oral surgery – Page 2

Tips to Prevent Dental Implant Failure

Venture Creative on December 13, 2019

Dental implants have become one of the most successful options for fixing damaged or missing teeth. Dental implants are, as it implies, implanted into the jawbone. This is one of the reasons they have such a high success rate.

There are, however, steps that you can take to help make sure your dental implants do not fail. These steps include maintaining good oral hygiene, paying attention to the foods you eat, avoiding or quitting smoking, and noticing signs of implant failure early on.

Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene

In most cases, you won’t even receive a dental implant unless you are a good candidate with a healthy mouth. However, once you receive the dental implant it is extremely important to maintain a good oral hygiene routine.

Make sure to brush and floss at least twice a day followed by the use of mouthwash. It is also important to visit the dentist at least twice a year to get your teeth cleaned and examined.

Pay Attention to the Food You Eat

Certain foods can have a negative impact on dental implants. Tough bread, jerky, hard candies, and foods with high sugar content are some of the foods that are important to avoid eating.

Avoid or Quit Smoking

Smokers have a much higher risk of having dental implant failure. Smoking can cause gum disease, which leads to the implants failing. Not only is it important to avoid or quit smoking after you receive dental implants, but taking this step before you receive the implants can dramatically improve the success of the implant.

Notice Signs of Implant Failure

Like most things related to your health, diagnosing the problem early can help you to avoid more serious problems later on. Pay attention to signs like infection, movement of the implant, gum inflammation around the implant, or any type of discomfort dealing with your implant.

If you feel any of these things might apply to your implants schedule an appointment to get the implant examined as soon as possible.

Dental implants are an amazing solution for lost or damaged teeth. Make sure to take care of your implants to the best of your ability so that you can avoid dental implant failure.

How Implants Reduce Long Term Dental Costs

Venture Creative on December 6, 2019

Before the price of dental implants completely deters you away from them, you may be interested to see how the other replacement options can add up.

Bridge Replacements

Over the course of the years of having a bridge placed, you may need to have it fixed or replaced several times. Not only will you find yourself replacing your bridge, but you also have to damage the teeth on the sides. In order to have a bridge placed the dentist must grind down the two healthy teeth next to the missing one in order to make the appliance fit. Grinding down a natural tooth may also cause issues down the road that can lead to costly treatments.

Dentures

Dentures are known to be high maintenance. With no natural teeth, over time your jaw bone will start to disintegrate. This will make your denture loose and you will find yourself trying to keep them in your mouth every time you open your mouth too wide. Dentures are also made from a thick chunk of acrylic which tends to be a mouth full for patients.

No Replacement

Not replacing missing teeth can put a damper on your appearance and it can affect your bite and make it difficult to eat. You are also more likely to acquire gum disease, TMJ, and decay. Dental bills will start to rack up and you will only experience more and more problems as time goes on.

If you are missing a tooth, we strongly advise that you contact the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute at (435) 383-5392. Let Dr. Davis help you bring back that beautiful smile you once had so you can feel confident about your appearance again!

How to Enjoy the Holidays After Oral Surgery

Venture Creative on November 29, 2019

For anyone that is planning on having surgery before the holidays, some of the most wonderful food is soft enough to still eat. So, if you thought you would be missing out on food, think again. Here are a few of the best things to eat during the holidays after oral surgery.

Mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes are probably one of the first foods you thought about when it comes to a big holiday dinner. Good thing that these wonderful mountains of mouthwatering potatoes are on the safe list to eat this holiday season.

Aside from being soft enough, potatoes are also rich in calories and nutrients which is essential for proper healing.

Green Beans

Not only are green beans a nice low-calorie side, they are soft enough to eat!

Tender green beans are a good source of vitamin C, fiber, Vitamin K, and folate. They are a great post-surgery food AND they are good for you too!

Yams

Yams are yet another delicious dish that makes for a great post oral surgery eat! Yams alone have a lot of nutrients and antioxidants that help fight inflammation. They have many benefits and are quite healthy, if you avoid eating them with marshmallows that is.

