Schedule An Appointment | 423.479.8544

Ocoee Oral Surgery

Tag Archives: Cleveland oral surgeon

Signs of a Tooth Infection– Advice From Your Cleveland Oral Surgeon

Friday, 26 March 2021 21:27
Signs of a Tooth Infection– Advice From Your Cleveland Oral Surgeon

Signs of a Tooth Infection– Advice From Your Cleveland Oral Surgeon

Dental problems can be tricky, and often when left untreated, they tend to snowball into bigger, more painful, and more expensive problems. A minor toothache if ignored, can go from minor to major before you know it, and can even result in an infected or abscess tooth. But how do you know if you have an abscess? There are signs of a tooth infection to look out for, and if you experience them, you’ll want to reach out to your Cleveland oral surgeon or dentist for treatment options.

Signs of a Tooth Infection

  1. Severe, persistent, and throbbing tooth pain that can even radiate to the jawbone, neck, or ear
  2. Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures in food and drink
  3. Sensitivity to the pressure associated with chewing or biting
  4. Fever
  5. Swelling of the face or cheek
  6. Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  7. Swollen, tender lymph nodes under the jaw or in the neck
  8. Sudden rush of salty, foul-tasting/smelling fluid in your mouth and pain relief if the abscess ruptures

Causes of an Abscess Tooth

A tooth abscess occurs when bacteria invades the dental pulp, or the innermost part of the tooth, which contains blood vessels, nerves, and other connective tissue. When that bacteria spreads and reaches the root of the tooth, it causes an infection, and generally brings with it the symptoms outlined above.

When to See the Dentist

If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of a tooth abscess, you’ll want to see your dentist immediately. If you have a high fever and/or swelling of the face, or trouble breathing or swallowing, you should go to the emergency room.

Avoiding Tooth Infections

As most issues with teeth, tooth infections or abscess teeth are generally caused by poor dental hygiene, overly sugary diet, or lack of proper dental care. You can avoid these symptoms of tooth infection by drinking water with fluoride, brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, eating a healthy, low-sugar diet, and visiting your Cleveland oral surgeon or dentist when necessary. It’s critical to stay on top of regular dental cleanings and exams so that small issues are detected and treated early before they evolve. Contact our team at Ocoee Oral Surgery with any need you may have. We’re always here to help.

Bone Grafting: Purpose and Advantages

Thursday, 30 May 2019 12:45

When looking for a dental treatment that can help restore a smile after damage or trauma, there are a few steps that need to be taken before a person can flash those pearly whites again. Making sure that the correct diagnosis is made for your particular dental issues is fundamental because it will tell you and your dentist the exact procedures you need to regain confidence in your smile. For those patients who are missing one or more teeth, dental implants are almost always the best option. These implants look and function the same as a regular tooth. However, having an implant placed in the jawbone requires that the jaw be strong enough to maintain the implant once it is placed. If the jawbone is too thin or soft, it may cause the implant surgery to fail. Luckily, there is a procedure that can ensure that your jawbone is strong enough to accept a dental implant. In today’s post, we here at Ocoee Oral Surgery are going to talk about bone grafting, a procedure that we use to make sure that our patient’s jawbones are strong enough to accept and maintain a dental implant.

What is a Bone Graft?

While it might sound like a serious medical term, a bone graft is actually a pretty simple procedure. This surgical procedure is conducted when the patient’s jaw bone is damaged from tooth loss, trauma, or gum disease and is used to fill the void where the bone is absent, providing structural stability to later install a dental implant. During a bone grafting procedure, the replacement bone has to be as close to the original dimension and position of the bone as possible. So, where do we get this bone from? The bone used in a bone graft can come from a variety of sources including a patient’s own body, a donor, or it can be entirely artificial. The most common types of bone grafts are:

  1. Autograft: We take part of a bone from the patient’s body, such as their hip, pelvis, wrist, or rib.
  2. Allograft: We take a bone from a cadaver that has been thoroughly cleaned and stored in a tissue bank for this exact use.

How is a Bone Graft Performed?

