At the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute, we strive to use the latest technology and precision in each of our procedures. Let’s discover innovative techniques that have allowed us to offer minimally invasive surgery to minimize trauma and enhance recovery for our patients. 

What Is Minimally Invasive Oral Surgery?

Minimally invasive oral surgery utilizes techniques to prioritize precision and efficiency, resulting in numerous benefits for both patients and surgeons. In many cases, MIS (Minimally Invasive Surgery) can result in less swelling, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times. How has this affected the oral surgery field? 

Common Minimally Invasive Oral Surgery Techniques

Laser Surgery

• Laser technology has become a cornerstone in oral surgery. 
• Applications in soft and hard tissue procedures. 
• Benefits include reduced bleeding, faster healing, and minimal discomfort.

Microsurgery

• The use of microscopes in oral surgery for enhanced visibility. 
• Precision at the microscopic level, allowing for delicate procedures.
• Improved outcomes, especially in complex situations. 

Piezosurgery

• Definition and applications of piezoelectric devices in oral surgery. 
• Advantages in bone surgery: reducing risk of damage to surrounding tissues. 
• Enhanced cutting precision for improved results.  

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Techniques 

Reduced Trauma

• The impact on tissues and surrounding structures is significantly minimized. 
• Faster healing and recovery times, allowing patients to return to daily activities sooner. 

Minimal Scarring 

• Cosmetic benefits for patients, as incisions are smaller and less noticeable.
• Improved patient satisfaction with aesthetic outcomes.

Lower Risk of Complications 

• Decreased likelihood of postoperative complications. 
• Enhanced safety profile for patients, ensuring a smoother recovery. 

Challenges and Considerations 

While minimally invasive techniques offer numerous advantages, it’s important to acknowledge potential limitations. Dr. Davis will discuss your eligibility for innovative procedures depending on the complexity of your required treatment. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and express your concerns during your consultation with our staff. 

Future Trends in Minimally Invasive Oral Surgery 

We anticipate more developments in oral surgery. From emerging technologies to innovative procedures, the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute remains committed to staying at the forefront of these advancements to provide our patients with the best possible care. 

Conclusion 

At the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute, we are proud to champion minimally invasive oral surgery techniques. The benefits to our patients during and following procedures underscores our commitment to delivering superior care. If you are considering oral surgery, contact the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute. Schedule your consultation to begin your journey toward optimal oral health.

Smiling is an essential part of our expression. We express joy and happiness through a smile, which is vital in communication. Smiling is considered an icebreaker to connect and start a conversation. A bright smile can make you more confident and enhance your personality. 

If you feel underconfident about your smile, oral surgery can help you out. Continue reading to learn the miraculous benefits of oral surgery. 

What is Oral Surgery?

Oral surgery is a broad term used to describe procedures performed on your jaw, teeth, gum grafts, or any facial or oral structures by a maxillofacial, oral surgeon, or periodontist. Oral surgeries include procedures such as 

• Jaw surgery
• Dental bone grafting
• Tooth extraction
• Gum bone grafting
• Obstructive sleep apnea treatment
• Cleft palate and lip repair

Oral surgery has many benefits if done right by an experienced oral surgeon. Here’s how it can help you achieve a perfect smile.

Benefits of Oral Surgery

Permanent Solution To Your Oral Problems

When you miss one of your teeth and want to replace it with another one, you have 2 choices one is in which you go for temporary solutions such as a bridge or permanent solutions like dental implants.

When you go for a bridge, you ignore the gum, which can further lead to gum infections or need proper maintenance. In dental implants, your gums are involved too. It is a surgical procedure in which an artificial tooth is implanted which is more solid and long-lasting and can easily last long.

Restore Smile and Minimize Permanent Damage

Mandibular bone and maxillary jaw issues are the most common dental issues that worsen over time. It can further contribute to tooth loss if not addressed promptly. It can be treated using various procedures, but bone grafting techniques like L-PRF allow professionals to successfully address the bone issue before it worsens and impairs your smile. Surgical procedures like bone grafting or tissue grafts can help restore the missing tissue and repair the damaged bones. 

Address the Underlying Problems

Oral surgeries effectively treat the underlying cause of the problem to help you get rid of the problem. They help timely detect and prevent any dental problems from worsening. For example, suppose a person has problems chewing, speaking, and breathing problems because of a misaligned jaw. In that case, jaw surgery, also known as jaw alignment orthognathic surgery, can help eliminate the issue. 

Helps Restore Positive Self-Esteem

A bright smile and oral hygiene will help you be confident and enhance your self-esteem. When talking with someone, you no longer have to worry about your uneven, crooked teeth. 