Pie

Alright, we have saved the best for last. PIE! As long as there are no nuts or seeds in it, pie is a good soft food to consume post-surgery. Pie is typically soft enough and uses little to no chewing. Soft and sweet, let your recent surgery be the excuse for eating too much pie.

Avoid

There are unfortunately foods that will need to be avoided or eaten with caution. You will want to be cautious with meat as it tends to be too tough to chew. With stuffing, some are made with hard bits and chunks which can get stuck into sites and cause irritation. Take caution with rolls. They may be soft, but they can get trapped in open wounds. Avoid things like pecan pie, or at least remove the pecans before eating. Avoiding nuts and seeds are key to healing.

To set up a consultation, please call our office at (435) 238-7083.

5 Ways Dental Implants Can Change Your Life

Venture Creative on November 1, 2019

It can be pretty upsetting when you lose a tooth, even more so if you spend thousands of dollars on replacing the tooth only to have the replacement break or fail. Dental implants are the best option if you want something that is going to last a lifetime if properly taken care of. Here are five ways that dental implants can change your life.

Natural

Dental implants look, and believe it or not, feel like a natural tooth. It can be very discouraging and embarrassing when you are missing teeth. Having dental implants can help bring back your confidence and leave you with a beautiful, complete smile.

Eating

If you have any teeth that are loose or missing it can make eating very difficult and painful. Dental implants actually help improve the quality of chewing – enhancing eating capability just like a natural tooth would.

Long-Lasting

Some replacement options such as bridges and partials don’t last very long until they break and you find yourself replacing the replacement.

Implants are integrated into the jaw bone and are made to last a lifetime if properly taken care of. They are known to be strong and durable and have a very high success rate.

Easy to Clean

Dental implants stand solo and do not affect the surrounding teeth. That means you can still floss on both sides of the implant and you can brush your teeth like you normally would, therefore being able to maintain the best oral hygiene possible.

Convenience

With a traditional denture, you have to remove them every night, and put them back in every morning. With dental implants, they become a part of you and most people claim to forget what tooth is actually the “fake” one.

Come visit Dr. Shawn Davis at the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute to find out if dental implants are right for you!

How To Prevent Oral Cancer

Venture Creative on October 19, 2019

Oral cancer is cancer of the mouth or throat, it is also more commonly seen in men than women. Sometimes cancer can be unavoidable, with most that is the case. Some have cancer in their genetics and some are just plain unlucky. When it comes to oral health, there are a few things you can do to prevent it. Below are nine tips to protect yourself to the best of your ability.

Eat Cancer-Fighting Foods- Eat as many “cancer-fighting” foods as possible such as broccoli, sweet potatoes, turmeric, yogurt, kale, and mushrooms.
Alcohol- Only consume alcohol in moderation, try to limit yourself to one drink per day.
Use SPF lip balm- If you spend time outside, protecting your lips should be a priority! There are lots of options for chapstick with SPF in them, even fragrance-free for men.
Cut all Tobacco- Smoking or chewing tobacco increases your chance of oral cancer by more than a third.
Oral Hygiene- Make sure you are brushing and flossing your teeth daily.
Safe Sex- It is important to be extremely safe and cautious if you are sexually active.
HPV Vaccinated- HPV is associated with cancers at the back of the mouth. HPV can be contracted from one single encounter.
Check Yourself- If you feel anything out of the ordinary, make sure to contact an oral surgeon as soon as possible. You can also take a small mirror and look inside your own mouth to check if there are any unusual colors.
Dentist- Every 6 months make sure that you go visit your dentist. They normally do an oral cancer screening with your exam.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute at (435) 628-1100.

Sedation & Wisdom Teeth Surgery: What You Need To Know

Venture Creative on October 12, 2019

The thought of sedation or surgery can be intimidating for some people. Here at the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute, we can assure you that there is nothing to worry about, as you will never be left with any unanswered questions regarding sedation or your wisdom teeth removal. Here are some sedation tips to ease your fears.

