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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a dental specialty that bridges the connection between dentistry and medicine. An Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon must complete an additional 4-6 years of hospital-based residency training beyond the four years of general dental studies. As part of their specialty training, they study diverse areas which include medicine, anesthesia, head and neck surgery, pathology, trauma and radiology. Our Practice Offers: Extraction of Third Molars (Wisdom Teeth) Here at Edmonds Oral Surgery we strive to provide the best experience possible for our patients. In an effort to provide the most accurate and easy-to-understand information, we are proud to offer Emmi® programs free to our patients. Emmi takes you through procedures step by step, explaining what to expect before, during and after your surgery. Using a unique multi-media approach and conversational voice, Emmi simplifies complex information about your upcoming procedure. The programs can be viewed at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. Additionally, because Emmi is on the web, you can share the program with friends or loved ones anywhere in the world as long as they have internet access. We currently offer Emmi programs for the following procedures: If you are scheduled for one of these procedures and would like to view an Emmi program, please contact Edmonds Oral Surgery at 425-744-1724 to obtain an access code. If you have already received an access code, just click the Emmi logo on this page to begin viewing your program.
The Third Molars, or " Wisdom teeth" are the last four teeth to erupt within the mouth. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. However, this does not generally happen. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to erupt successfully. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the tooth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom tooth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure. Following a thorough examination of your mouth and x-rays, Doctors Maletta, Reynolds, Dunbar, Jirsa, and Nielsen can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and determine if there are current problems or if future issues are likely to arise. Studies have shown that the early evaluation and treatment of wisdom teeth result in a superior outcome for the patient. This evaluation is typically performed in the mid- teenage years by one’s dentist, orthodontist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. All outpatient surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort. Doctors Maletta, Reynolds, Dunbar, Jirsa, and Nielsen have the training, experience, and required certification and licensure to provide various types of anesthesia for their patients. These services are provided in an environment of optimum safety that utilizes modern monitoring equipment and staff that are experienced in anesthesia techniques. Extraction of Infected or Damaged Teeth Some of the reasons a patient may need a tooth extracted include: - Advanced periodontal disease Extracting a Tooth Extracting a tooth involves removing it from its socket in the bone. Your jawbone encases the roots of each of your teeth. A ligament is present binding the tooth to the bone holding your tooth in its socket. During a tooth extraction, the ligament is carefully separated from the tooth and the tooth socket is enlarged to extract the tooth. Impactions Impacted teeth may have resulted from teeth not growing properly due to gum tissue, bone, or crowding from other teeth. Impactions need additional care and require a more complicated procedure than usual extractions. Many patients opt to have general anesthesia when removing an impacted tooth due to the extensive work needed for successful extractions of this nature. After Your Extraction
In most cases, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, the implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this period. After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the surgeon will next uncover the implants and attach small posts. These posts protrude through the gums, serving as anchors for the artificial teeth. When the artificial teeth are placed, these posts will not be seen. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months, and does not cause disruption in most patient's daily routines. The benefits of choosing dental implants over dentures or bridges include: - Allowing you to retain healthy surrounding teeth that would be removed to place a bridge If you are considering dental implants, your medical and dental history must be thoroughly reviewed and your mouth and jaws must be examined and x-rays performed. If you mouth is not ideal for implants, ways of overcoming certain shortcomings, such as bone grafting, may be recommended. Once the implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of them and keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dental specialists.
In most cases, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, the implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this period. After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the surgeon will next uncover the implants and attach small posts. These posts protrude through the gums, serving as anchors for the artificial teeth. When the artificial teeth are placed, these posts will not be seen. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months, and does not cause disruption in most patient's daily routines. The benefits of choosing dental implants over dentures or bridges include: - Allowing you to retain healthy surrounding teeth that would be removed to place a bridge If you are considering dental implants, your medical and dental history must be thoroughly reviewed and your mouth and jaws must be examined and x-rays performed. If you mouth is not ideal for implants, ways of overcoming certain shortcomings, such as bone grafting, may be recommended. Once the implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of them and keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dental specialists. Treatment of Cysts and Tumors of the Mouth and Jaw The interior of the mouth is normally lined with specialized skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process, the most serious of these is oral cancer. The following can be signs at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth: - Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology, and curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer. Treatment of precancerous areas (early changes which may later change into cancer) is much easier and significantly more successful if caught early. Most suspicious changes in the oral mucosa are initially evaluated with a biopsy. This is usually a very simple procedure that can be done in our office with local anesthesia. Small samples of mucosa are removed and sent for evaluation by a pathologist. Once a diagnosis is known, appropriate treatment can be provided. Fortunately, most biopsies that are performed are not oral cancer. Again, treatment of these lumps, bumps and sores is much easier the earlier they are detected. There are other problems which can be related to your teeth and jaws which are evaluated by clinical exam and X-rays. X-rays are often obtained so that our doctors can see changes involving the teeth and the surrounding bones. If seen, changes may represent cysts, tumors, infections, or other metabolic diseases . Many times these areas are first discovered on routine X-rays made at your dentist’s office. We recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly; your mouth is one of your body's most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Please contact us so we may help. Treatment of Jaw and Facial Fractures, Tooth Injuries or Trauma In addition to physical trauma, injuries to the face can cause an intense emotional impact to patients. The science and art of treating these injuries requires special training involving a “hands on” experience and an understanding of how the treatment provided will influence the patient’s long term function, appearance, and emotional health. Facial trauma may include: - Facial lacerations Facial trauma can range from damage of the teeth to extremely severe injuries of the soft tissues of the face and the underlying bones. Typically, facial trauma is classified as either soft tissue injury (lacerations of the skin and gums), bony injury (fracture of the jaw), or injury to special structures (tear ducts, facial nerves and salivary glands). Injuries to Teeth What to do if Your Tooth is Injured Facial Fractures For some types of fractures, one of these methods involves wiring the upper and lower jaws together to stabilize them for healing. Certain other types of fractures of the are best stabilized by the surgical placement of small plates and screws at the involved site. This type of treatment allows healing without the necessity of having the jaws wired together. This technique is called "rigid fixation" of a fracture and its use has profoundly improved the recovery period for many patients, allowing them to return to normal function and activity more quickly. The treatment of facial fractures should be accomplished in a thorough and predictable manner. More importantly, the patient's facial appearance should be minimally affected. An attempt is always made at accessing the facial bones through the least number of incisions necessary. The incisions that are required are designed to be small and, whenever possible, are placed in unobtrusive areas or completely hidden inside the mouth. General Anesthesia and Sedation These are a wide variety of methods available for pain relief, sedation and anesthesia during the different stages of operative procedures and healing periods. Edmonds Oral Surgery offers state-of-the-art anesthesia and pain relief options to our patients, and our doctors will discuss in detail the pain-relief options that are available and appropriate to your individual situation.
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