Injury to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can occur in many ways, including trauma to the jaw, head, or neck areas. The TMJ is complex and functions as both a ball-and-socket and sliding joint and is responsible for chewing, talking, and swallowing. Acute trauma to the jaw muscles or bones is the most common cause of TMJ injury, such as a direct blow due to a car accident, sports accident, or physical altercation. Repetitive injury to the muscle tissues, such as jaw clenching, can also be responsible for TMJ symptoms. Whether degenerative or trauma-induced, TMJ disorders are typically caused ..read more

Due to their location, wisdom teeth are more difficult to clean, making them more susceptible to decay and gum disease that can spread throughout the mouth. Their location also tends to cause overcrowding, misalignment, and damage to other teeth, increasing your risk of developing cavities, infections, and gum disease. Wisdom teeth generally cause issues for most people at some point in their lives. Though some patients do not experience problems with wisdom teeth until their 30s, the majority develop issues in late teens to early adulthood. Wisdom tooth extraction and recovery is easier the y ..read more

Oral cysts are small fluid-filled growths that occur in the mouth. Most commonly found on the inside of the lips, cysts can also develop on the inside of the cheeks, tongue, palate, mouth floor, and around oral piercings. In most cases, oral cysts are harmless and are typically the result of tooth problems or distressed gums. Though certain cysts can contain infectious bacteria if formed around the roots of infected or dead teeth, within the gums, surrounding impacted wisdom teeth, in the sinuses, or the jawbone. Some cysts are also a symptom of another underlying health issue. What Oral Healt ..read more

Dental implants offer a durable alternative to replace missing or damaged teeth. Implants are secured to the jaw bones and allow you to chew normally, speak more naturally, and require much less maintenance than dentures. Taking care of your implants after you receive them is vitally important to your oral health, and the life of your implants and begins as soon as your procedure is over. To care for your implants immediately after your procedure, you should: Gently bite down on the sponges your oral surgeon placed in your mouth after the procedure to control bleeding. Avoid excessively movin ..read more

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex, yet it is crucial, allowing you to talk, eat, and swallow. Diseased or damaged TMJ joints result in a multitude of painful and sometimes debilitating disorders. There are many reasons why TMJ disorders develop, including disease, injury, and teeth grinding, leading to thinning discs, inflammation, pain, misaligned bite, and even vertigo. Vertigo is a condition characterized by the sensation of spinning or feeling that the surrounding is moving, a dizziness that often causes sufferers headaches, ringing in the ears, nausea and vomiti ..read more

The prospect of having oral surgery often causes patients to become nervous and anxious about what to expect, which is why the consultation appointment with the surgeon is important. These feelings are common, and your surgeon and the medical staff are well aware of how daunting oral surgery can seem and will provide you with all the necessary information to address your concerns. What to Expect During the consultation, the surgeon will review your dentist’s findings, your medical history, examine your teeth and jaw, and take appropriate measurements. You may also be required to have additiona ..read more

The prospect of having oral surgery often causes patients to become nervous and anxious about what to expect, which is why the consultation appointment with the surgeon is important. These feelings are common, and your surgeon and the medical staff are well aware of how daunting oral surgery can seem and will provide you with all the necessary information to address your concerns. What to Expect During the consultation, the surgeon will review your dentist’s findings, your medical history, examine your teeth and jaw, and take appropriate measurements. You may also be required to have additiona ..read more

Feeling fear and anxiety upon visiting the oral surgeon for any procedure, such as wisdom tooth removal or getting a dental implant, is a nearly universal human experience. Patients commonly feel anxiety over the potential pain and recovery of oral surgery, usually stemming from a lack of knowledge and what to expect. However, there are steps you can take to help alleviate any concerns or fears for your upcoming surgery, such as: Ask questions: Most patients’ anxiety builds over not knowing what to expect during and after the surgery. Asking staff or the surgeon to walk you through the proced ..read more

Maxillofacial injuries, or facial trauma, are injuries to the face, jaw, and mouth, and often result from car accidents, sports, or acts of violence. Facial trauma can be painful, lead to further complications, and frequently causes additional emotional trauma. Facial trauma can occur to any portion of the face, mouth, or jaw, and is somewhat common for a variety of reasons. Some of the more common facial traumas include: Nasal fractures: Injuries to the nose are one of the most common due to the nose’s prominence in comparison to other facial features, and it is typically caused by blunt for ..read more

Dry socket is a painful oral condition that can arise following a tooth extraction, such as wisdom tooth removal. The condition develops when the blood clot at the extraction site does not develop or is prematurely dissolves or dislodged before the socket is completely healed, exposing the socket to potential contamination. Blood clots provide a protective layer over the underlying nerve endings and bone and serve as a foundation for new bone and soft tissue growth. When blood clots are dislodged before healing is complete, an intensely painful condition known as dry socket develops. What Caus ..read more