PRE-SURGERY INSTRUCTIONS

There is nothing worse than going into surgery not knowing what you need to do to prepare for it. When you schedule at our office, you will be given sedation instructions twice. Once when scheduling your appointment, and the second time at your confirmation call. Here is how to prepare:

Nothing to eat or drink for eight hours prior to surgery.
Must have a responsible driver to drive you home after surgery.
Remove any nail polish on the first two fingers on each hand.
Take any daily medications with a tiny sip of water in the morning.
If on a blood thinner please notify us prior to your appointment (it may affect scheduling).
If you were sent with a blue referral card, bring that with you.
Payment is due at the time of service.
We do offer our paperwork online, feel free to fill it out beforehand or come in five minutes early to fill it out in office.

POST SURGERY INSTRUCTIONS

Don’t panic if you have never taken care of someone or yourself after sedation. We will make sure that you or your driver fully understand our at-home care instructions. And don’t forget, we are just one call away if you have any other care questions.

When you leave our office, you will be biting down on gauze. You will also be sent home with extra in a baggie. Change the gauze as needed every 20-30 minutes until it is a light pink color. That indicates there is mostly saliva and that the bleeding is slowing down.
You will be sent home with an irrigating syringe to be started on the third day after surgery. Make sure you stick the entire tip into the site to flush out all of the food. If not, it can lead to swelling and infections. Continue this until the holes are entirely healed.
Rinse with Peridex mouth rinse in the morning and evenings.
Take the antibiotic prescribed to prevent infections.
Eat soft foods for a few days such as yogurt, cottage cheese, smoothies, or soups (anything that is soft enough to mush with a fork).
Avoid straw use for three days.
Use ice packs on and off for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling.

Healing

You will want to get as much rest as possible post-procedure. Most people are feeling back to normal in 3-7 days as long as the above rules are followed.

If you have an active lifestyle, you will want to rest for at least three days. After which you can resume normal activity as long as you are feeling up to it.

When Should You Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Venture Creative on September 20, 2019

Wisdom teeth, unfortunately, are something that most people have to deal with at some point or another in their lifetime. Some experience issues in their early teenage years while others start dealing with issues later on.

A lot of people wonder when the right time to get their wisdom teeth out is and the answer to that varies. Most kids who are seeing an orthodontist regularly are usually recommended for wisdom teeth removal before orthodontic treatment is finished or shortly after.

If orthodontic treatment is completed before wisdom teeth removal, it can cause complications to arise later on down the road. If the wisdom teeth are impacted and they start to erupt after orthodontic care, it can cause shifting and crowding of permanent teeth and that can result in more orthodontic treatment. Who wants that?

Most dentists and surgeons recommend wisdom teeth removal between the ages of 16-25. Having them removed at an earlier age will ensure that the roots are not fully formed, which means a speedier recovery.

Some people get lucky and they have a large enough jaw structure that they do not need to worry about wisdom teeth removal. If that is the case, proper brushing and flossing techniques must be followed as having four extra teeth can be tricky!

Wisdom teeth left untreated can cause gum tenderness, swelling, infection and extreme facial pain. If the teeth have partially erupted they can become hard to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay.

If you are unsure if you or a child needs wisdom teeth taken out, schedule a consultation at the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute.

Best Post-Oral Surgery Care Routine

Venture Creative on August 2, 2019

If you’re reading this, you probably just had a form of oral surgery, or you’re planning on having surgery sometime soon. Naturally, you most likely have many questions about oral surgery recovery, if so, you’ve come to the right place!

At the Oral & Facial Surgery Institute, we’re your St. George oral surgery recovery experts. It’s absolutely crucial to take great care of your oral health following surgery and we’ve compiled some of the most proven tips and tricks to help you have the fastest recovery possible!

Oral Hygiene After Oral Surgery

The first 24 hours

It is critical to be fully aware of what you can and cannot do in terms of oral hygiene directly following surgery. Most oral surgery operations involve some form of stitching to help heal the surgical site. Due to the nature of stitches, you should try to avoid vigorous rinsing and spitting for the first 24 hours following your oral surgery.

If rinsing is necessary, use warm water and gently swish it around in your mouth. When it comes time to spit, simply let the water fall out of your mouth into the sink, don’t force it out.

