with time if you leave the condition untreated. Dislocation of the temporomandibular joint is possible depending on the intensity of the damage.

What are TMJ Treatments?

Let’s discuss the different treatment options for TMJ.

Home Remedies

Home remedies include avoiding stressing your jaw or skull, which means talking less for some time, so your jaw doesn’t have to move. Further, you can use ice for the swelling on the face while eating soft foods to reduce any bruising that may occur. Jaw exercises can help regain movement. Avoiding hard food items and sleeping in the most comfortable position to avoid stress on your jaw also helps.

Medications

If symptoms progress or stay persistent even after home remedies, your doctor may prescribe medications according to your needs. The medication they will prescribe can help you with numerous aspects of the disorder, such as swelling, pain, muscle inflammation, and more. Additionally, the doctor may suggest taking talk therapy to reduce stress.

Surgeries

TMJ disorder treatment surgeries are common and have a high success rate of nearly 80 to 90 percent. Your doctor will decide whether you require surgery or not in any case. The most common TMJ treatment surgeries include:

  • Joint Replacement (temporomandibular)
  • Corrective Dental Procedures for improving teeth alignment and bite
  • Arthrocentesis for removing any buildup of debris or fluid in the joint

What are the Benefits of TMJ Treatment?

You should get treatment for your TMJ disorder to alleviate the pain that you feel when you perform normal activities like chewing, biting, and more. For a healthy life, it is best to address all medical concerns as soon as they arise. Here are some of the main benefits of getting TMJ treatment:

  • Ability to enjoy meals again
  • Lower pain in the jaw and skull
  • Improvement in health
  • Better mood and thus the quality of life
  • Improved ear health
  • Lower risk of growing dental concern

Conclusion

The cause of TMJ plays a major part in the type of treatment that you will get. While many people have to reach out to an experienced professional, you can also find relief through home remedies. If you think that your TMJ disorder is progressing or becoming more painful, contact the Oral & Facial Surgery Institute. Our expert Dr. Davis holds extensive experience in addressing painful jaw conditions and disorders. Call us at (435) 220-2324 to set an appointment today. Visit our official website for more information.

Reference Links:

https://www.medicinenet.com/temporomandibular_joint_syndrome_tmj/article.htm

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/temporomandibular-disorders-tmd

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350945

https://www.healthline.com/health/tmj-disorders

Do I Need General Anesthesia When I Get Dental Implants?

Venture Creative on September 3, 2021

Do I Need General Anesthesia When I Get Dental Implants?

Normally, most dental implant procedures and surgeries involve giving anesthesia to the patient. It ensures safety and prevents discomfort to the patient during the surgery. In general, dental surgeons preemptively use local anesthesia to only sedate and numb the area of the mouth where the implant occurs. In case there is extensive bone grafting involved, your dental surgeon will consider using general anesthesia for a comfortable procedure.

However, it still doesn’t take much effort to imagine the worst that can happen during an invasive dental procedure. Just imagining the needles, sharp tools, and the removal of broken teeth can be overwhelming for some people. That’s when doctors use anesthesia. A dental surgeon can provide general anesthesia to comfort the patient and ease the pain if any procedure requires. 

Getting Dental Implants

Dental implants replace missing teeth to restore the aesthetics and functionality of the mouth. With missing teeth, you may feel self-conscious and less likely to interact socially. Moreover, the lack of teeth can make chewing and eating difficult. While every dental surgeon aims to do their best in the dental implants procedure, here’s why they will recommend either local or general anesthesia.

General Anesthesia

Dental implants don’t necessarily have to be one or two. When there is more than one tooth replacement, your dental surgeon will ask you to choose between local and general anesthesia. However, you should know that often when there are seven or eight dental implants, dental surgeons typically don’t use general anesthesia. Rather, they use local anesthesia to reduce the pain and numb the area.

Furthermore, depending on your previous medical history, you may require general anesthesia. The important thing is to know that whether or not general anesthesia is safe for you. Do you think you can’t sit through the implant surgery comfortably or without panic? Discuss sedation options with your dental surgeon. You may receive an additional sedative alongside local anesthesia to help you relax. 

