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Below you will find details about our most common procedures.
Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Extractions may be performed
because of decay and broken down teeth that cannot be restored. Extractions may also be used to remove teeth to make room for orthodontic treatment.
Wisdom teeth usually erupt in one’s late teens
or mid twenties; this is considered the age of wisdom.
They generally appear as the last teeth behind the upper
and lower second molars.
Described as a “vestigial trait” or function
that is no longer relevant; wisdom teeth are more problematic
than anything else.
Have you ever worn a pair of shoes that were too snug?
Perhaps you can tolerate them for a bit, but after a
while your feet swell and just plain hurt. This is the
general idea as to why wisdom teeth can be problematic.
Your mouth is made to accommodate 28 teeth, so when
those extra third molars (wisdom teeth) arrive bacteria
can get into the area around them, causing infection
which leads to swelling, sometimes an unpleasant odor
and pain which may affect the jawbones or neck.
Injury, periodontal disease or tooth decay can all lead
to loss of teeth. This experience can be traumatic and
affect self- confidence as well as contribute to further
dental problems. Dental implants are a practical solution
to what may feel like an overwhelming dilemma.
Often patients have heard they are not a candidate for
dental implants, but with today’s technology and
Dr. Cherry’s level of expertise in both implantology
and bone grafting, individuals who were told they were
not a candidate for this procedure now are able to have
it. In just a few hours, under local or general anesthesia,
he can help you begin the process that will have your
teeth looking amazing and feeling natural.
A dental implant is essentially a man-made tooth root.
These implants resemble the natural form of a tooth
root. The implant is placed beneath the gum and fuses
to the bone in the jaw.
Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is resorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, patients may not be candidates for placement of dental implants without the requisite grafting procedure.
Today, we have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, but also gives us a chance to restore functionality and esthetic appearance.
Bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease or injuries. The bone is either obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is taken from the jaw, hip or tibia (below the knee.) Sinus bone grafts are also performed to replace bone in the posterior upper jaw. In addition, special membranes may be utilized which dissolve under the gum, protect the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration. This is called guided bone regeneration or guided tissue regeneration.
The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and on top of the upper posterior teeth. Maxillary sinuses are airspaces of the mid-face that act to humidify air and have evolved as shock absorbers in the case of facial trauma. They are like empty rooms that have nothing in them. Some of the roots of the natural teeth extend up into the maxillary sinuses. When these upper teeth are removed, there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone.
There is a solution that is called a sinus augmentation or sinus lift graft. The surgeon enters the sinus from where the upper teeth used to be. The sinus membrane is then lifted upward and donor bone is inserted into the floor of the sinus. Keep in mind that the floor of the sinus is the roof of the upper jaw. After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient’s jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in this new sinus bone.
The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants when years ago there was no other option other than wearing loose dentures.
If enough bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus is available to stabilize the implant well, sinus augmentations and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure. If not enough bone is available, the sinus augmentation will have to be performed first, then the graft will have to mature for several months before the implants can be placed.
In order for you to be most comfortable during any procedure here at our office, we offer all methods of anesthesia from local anesthesia to nitrous oxide to intravenous and general anesthesia. Dr. Cherry can discuss these different options with you during your consultation.
The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin called mucosa that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any change in this appearance could be a warning sign for some type of pathologic process. The most serious of these being oral cancer. These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology; however, any patient with facial/oral pain without an obvious cause may also be at risk for oral cancer.
We recommend performing oral cancer self-examination yearly and remember that your mouth is one of your body’s most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Please contact us so we may help.
During the early stages of pregnancy, separate areas of the face develop individually and then join together, including the left and right sides of the roof of the mouth and lips. However, if some parts do not join properly, sections don’t meet and the result is a cleft.
If the separation occurs in the upper lip, the child is said to have a cleft lip. Surgery can be performed at an early age to close the separation, restore muscle function, and provide a normal shape to the mouth.
As in cleft lip, a cleft palate occurs in early pregnancy when separate areas of the face have developed individually and do not join together properly. A cleft palate occurs when there is an opening in the roof of the mouth. The back of the palate is called the soft palate and the front is known as the hard palate. A cleft palate can range from just an opening at the back of the soft palate to a nearly complete separation of the roof of the mouth.
In most cases, surgery is recommended and if performed by an experienced, qualified surgeon, the results can be quite positive.
The major goals of cleft palate surgery are to:
- Close the gap or hole between the roof of the mouth and the nose.
- Reconnect the muscles that make the palate work.
- Make the repaired palate long enough so that the palate can perform its function properly.
The alveolar cleft is generally repaired between the ages of 8 and 10 depending on the amount of dental and skeletal growth. Furthermore, the timing of surgery is coordinated with an orthodontist who may need to expand the top jaw slightly with braces prior to surgery. The surgery is done under general anesthesia, and usually requires one night's stay in the hospital. First, bone is taken from another part of the patient's body (often from a bone in the hip or shin). The soft tissue (gums) is carefully lifted, and the new bone is then grafted to the existing bone in the patient's upper jaw. Often times, a coincident oral/nasal communication (fistula) is closed concomitantly. The gum is then replaced and the incision is sewn closed.
Over the next few weeks to months, the grafted bone becomes incorporated into the patient's own bone tissue. Gradually, normal permanent teeth will be able to erupt through the graft. Most often, after all the permanent teeth have erupted, patients require orthodontic treatments to straighten them.
The major goals of alveolar cleft surgery are:
- Providing alveolar continuity for eruption of the maxillary anterior teeth.
- Establishing continuity of the maxillary arch.
- Bony support for the nasal structures.
- Any residual oronasal fistula, if present, is often successfully closed.
There are many different techniques that surgeons will use to accomplish these goals. The choice of techniques may vary between surgeons and should be discussed between the parents and the surgeon prior to surgery.
Orthognathic surgery is needed when jaws don’t meet correctly or if the teeth don’t fit with the jaws. Teeth are straightened with orthodontics and corrective jaw surgery repositions a misaligned jaw. This not only improves facial appearance, but also ensures that teeth meet correctly and function properly.
People who can benefit from orthognathic surgery include those with an improper bite or jaws that are positioned incorrectly. Injury to the jaw, birth defects such as cleft and altered facial growth patterns are some of the main causes of orthognathic problems. Patients with cleft lip & palate often require orthognathic surgery in their late teen years.
If you are a candidate for jaw surgery, Dr. Cherry will work closely with your dentist and orthodontist during your treatment. The actual surgery can move your teeth and jaws into a new position that results in a more attractive, functional dental-facial relationship.
Blepharoplasty is surgical modification of the eyelid. It removes excess skin, muscle and fat. As we age, our eyelids stretch and the supporting muscles weaken. As a result, excess fat may gather above and below our eyelids causing our eyebrows to sag, droopy upper lids and bags under the eyes. Sometimes this can impair your vision, as well as make you look older. This surgery can help eliminate the vision impairment as well as make you look younger.
TAD’s provide a new way to move teeth into the proper position. By inserting small screws within the mouth to act as anchors for braces and wires, Dr. Cherry uses TAD’s to assist the orthodontist in moving teeth in ways not possible with braces alone.
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