Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to develop. Sometimes they emerge from the gum line, and the jaw is large enough to allow room for them, but more often than not, they fail to emerge and 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 susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections and even gum disease. Often our doctors recommend that wisdom teeth be removed by the time the patient is a young adult in order to prevent future problems and to ensure optimal healing.
Cleft Palate
Cleft lip and cleft palate result when all or portions of the mouth and nasal cavity do not grow together properly during fetal development. The result is a gap in the lip or a split in the opening in the roof of the mouth. Until it is treated with surgery, a cleft palate can cause problems with feeding, speech and hearing. Our doctors work as part of a team with oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other health care specialists to correct these problems through a series of treatments and surgical procedures over many years.
Implants
Dental implants are long-term replacements for missing teeth that are placed in the jawbone. Composed of titanium metal that fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, dental implants never slip and never decay. Because dental implants fuse with the jawbone, bone loss is generally not a problem.