Bone Grafting is Not Nearly as Scary as It Sounds

                                     Bone Grafting is Not Nearly as Scary as It Sounds

The term "bone grafting" may conjure up horrifying images if you're hearing it for the first time, but it's actually a common and relatively painless procedure. Due to ever advancing technology, a bone graft is not always needed to hold a dental implant, but is still occasionally used to strengthen the jaw. When a graft is needed, the procedure is not nearly as complicated as it used to be, and doesn't require hospitalization. Let's take a look at what bone grafting surgery entails.

The History of the Bone Graft

Originally, in the 70s, the only way to replace teeth was with a set of dentures. The dentures required a stable, strong jaw to hold them in place, and would often call for a bone graft. As people lose their teeth to age or other factors, the jawbone begins to atrophy from not being used. The bone of the jaw wears down and becomes narrow and unable to support new teeth. Early on, bone grafts would often require the patient to be hospitalized so that new bone could be harvested from their existing healthy bones, usually taken from the ribs.

Modern Bone Grafting Procedures

Bone grafting has come a long way. Nowadays, the procedure is minimally invasive and can be done in the dentist's office instead of a hospital setting. The bone is harvested from processed materials from animal bone. This is called a xenograft. After the bone is grafted, the body is "tricked" into thinking it's natural bone, and over time will build more bone around it. There are three different ways of performing a bone graft:

Socket Graft - This graft is used when a single tooth has been extracted. The graft acts as placeholder for the missing tooth, and allows new bone to form over time, which will eventually house the dental implant.

Block Bone Graft - This type of graft is used when there is more substantial damage to the jaw bone to the point where soft tissue cannot be supported. It may be needed for cases of dental trauma or bone destruction due to tumors or cysts. It requires some natural bone to be removed from the patient, in combination with the artificial harvested bone. Bone removed from the patient will most likely be taken from the area where wisdom teeth once were. The harvested bone is grafted using screws, and after several months of regeneration will be ready for an implant.

Sinus Lift - This graft is used when an implant is needed in the upper jaw, but cannot be placed because of sinus intrusion. When an upper molar is absent, the sinuses tend to "droop" and fill in the hollow area of the jawbone. The harvested animal bone is used to move the sinuses back up into the sinus cavity, hold them there, and create a "scaffold" which the dental implant will hold on to. 

To learn more about bone grafting and if it right for you, contact us at Solace Oral Surgery in Nashville.

What Is an Apicoectomy and How Is It Performed?

            

                     What Is an Apicoectomy and How Is It Performed?

Though the word may sound unfamiliar, apicoectomy is actually a very common procedure, and if you've had a root canal, you may have had an apicoectomy as well. So what exactly is an apicoectomy, and why is it used?

The Structure of Your Teeth

Common known, teeth are connected to the jawbone by roots. Most teeth have one root, but larger teeth, like molars and premolars, have two or more. The end of each root (otherwise known as the apex) is the canal through which nerves and blood vessels funnel into the pulp of the tooth. If there is an infection of the canal tissue or the pulp, a root canal treatment is needed. Your dentist will use a file to clean the infected tissue from these canals. Due to the complex nature of the canals, with many smaller parts branching off, it isn't uncommon for a small piece of infected tissue to be left behind. Sometimes the remaining infected tissue can prevent healing or cause another infection in the future. This is where the apicoectomy comes in.

Indications for an Apicoectomy

An apicoectomy is done on a microscopic scale, and thus requires an experienced oral surgeon with advanced training. The purpose of the surgery is to remove the tip, or apex, of the root and seal off the canal. This makes it impossible for the infection to travel back through the canal again. The surgery is initiated when the previous root canal has failed, resulting in re-infection, or when your dentist doesn't want to weaken the crown of your tooth with a secondary root canal. Apicoectomies can also be performed to diagnose persistent tooth issues with unknown causes. By examining the entire root of the tooth, your dentist can identify the problem. If you have other damage to the surface of the root or bone surrounding the tooth, your dentist may want to perform the surgery.

How an Apicoectomy Is Performed

The oral surgeon will use a tool to make a tiny incision in your gum. They will then lift your gum up and away from the tooth, and may use a drill to access the root. Using a dental microscope and an ultrasonic light, the surgeon will remove the rest of the infected tissue and clean and seal off the remainder of the root's canal. Afterwards, the gum tissue will be stitched back into place. Anpicoectomies usually only take 30-90 minutes, depending on the complexity of your root canals. Aftercare entails the same procedures as with any oral surgery, being careful not to brush hard, eating soft foods, and taking OTC pain medication.