Local Anesthesia

As far as the general dental implant procedure goes, local anesthesia is what most patients require for the entire procedure. You won’t feel anything except a subtle needle prick in the implant site. Occasionally, patients require OTC medication to help with minor discomfort and oral pain post-procedure. Oral options may require you to sit longer if you want to bear the needle pricks. Make sure that you discuss the options with your surgeon ahead of time.

Conclusion

Dental implants might not be as painful, but the procedure requires a certain skill set and experience. Therefore, you should choose the best dental surgeon in the town for your tooth replacement needs. Dr. Davis DMD is one of the top oral healthcare providers in Southern Utah at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute. Give us a call at (435) 740-8296 to discuss the dental implants procedure with Dr. Davis. Visit our official website for further inquiries.

Reference Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_implant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_anesthesia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_anaesthesia

Benefits of Having a Tooth Extracted

Venture Creative on August 30, 2021

Let’s walk through some of the best benefits of having a tooth extracted. The ideal scenario for a healthy mouth is to retain all of your natural teeth. However, there are plenty of times that a person’s oral health declines whether that is due to mistreatment, disease, or injury. If your oral surgeon has recommended a tooth extraction, it is important that you rest assured it is purposeful and will benefit the overall health of your teeth. 

Tooth Extractions Can Remove Infection Source

An infected tooth is always a health concern and needs treatment. Sometimes the innermost layer of a tooth, known as the pulp, gets an infection that warrants immediate attention from your oral surgeon. In this kind of infection’s case, a root canal can sometimes solve the issue and remove the infection. If it is bad enough though, an extraction may be recommended to you to remove all of the infection in the area. This means your mouth will maintain a healthy, infection-free environment and will stand a better chance of recovery.

Tooth Extractions Help Future Oral Health

Sometimes a tooth extraction may be decided on to protect your oral health in the future. A wisdom tooth extraction is a good example. Often wisdom teeth may be too large to fit into the mouth, or may be sideways, causing an impending impaction. In this case your oral surgeon will extract the teeth so that you can save yourself the discomfort and pain associated with their growth.

Extractions Open Space for Dental Implants

If you are at a point in your life where you have chosen to get dental implants, extracting your teeth is a prerequisite to the procedure. In this case, your oral surgeon will take out your teeth and roots to make space for the new, beautiful implants. 

Conclusion

If you need to have a tooth extracted do not worry, it is only for the betterment of your oral health. Shawn B. Davis at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute will take care of you and any concerns that you have! Contact us today: (435) 238-7083

Do I Have Wisdom Teeth?

Venture Creative on August 15, 2021

You have surely seen your friends after their wisdom teeth removal or the viral social media videos of others laughing after the procedure, but are you unsure if you have wisdom teeth yourself? If you find yourself Googling “Do I have wisdom teeth?” then we have the answer for you!

How to Tell If You Have Wisdom Teeth

The answer is simple, and complicated. The majority of people have wisdom teeth in their mouth and experience their sometimes painful growth in their late teens or early twenties. For others, it is perfectly natural to have no wisdom teeth at all, or even 1 or 2 instead of all four. One way to know without visiting the dentist is to explore your mouth gently at home. Looking back behind the rest of your teeth, are there painful lumps? Do they bulge on top or cause you discomfort? For some, the wisdom teeth may even break through the gums without you feeling pain or immediately noticing. Be sure to wash your hands and then take a look and see if you can sense the molars growing.

If you can’t tell on your own, it is possible that you don’t have wisdom teeth, or they may simply be far enough under the gums that you can’t tell if they are present or not. However, there is no need for concern as long as you are not in any kind of discomfort. On the same note, the next time you get x-rays with your oral surgeon, ask them to let you know if you have wisdom teeth that they can see. This will give you a good idea of what to expect in your future. 

Conclusion

Rest assured, if you need wisdom teeth surgery or are beginning to sense the presence of your third molars, Shawn B. Davis at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute will take care of you and any concerns that you have! Contact us today: (435) 238-7083

Visit Us

HOURS

  • Monday - Thursday:
  • 8:00AM - 5:00PM
  • Friday:
  • 8:00AM - 1:00PM
  • Saturday - Sunday:
  • CLOSED

© Copyright 2023 Oral & Facial Surgery Institute | All Rights Reserved | Built by Venture Creative | Privacy Policy

Facebook Instagram Youtube

Schedule Now

Schedule Now

Call Now