Treatment

Wisdom Teeth

Your third molars are more commonly called “wisdom teeth.”  Usually appearing in the late teens or early twenties, third molars often lack the proper space in the jaw to erupt fully or even at all. This common condition is called impaction. When any tooth lacks the space to come through or simply develops in the wrong place of your jaw and becomes impacted, problems can arise.  Primarily, damage to adjacent teeth and crowding occur.

In certain cases, the wisdom tooth that cannot come through becomes inflamed under the gums and in the jawbone, causing a sac to develop around the root of the tooth that then fills with liquid. This can cause a cyst or an abscess if it becomes infected. If either of these situations goes untreated, serious damage to the underlying bone and surrounding teeth and tissues can result.

If you have been referred to our office to have your wisdom teeth removed, we will first conduct an oral examination to develop a personalized treatment plan. You will be given pre-operative instructions to follow prior to your surgery.

What can I expect during the procedure?

The surgery will be performed under the appropriate type of anesthesia to ensure your comfort. Following the procedure, gauze will be used to help control the bleeding. You will need someone to drive you home, (This only applies to IV sedation patients). We will provide you with post-operative instructions, as well as a prescription for pain medications and antibiotics. A follow-up appointment will also be made to remove the sutures and monitor the healing of the surgical site(s).

Orthognathic Surgery

Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) treats and corrects abnormalities of the facial bones, specifically the jaws and the teeth. Often, these abnormalities cause difficulty associated with chewing, talking, sleeping and other routine activities. Orthognathic surgery corrects these problems and, in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, will improve the overall appearance of the facial profile.

We will work in conjunction with your general dentist and/or orthodontist to determine if orthognathic surgery is necessary to achieve optimum results for your specific case.

Oral Surgery-General

Dr. Sims has completed extensive training in all aspects of oral surgery. He has also completed training in anesthesia to ensure our patients utmost comfort and safety throughout their treatment. Some of the oral surgery procedures we provide include:

• Removal of Wisdom Teeth
• Dental Implants

• Bone Grafting
• Orthognathic (Corrective Jaw) Surgery

We are committed to providing our patients with the highest standard of oral surgery care available. We proudly provide oral care for everyone, from children to senior citizens.

Sedation

With the advancements in today’s technology it is possible to perform oral surgery with the patient having little to no awareness of the surgery itself. Dr. Sims is skilled in using different types of sedation, whether it is intravenous sedation to perform in-office surgical procedures or general anesthesia to perform oral surgeries in a hospital setting. Dr. Sims received extensive training in the medical and dental aspects of both general and intravenous sedation. Dr. Sims is well-prepared to properly administer all forms of sedation or general anesthesia; to closely monitor the patient throughout the treatment to ensure their utmost safety; and to manage any complications that may arise during the administration of anesthesia.

It is our goal to make your surgical experience as pleasant and stress free as possible while maintaining the highest level of safety.

Dental Implants

Dental implants have provided an ideal solution for replacing missing teeth. Whether you are missing one, several or all your natural teeth, dental implants are designed to feel and function like you very own.

There are three main types of dental implants:

• The root implant
• The plate form implant

• The subperiosteal implant

The root implant—by far, the most popular—is the most effective because it mirrors the size and shape of a patient’s natural tooth. This implant is often as strong as the patient’s original tooth.

The plate form implant is ideal in situations where the jawbone is not wide enough to properly support a root implant.

The subperiosteal implant is used when the jawbone has receded to the point where it can no longer support a permanent implant.

Surgical Procedure

Generally, the placement of dental implants requires two separate surgical procedures. The implant or artificial root is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia, then allowed to heal and integrate with the bone. Once the healing process is completed and the jawbone is attached to the implant, the patient returns to the dental office where the implant is fitted with the new tooth. This process generally takes anywhere from three to eight months.

Post Implant Care

Although proper oral hygiene is always recommended for maintaining good dental health, it is especially important when a patient has received a dental implant. Bacteria can attack sensitive areas in the mouth when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned, thus causing gums to swell and jaw bones to gradually recede. Recession of the jawbone will weaken implants and eventually make it necessary for the implant to be removed. Patients are advised to visit their dentists at least twice a year to ensure the health of their teeth and implants. Dental implants can last for decades when given proper care.

Bone Grafting

A bone graft may be needed in areas where bone is missing. A surgical procedure, bone grafting replaces missing bone and aids in the re-growth of new bone by placing material from the patient’s own body or an artificial, synthetic or natural substitute into the area where bone existed. The new bone growth strengthens the grafted area by forming a bridge between the existing bone and the graft material. Over time, new bone growth will replace much of the grafted material.

Bone grafts are most commonly used to restore or regenerate bone as needed prior to the placement of bridges or implants.

Facial Trauma

We understand how injuries to the face not only cause physical trauma, but cause a high level of emotional trauma as well. Our team is committed to providing the most compassionate and individualized care available to ensure you receive optimum results. Our doctor has completed extensive training in acute treatment, urgent care and reconstruction and rehabilitation of the facial region. Dr. Sims is highly skilled in the management and treatment of facial trauma.

There are numerous possibilities for the cause of facial trauma, including sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, violence and  work-related injuries to just name a few. These types of injuries are divided into three categories:

• Soft Tissue Injuries

  involving lacerations on the face/gums that may have affected the salivary glands, salivary ducts and/or facial nerves.

• Bone Injuries

  Involving fractures of the facial bones.

• Tooth Injuries

  Involving fractures to teeth or the displacement of a knocked out tooth.

Treatment

Depending on the type of trauma, treatment will vary. Soft tissue injuries that involve lacerations to the mouth or face will be treated with sutures. Dr. Sims will carefully examine the degree of trauma and repair any damage to facial nerves and/or salivary glands and ducts. We have completed specialty training to ensure the best cosmetic result is achieved as well.

Injuries to the facial bones and jaws are generally treated in the same way fractures are treated in other parts of the body, minus the use of a cast. Treatment may include wiring the jaw shut or “rigid fixation”, which uses plates and screws to stabilize the fracture. Rigid fixation has provided a faster recovery for patients, which has enabled them to return to their normal daily routine sooner than before.

Injuries to the teeth are very common and may sometimes require multiple dental specialists to restore the natural appearance and function of the patient’s teeth. If you or a loved one has experienced an injury to a tooth, please place the tooth in salt water or milk as soon as possible. Contact us immediately as the sooner the tooth is reinserted, the greater the chance it will survive.

We will work with each patient individually to create a personalized treatment plan that will best meet your needs.