Brushing your teeth can also become a little tricky following surgery. Try your best to only brush your teeth gently, and steer clear of the actual oral surgery site if at all possible.

Flossing may also be considered in the first 24 hours, but only do so gently. If you are unable to open your mouth wide enough to floss effectively, simply wait a day or so to be able to floss normally.

Mouthwash should also be avoided within the first 24 hour period following your oral surgery.

After the first 24 hours

After the first 24 hours following surgery, it is time to begin escalating the healing process. This can be done by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater or saline solution. The purpose of doing this is to help keep the surgical site clean and it will also aid with the healing process in a natural way.

Keep a close eye on your surgical site and watch for any abnormalities in the surrounding tissue. If you notice discoloration or rapid swelling, contact your doctor immediately.

We hope some of these ideas help ease your mind and any pain you may experience following oral surgery.

Call the team at the Oral & Facial Surgery Institute to schedule your next oral surgery appointment today! (435) 628-1100

Is a Clicking Jaw Something to Worry About?

Venture Creative on July 5, 2019

Picture yourself driving down the road when you immediately begin to hear a clinking sound coming from under your car. What do you do? You pull over, examine it, and consider possible options to fix it. Similarly, when your jaw starts to make noises that it’s not supposed to, it would be wise to follow the same steps! Let us help you understand whether or not a clicking jaw is something to worry about.

What is TMJ/TMD?

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) refers to the pain and dysfunction of the muscles of mastication (the muscles that move the jaw) and the temporomandibular joints (the joints which connect the mandible to the skull).

Do you have TMJ/TMD?

Some common symptoms of TMD include:

Swelling on the sides of the face
Muscle spasms in the jaw area
A change in the alignment of the top and bottom teeth
Locked jaw or limited opening of the mouth
Pain in the jaw area
Pain, ringing, or stuffiness in the ears
Frequent headaches or neck aches
Clicking or popping sound when the jaw moves

Professional Consultation

If you feel that you’ve been experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, you may want to take the time to schedule a professional exam. Doing so will allow you to know whether or not TMD has been the cause of your symptoms.

Treatment Options

TMD can be treated in many ways, dependant upon your professional diagnosis. Non-surgical options include short-term, non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs for pain and muscle relaxation, bite plate or splint therapy, and even stress management counseling.

If non-surgical treatment is unsuccessful or there is clear joint damage, oral surgery may be necessary. The surgical treatment of TMD can involve either arthroscopy or direct jaw surgery, depending on the extent of the damage.

How Will Dental Implants Affect My Life?

Venture Creative on June 27, 2019

If you have been living your life with temporary dentures or missing teeth, the possibility of dental implants could make a great difference in your life. Dental implant technology is better than ever and will help create a natural-looking, healthy smile. Here are some of the ways that implants will improve your life.

Permanent Alignment

-Missing teeth make it difficult for the rest of your smile to stay in line. Setting a dental implant in place of a missing tooth forces the remaining teeth to stay in their position, creating that perfect smile that you’ve been hoping for. This reason in and of itself is enough to heavily consider getting dental implants.

Confidence

-Because dental implants are a permanent fixture, you’ll never have to worry about taking out your dentures and the many complications that come with doing so. Modern dental implant technology allows for your smile to look healthy and natural, just the way you like it!

Improved Speech

-One of the greatest benefits that dental implants can have is improving your speech. Proper teeth placement and alignment can go a long way in ensuring that your speech is crisp and clear.

Easier Eating

-Broken or missing teeth can make it difficult to enjoy mealtime. With a permanent dental implant, you can still eat all of your favorite foods and more without all the worry. You’ll be able to eat with confidence knowing that your dental implant can withstand even the toughest of foods.

Overall Health

-Studies have shown that oral health can greatly affect other aspects of your body. Proper treatment of your broken or missing teeth will allow you the confidence you want, and the health that you deserve!

Here at the Oral & Facial Surgery Institute, we are Southern Utah’s dental implant experts. We want to make sure you get the treatment best treatment it comes to receiving your very first implants. Let us be a part of your journey, schedule an appointment with us today!