Oral Surgery

There are times when teeth cannot be saved and have to be extracted, biopsies of soft tissues are required, bone grafts or sinus lifts are needed to accomplish other treatments you may be undergoing like implants, dentures, braces and so on.

Our team can provide these oral surgical procedures.

Extractions

• When it is determined that a tooth needs to be removed, your dentist may extract the tooth during a regular checkup or may request another visit for this procedure. The root of each tooth is encased within your jawbone in a "tooth socket", and your tooth is held in that socket by a ligament. In order to extract a tooth, your dentist must expand the socket and separate the tooth from the ligament holding it in place. While this procedure is typically very quick, it is important to share with your doctor any concerns or preferences for sedation. Once a tooth has been removed, neighboring teeth may shift, causing problems with chewing or with your jaw joint function. To avoid these complications, your dentist may recommend that you replace the extracted tooth.

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

• Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to develop. In some cases, the jaw is large enough to allow room for the wisdom teeth to emerge from the gumline. However, more often then not, they fail to emerge and then become impacted. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it may need to be removed. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be quite difficult to clean and are therefore susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and even gum disease. In order to prevent future problems and to ensure optimal healing, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons strongly recommends that wisdom teeth be removed by the time the patient is a young adult.

Dental Implants

• Dental implants are long-term replacements for missing teeth that your oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically places in the jawbone. Composed of titanium metal, which fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, dental implants never slip and never decay. Plus, because dental implants fuse with the jawbone, bone loss is generally not a problem.

Oral Cancer

• It is recommended that everyone perform an oral cancer self-exam each month. If you notice white or red patches, an abnormal lump, chronic sore throat or hoarseness, or difficulty chewing or swallowing, you should contact your dentist. He or she will then remove a section of tissue to perform a biopsy and accurately diagnose the problem.

Outpatient Anesthesia

• At FMS Dental we offer a range of sedation options including local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and IV sedation that can be planned to meet your specific needs.  Ask your doctor during your visit to find out what that best option is for you.