Saves From Tooth Loss

Timely checkups and guidance from a dentist will help your smile last long as you can easily avoid any problem which can result in losing your tooth. When done on time and correctly, oral surgeries like dental implants can help prevent infections and further problems. 

Brings Back Your Smile

Smiling is one of the first things a person notices in your appearance. Conditions like missing teeth, cleft palate, jaw misalignment, or even a tumor on gums or lips can hugely impact your happiness and self-esteem. We don’t want to see you having your smile dimmed. 

Want to restore your bright smile? Don’t think twice and express your concerns to experts at OFSI (Oral & Facial Surgery Institute). 

Surgeries of any nature can be intimidating and overwhelming for most people. Even though patients are under the effects of anesthesia, the fear and anxiety can be quite troubling for them. However, when used by a trained and skilled oral surgeon, anesthesia can help the patient avoid pain to a great extent and relieve their fears.

There are mainly three types of anesthesia used in oral surgeries: local anesthesia, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. You should consult with your healthcare provider and follow certain safety measures and even after-care instructions to have a successful and safe oral surgery.

Let’s have a look at the different types of anesthesia in greater detail in this article.

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is the most common type of anesthesia used in oral surgeries. It is also used for small procedures, such as cavity removal or filling. Local anesthesia is injected directly into the affected area to provide a numbing sensation, so it can be treated successfully without the patient feeling any pain.

The patient, in these cases, is always conscious during the oral surgery and will feel the pressure of the surgical instruments. Occasionally local anesthesia is combined with nitrous oxide, which the patient has to breathe in by wearing a mask over the nose.

With the combination of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide, the patient remains conscious while feeling no discomfort or pain during the surgery. Local anesthesia is widely the safest and most effective for performing minor surgeries.

Local anesthesia has little to no side effects; however, the patient can feel a little numbness in the gums, lips, and cheeks for a few hours before the procedure.

IV Sedation

IV sedation is deeper and stronger anesthesia in a medicinal form that is titrated into a person’s body through an intravenous catheter. This anesthesia type is used for shorter surgeries, but provides effective patient sedation.

The IV sedation effectively sedates and makes the patient unconscious for the surgery, so that the procedure can go smoothly. However, some patients report remembering details and conversations at the beginning and end of procedures, but have little to no memory of the surgical procedure.

General Anesthesia

General anesthesia literally puts you to sleep during the procedure. This anesthesia type also uses IV sedation but injects more profound anesthesia into the patient’s body. Patients injected with general anesthesia report having no memory of the actual procedure. 

Such patients will be unconscious during the procedure and unable to drive back home after the surgery, which is why the patient should arrange for someone to do that. General anesthesia is mostly used for intensive or longer surgical procedures such as dental implant placement, wisdom tooth removal, or any other intense oral procedure. 

Conclusion

Three kinds of anesthesia are generally used for oral procedures and surgeries. No such anesthesia type has severe side effects. However, it is still recommended to consult your physician regarding preparation or post-surgery care.

If you are looking for the best option to have your oral surgery without experiencing any major pain and discomfort, feel free to contact our experts at Shawn B. Davis, DMD Oral and Facial Surgery Institute, for the best solution. 

Teeth play a significant role in enhancing a person’s self-confidence and personality in general. One would not feel comfortable while laughing or talking with broken or decayed teeth. They are an essential part of a person’s appearance and play a significant role in your dental and overall well-being. 

Suppose you are currently facing dental problems. In that case, you might be having a tough time deciding whether you should go for dentures, dental implants, root canal, or any other procedure. If you don’t know much about it, let us tell you that dental implants are a permanent solution if you lose a tooth. To help you understand it better, here are the top three benefits of having dental implants.

Dental Implants Look Like Natural Teeth

The most significant benefit of dental implants is that they appear and work like regular teeth. The fact that dental implants are fixed in your teeth and are not removable makes them a far better and more reliable option than dentures. 

Dentures are removable and cause pain and discomfort when you remove and wear them repeatedly. Dental implants are properly fixed in your jawbone, providing comfort and reliability.

You can normally talk, eat food, and continue your regular activities without fearing dental implants being displaced and causing discomfort.

Dental Implants Improve Oral Health

Losing one or more teeth can have a significant effect on your overall oral health. When you lose a tooth, your other teeth start shifting as your gums recede. The shifting of the other teeth weakens your jaw bone, causing further issues and problems for your teeth.

Replacing the empty tooth cavity with a fixed dental implant improves your oral health. It provides stability to your jaw and helps your teeth avoid getting decayed or shifting from their place.

Dental Implants are Reliable 

Dental implants are the most reliable option among all other dental solutions. Like other procedures, you do not have to visit your dentist every now and then or get a renewal done after some time for dental implants. 