Contact us for any other questions regarding this at Solace Oral Surgery, 615-320-1392

Using the Latest Technology for Quality, Comfortable Oral Surgery

                               (Image source: http://www.i-cat.com)

 Using the Latest Technology for Quality, Comfortable Oral Surgery

If you've ever had a Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scan for an injury, you've undergone a technologically advanced method of visualizing the body. Different than a traditional X-Ray, CAT scans use 3D imaging to map out the bones, soft tissues, and organs inside the body, giving doctors a precise blueprint of your unique physiology. CAT scan technology has been used in hospitals since the 1980s, but it is just recently that oral surgeons began using them. So what exactly do oral surgeons use i-CAT scans for, and how are they beneficial?

How an i-Cat Scan Benefits Your Oral Surgeon

Dentists use X-rays of the mouth to place tooth implants in patients. If you've ever had one, you know that this can be a time-consuming process for both you and your dentist. They have to fit a 3D object using a 2D image - essentially like trying fit a square peg in a round hole. i-CAT scans make this process much easier because they allow your dentist to "zoom-in" on specific areas and see them from different angles. By using an i-CAT scan, your oral surgeon can plan exactly how the implant is going to fit, and where there may be preexisting problems. Your dentist will use i-CAT technology to gather the following information:

·         Determine the health and density of the jawbone that will hold the tooth, and see if any impactions, tumors, or tissue disease exists.

·         Map out nerve endings in the mouth to reduce pain.

·         Determine the size and type of implant best suited for your bite pattern.

·         Precisely measure the best fit for the implant, down to the angle of the tooth, by examining the way the surrounding teeth are oriented.

·         Use this information to plan a "blueprint" for the implant surgery.

How an i-CAT Scan Benefits You

The i-CAT scan makes the implantation process easier for everyone. No more will you have to suffer through hours of poking, prodding, and multiple X-rays. The scan offers you, as a patient, just as many benefits as it does an oral surgeon:

·         i-Cat scans take less than 30 seconds - saving you time and sparing you exposure to unnecessary radiation.

·         The scan is done in a designated station in which you're seated. No more lying down, biting on uncomfortable plastic pieces.

·         The i-CAT station is open and roomy, unlike claustrophobic CAT scans at a hospital.

·         The scan makes for a fast appointment - your dentist can start planning treatment immediately so you don't have to keep going back.

·         A comprehensive map of your mouth means that you don't have to suffer through as much pain during the placement process.

·         You can be confident that your implant will be the appropriate size and will fit right the first time - saving you the discomfort and embarrassment of a bad fit.

To learn more about the Solace Oral Surgery’s i-CAT® 3D Imaging technology, click here.

Is There a Way to Detect Oral Cancer in Early Stages?

               Is There a Way to Detect Oral Cancer in Early Stages?

Over 40,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, and sadly, the recovery rate is the worst out of all other forms of cancer. This is perhaps due to the fact that oral cancer is not usually discovered until it is late into the development stage. With ever improving technology, can oral surgeons hope to find ways to diagnose, and therefore treat, oral cancer in its early stages?

Patients Need to Be Made Aware of Early Signs and Risk Factors

When oral cancer starts, it usually goes unnoticed by the patient for quite some time. The early stages of oral cancer are not painful until it has advanced into a noticeable tumor. Additionally, by the time patients are treated for the tumor, the cancer has developed and can cause secondary tumors after initial treatment. Patients who have had an encounter with oral cancer are 20 times more likely to develop a second type of cancer. Although symptoms are usually nonspecific and thus go unnoticed, oral cancer does create symptoms that everyone should be aware of. If you have had any of the following symptoms or are otherwise at risk, you should see an oral surgeon as soon as possible.

·         White (leukoplakia) or red (erythroplakia) lesions in the mouth that do not heal within 2 weeks.

·         A lump or a notable thickening of the soft tissue in the mouth.

·         Feeling like something is caught in your throat, or difficulty chewing and swallowing.

·         Ear pain and difficulty moving the jaw; swelling of the jaw.

·         Difficulty moving the tongue, or unexplained numbness of the tongue.

If any of these symptoms develop and persist for more than two weeks, laboratory tests and clinical exams may be necessary for a diagnosis.

Additionally, there are certain people that are more at risk for oral cancer. Anyone who is a heavy drinker or smoker is more prone to developing cancer of the mouth. Certain strains of HPV have been linked to oral cancer, and people over 40 may have an increased risk.

New Technology May Help With Early Detection

Aside from a traditional examination of the mouth conducted by your doctor or oral surgeon, emerging technologies may hold promise for techniques in early diagnosis. Vital Staining and autoflourescence imaging may help to identify abnormal sections of the mucosal membranes. Newer imaging technology, like i-CAT scans, may also detect early signs of cancer, as these scans can show abnormalities in soft tissue, bones, and blood vessels.

Advancing technology, coupled with patient awareness, may hold some hope for the future of early diagnostics in oral cancer.

Contact us for more information. www.SolaceOralSurgery.com