The bones, skin, and muscles of the jaw, mouth, and face can be impacted by various aesthetic and functional issues that can further impact a person’s quality of life. These issues can also affect a person’s self-esteem and confidence.
The dental specialists and oral surgeons at Lovett Dental have spent years perfecting their craft. Our maxillofacial and oral surgeons have dedicated an additional 4 years to gaining crucial surgical experience in accredited hospital residency programs. At the same time, our specialists have participated in otolaryngology, emergency medicine, plastic surgery, general surgery, internal medicine, and anesthesiology residency programs.
We take each patient’s oral health seriously and, with our extensive experience in the oral surgery field, you will be in the hands of highly-qualified and experienced dental experts.
Some examples of oral surgery in Corpus Christi include:
Find out more about our specialist services here.
Around 85% of the global population needs to have their wisdom teeth (or third/final molars as they’re otherwise called) removed, with millions of people opting for this procedure each year. This generally occurs between the ages of 17 and 25. It’s also worth noting that some people get 4 wisdom teeth while others get more or fewer than that.
Since wisdom teeth are unpredictable and can cause other dental problems down the line, we recommend regular dental checkups.
People often wonder why wisdom teeth need to be removed and what the best time to do that is. The truth is, every person is different and each person’s third molars grow differently. Some people never develop wisdom teeth problems and they either come in normally or don’t come in at all.
Others may require surgery and removal if the third molars start impacting other teeth (e.g. pushing them out) or causing jaw issues (e.g. growing under a 90-degree angle beneath neighboring teeth).
Here are the most common causes of wisdom teeth extraction:
If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact us for a preliminary assessment and diagnosis. The sooner you get wisdom teeth surgery, the shorter your recovery time will be and it’ll be less likely that you’ll develop other symptoms due to your third molars.
While the primary methodology of wisdom teeth removal is the same for all patients, the specifics of the process ultimately depend on a couple of factors. For example, we plan your treatment by determining how many teeth need to be extracted, their development stage, position in the jaw, and whether or not they’re impacted.
We will provide you with pre- and post-operative instructions to make the removal process as comfortable as possible. You will also be given anesthesia for oral surgery; our patients generally choose IV sedation to help them sleep through the surgery.
Once the anesthesia kicks in, the surgeon will make an incision in your gums, clear & clean the afflicted area of any obstructions, and pull the wisdom teeth out. Once the teeth are taken out, the surgeon will stitch your gums back together.
Be mindful that you may feel some discomfort and/or pain during the first few days after surgery so make sure to follow your post-op instructions carefully.
Lovett Dental also offers various tooth extraction services for situations where other treatments have failed (root canals, fillings, apicoectomies, etc.). Simply put, if a tooth is ‘too far gone’, it will have to be removed to preserve the health of your other teeth and gums.
If you suspect that there’s an issue with your teeth (e.g. pain, discomfort, etc.), schedule a dental appointment with us and we’ll take a look.
The most common cause of dental health issues is inadequate dental hygiene. Here are a couple of medical issues that may arise due to poor dental hygiene that may require tooth extraction:
Tooth and gum infections can be incredibly dangerous if left untreated since the infection can spread and cause severe issues. Do not hesitate to schedule an appointment and get your bad tooth extracted.
We can’t stress the importance of proper dental hygiene enough since it’s really the only way to keep your teeth, gums, and jaw healthy for a long time. But even that is sometimes not enough since teeth go through wear and tear throughout our entire lives and they can wear out.
The good news is that dental implants can help restore your smile and general oral health if you’ve lost a tooth (or teeth) to disease or injury.
They can prevent the deterioration of your ability to speak and eat due to teeth loss. They also play a vital role in providing regular stimulation for your jaw bone (preventing decay and severe deterioration of the jaw bone).
You can learn more about our dental implants here. We also provide bone grafting services and procedures to patients who have been without teeth for longer periods of time. Check out our page on bone grafting (periodontics) to learn more.
Teeth impaction is explained as the failure of the tooth to erupt from the gums in a natural way, causing it to become trapped beneath the gums. There are a few potential causes of impacted teeth, including the presence of a growth or bone in the way of the tooth’s eruption path, the failure of an adult tooth to erupt, and the size of the tooth.
Canine teeth and wisdom teeth are the most susceptible to being impacted. However, wisdom teeth extraction is rather simple and the exposure of impacted canines will help them erupt properly.
Some of the most common causes of impacted teeth include:
Our oral surgeon will inspect the cause of your impacted teeth and use that info to create a personalized treatment plan for your specific dental situation.
The best way to treat impacted canines is through bonding and exposure. Braces are the most common way to approach the expose-and-bond procedure since they can easily shift the other teeth slightly to the side to make room for the canine(s). An orthodontist conducts this first part of the process.
The oral surgeon takes over once there is sufficient room for the impacted teeth. They will make a small incision in your gums to access the tooth and attach a bracket & chain. The orthodontist can use the chain to position and lower the tooth into the appropriate place.
The inside lining of your mouth (called the mucosa) is pink and silky when it’s in good health. Paying attention to how the mucosa looks (both texture and color) is imperative to detecting certain issues ahead of time.
If you notice any discoloration or changes to the mucosa texture, it might be a sign that something is awry. Although oral pathologies are generally harmless and most often appear due to infection, it should still be checked out by a surgeon every once in a while.
Certain warning signs can help you determine whether or not you need to visit a dental health clinic, including:
If you have any of these symptoms, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us so we can determine the best course of action for you.
Improper oral hygiene is often the biggest contributor to oral pathology. Our mouths process plenty of food and fluids each day which makes them a haven for bacteria. Keeping your mouth clean and free of germs is crucial for staying healthy. The most common oral diseases are:
All of our oral surgeries are designed to be as efficient, comfortable, and painless as possible. Dental phobia is a real thing which is why we provide a variety of sedative options, including:
Schedule your dental appointment with Lovett Dental today by calling us at 832-804-7427.
Lovett, Splendid & Haven Dentistry
Dental Offices in TX