Preparing to have a tooth extracted can provoke feelings of nervousness and uncertainty. If you don’t know what to expect, or worse, you have heard frightening stories from friends, your level of anxiety can reach tremendous heights. Modern dentistry provides your oral surgeon with the tools...
“For my oral surgery procedure, just knock me out and wake me when it’s over.” This is a common sentiment among patients who are preparing for most dental procedures, especially oral surgery. The feeling is understandable since nervousness and apprehension can make a dental experience...
Cleft lips and palates are among the most common birth defects. A cleft lip is an opening that splits the upper lip in half, while a cleft palate is a similar fissure in the roof of the mouth. In some cases, the two birth defects...
When discussing the potential complications of wisdom teeth extraction, an oral surgeon will often include dry sockets in the list. A dry socket is a painful condition that can develop following a tooth extraction. Although dry sockets can occur with any permanent tooth extraction, they are...
Dental implants are becoming increasingly popular for tooth replacement. The technology is far superior to other alternatives, like fixed permanent bridges. One of the major benefits of dental implants is their fit with the natural teeth that remain in the mouth. Dental implants are free-standing, requiring...
The gap left behind by a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth can create the appearance that you are years older than your true chronological age. Fortunately, this aging process is reversible. It can be fixed in just a few visits to the implant dentist. Dental...
To achieve maximum comfort during an oral surgery procedure, many patients opt for intravenous (IV) sedation or general anesthesia. IVs have a nearly instantaneous effect, and you’ll have no recollection of the procedure after it is complete. When your sedation dentist uses IV sedation, the anti-anxiety...
If there is not enough room in the jaw to accommodate a tooth’s eruption, that tooth may become impacted, or lodged in the jawbone or gums. The third molars, or wisdom teeth, are the most commonly impacted teeth, but any permanent tooth may become impacted. If...
Patients may be anxious in the face of dental implant placement, and understandably so. It can be intimidating to face an unfamiliar surgery of any type, regardless of the experience and knowledge of your oral surgeon. Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective method for Charlottesville...
Dental implants can be a wise long-term investment if you care for them properly. Unlike other tooth replacement alternatives, the dental implant and its accompanying prosthetic crown replicate the entire structure of the missing tooth, not merely the visible portion. However, in order for those dental...