Depending upon the initial integrity of the jaw bone, one of our oral surgeons will decide what type of bone graft will be used. After deciding how the bone graft will be sourced, the patient is placed under anesthesia. While the patient is under, the oral surgeon will make a small incision in the skin above where the graft is needed and will then shape the bone to fit the area. The bone graft is then held in place using pins, screws, plates, wires, or cables. Once the bone graft is securely in place, the surgeon closes the incision with stitches.

After the bone graft is completed, the body will naturally start to accept the grafted bone. We often think of our bones as lifeless features that are simply there to provide support; however, bones are just as alive as any other part of our body. Barring any complications, the bone graft will begin to take, increasing the strength in the area of the jaw that it was placed.

In the weeks following, it is important the patient takes it easy when it comes to oral function. The initial incision takes anywhere from two weeks to a month to heal and the bone graft itself will take up to three months to fully set. To ensure the bone graft will not become damaged in the weeks and months following the procedure, we often advise our patients to avoid strenuous exercise and to make sure they are eating foods that are as soft as possible. We also take the time to advise our patients on proper flossing and brushing techniques after the surgery to reduce the chances of infection setting in.

So, What Are the Advantages of a Bone Graft?

Whether you get dental implants after your bone graft is up to you (though we highly recommend it), but we do suggest having a bone graft completed if you have lost teeth and your jaw condition is poor. The advantages of having a bone graft include:

  • Allows for the preservation of the shape and strength of the bony ridge, long after the tooth is gone.
  • Increases the likelihood of successful placement of a dental implant, bridge, or partial placement in the future.
  • Helps mitigate the shrinkage in the mouth’s height and width over time from lack of strong bone structure.
  • Works to avoid the possibility of narrow, short, and fragile jaw structure.

If after reading this blog you think that a bone graft is your best option to maintain the strength of your jawbone and improve your overall health, get in touch with us at Ocoee Oral Surgery today. We have been providing oral surgery services in the Cleveland area for years, and we have the knowledge, tools, and experience needed to ensure that your mouth, jaw, and teeth are as healthy as possible.

TMJ: Break These Bad Habits

Wednesday, 31 May 2017 05:46
Cleveland TMJ pain jaw discomfort

Cleveland TMJ pain jaw discomfortExperiencing temporomandibular joint pain? You might have TMJ. The symptoms can be identified when the joints of the jaw and muscles do not work together correctly. Since some types of TMJ can lead to more serious conditions, prevention and early detection is key. If you are experiencing minor jaw pain, here are three bad habits that you can break today to prevent any longterm TMJ disorders from occurring or worsening.

  1. Biting your nails
  2. Overworking (anxiety and stress)
  3. Control caffeine consumption

Bad habits, even if believed to be innocent, may actually be affecting your health. For example, if you have one or more of these bad habits, you may be creating the root of the problem.

1. Biting Nails: Biting your fingernails exercises the jaw to work in an unnatural way. This anxiety-induced habit can aggravate and cause jaw discomfort, which in most cases, leads to TMJ

Looking for ways to quit biting your nails? Here are some tips!

  • Paint your nails using a nail polish.
  • Keep nails trimmed short.
  • Recruit the help of friends and family to bring attention to the habit.

2. Grinding Teeth or Clenching Jaw: This common habit is often found in patients who experience higher levels of stress and anxiety; this can result in clenching or grinding, both conscious or unconscious.

Looking for ways to quit grinding your teeth? Here are some tips!

  • Acknowledge and manage your stress and anxiety levels.
  • Wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth and jaw.
  • Periodically reposition your tongue between teeth to relax the jaw.

Cut the Caffeine : With all the possibilities that may cause TMJ flareups, caffeine might just be the hardest to give up for the majority of patients. So what does caffeine have to do with TMJ? Essentially the chemical reaction that creates alertness winds up your nervous system, which can worsen already aggravated tissues in the head, neck and jaw.

Looking for ways to cut the caffeine? Here are some tips!

  • Don’t give up your morning cup of coffee – just switch to decaf.
  • Trade your coffee pot for a tea kettle. Drinking green tea is a natural energizer, while also providing a plethora of antioxidants and nutrients.

If you’re experiencing consistent jaw pain, it may be time to make an appointment with Ocoee Oral Surgery of Cleveland, TN. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about TMJ and our available treatment options for you.