If taken proper care of, dental implants last a lifetime without needing any renewal or service. You just have to take care of them just like you do for your other teeth by brushing and flossing regularly and properly. These dental implants are reliable and can last a lifetime without having you spend money on them again and again.

Conclusion

It is always better to pay proper attention to your dental health, and if you have lost a tooth or multiple teeth, it is best to get them treated sooner rather than later. Dental implants are the best option when it comes to reliability and peace of mind in every aspect. 

If you are considering getting a dental implant, then our expert surgeon Shawn B. Davis, DMD at Oral and Facial Surgery Institute, can do that for you. 

If you are scheduled to have oral surgery, such as your wisdom teeth removed, or you have a child who is needing oral surgery, you may be worried about the safety of anesthesia. Learning more about the procedure is a great way to help you trust the oral surgeons and procedure. Feel safe knowing these important facts on anesthesia.

Fact 1 – Anesthesia is safe.

According to studies, oral anesthesia has shown to be very safe when administered by a trained oral surgeon in the office setting. At Oral & Facial Surgery Institute, oral surgeons are trained in all aspects of anesthesia and sedation methods, including local anesthesia, oral sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. They have received training in airway management, endotracheal intubation, establishing and maintaining intravenous lines, and managing complications and emergencies that may arise during the administration of anesthesia.

Fact 2 – Anesthesia eases pain.

One of the most common reasons for the administration of anesthesia is to limit the pain felt by a patient during intensive oral surgeries. Though oral surgeons take every precaution to limit pain and damage to your mouth during surgery, some procedures require deep work into the jaw bone, tooth roots, or nerve areas. These can be sources of pain that anesthesia greatly helps with or even completely eliminates.

Fact 3 – Anesthesia eases anxiety.

If you dread having dental work done, much like the majority of the world does, anesthesia will greatly reduce your levels of anxiety and may even rid you of it completely while you are in the office. Anxiety about oral health and treatment is common, but taking the appropriate precautionary steps can alleviate your symptoms.

Conclusion

Hopefully these facts on anesthesia can put your mind at ease. If you have any questions or concerns about the safety or uses of anesthesia, contact Shawn B. Davis at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute, (435) 238-7083 today. We can help prepare you to have stress-free oral surgery. 

Suffering from jaw pain constantly can be a horrible experience, making you feel miserable 24/7. Whether you’re working or simply resting, you will always have aching jaws. Eating can be even more painful and merely taking over the counter meds may not help. 

In cases like these, the only way to rid yourself of the pain is choosing a surgical option. Orthoganthic surgery is arguably the most common type of jaw surgery out there. The procedure is relatively straightforward and can help relieve a great deal of pain. 

Why Do People Suffer from Jaw Pain

Chronic jaw pain can happen because of numerous reasons, with jaw misalignment is arguably the biggest ones. The jaw consists of the following parts: the maxilla, upper jawbone, mandible, and lower jaw bones. 

There are three common types of jaw misalignments, which surgical procedures can help fix. They are:

Open Bite: This is when lower and upper jaws don’t meet when you close your mouth.

Under Bite: In this condition, your lower jaw sticks out too forward.

Overbite: When a maxilla protrudes above the lower jaw significantly, it is referred to as overbite. 

Mentioned below is a list of several other symptoms people with chronic jaw pain could experience. These could also indicate that you require jaw surgery.

• Inability to clench teeth
• Chronic pain in your jaws
• Headaches
• Temporomandibular, aka chronic jaw joint pain
• Dry mouth
• Sleep apnea
• Not being able to bite or chew properly

What are the Most Common Surgical Options for Chronic Jaw Pain

Mandibular Osteotomy: This surgical option repairs sever underbites and other symptoms of receded lower jaws

Maxillary Osteotomy: Upper jaw surgery, which many know as maxillary osteotomy helps fix receded upper jaws. This surgical option manipulates and fixes the jaw using metal plates and screws, ensuring it is in the right place. Doctors often use this procedure for correcting, open bite, cross bite and over bite. 

Chin Surgery/Genioplasty: This surgical option is often used for fixing lower jaws that recede severely. When performing this procedure, doctors restructure your chin as well as your jaw. One of the best things about this surgical option is that patients do not have to sit through two surgeries, as it addresses both issues. 

What to Expect from Chronic Jaw Pain Surgery

Before the surgical procedure for your chronic jaw pain begins, the doctor will explain you everything that will happen. Doctors use the latest surgical procedures and technology to treat chronic jaw pain. Once your surgery is over, you might have to stay at the hospital for a day or two depending on the condition, so doctors can observe you before declaring you fit to return home.  

If you are suffering from chronic jaw pain, give us a call at (435) 220-2324. We have a team of highly competitive surgeons who will analyze your condition and suggest the best surgical option to ensure your jaw is pain free.