Oral Surgeon Near You in Catoosa, Oklahoma!

Wisdom teeth are the last set of natural teeth to come in, often making their first appearances during the late teen years or into the early twenties. It’s important to know that not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed, but if x-rays indicate potential impaction, it’s best to remove them to prevent infection, pain or overcrowding. 

Wisdom teeth can become impacted in the following ways:

1. Angled toward the front: The tooth has partially erupted from the gums but is angled toward the front of the mouth.
2. Angled toward the back: The tooth has partially erupted from the gums but is angled toward the back of the mouth.
3. Vertical beneath the gums: The tooth is positioned correctly but trapped beneath the gums.
4. Horizontal beneath the gums: The tooth is in a horizontal position and trapped beneath the gums. 

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, swelling and infection and should never be ignored. Call us immediately to schedule an appointment if you suspect you or a family member has impacted wisdom teeth.

There are many reasons why a person may need dental implants. While some may lose teeth or have missing teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease, others may lose teeth due to genetic factors or illnesses. When tooth loss occurs, dental implants are often the recommended option.

A dental implant procedure consists of two essential steps:

1. Implant placement: Our dentist, who is trained in dental implants, will first surgically place the implant–a small titanium rod–in the ideal position in your jaw. Due to the properties of titanium, the implant will ultimately fuse with your jawbone after a period of healing. 

1. Tooth placement: Following the implant placement, our dentist will have an artificial tooth made which attaches to the implant. 

Dental implant placement requires oral surgery skills and expertise for optimal results. When done, dental implants enable the patient to once again chew properly. They also enhance the patient’s appearance and oral health. 

Jawbone grafts are done when a patient’s jawbone mass and density have eroded. Because the jaw holds the teeth in place, a patient with bone loss in this area may experience loose teeth, lose teeth or require teeth be extracted. To remedy this situation, we may recommend a bone graft. 

A jawbone graft may be required for a number of reasons, including:

• Dental implant support: To receive and support a dental implant, the patient’s jawbone must be healthy and strong. A bone graft will enable otherwise ineligible patients to receive implants.
• Denture support: Like implants, a strong jaw is needed to support dentures. Dental implants build up jaw strength.
• Gum disease treatment: Patients with advanced gum disease typically experience jawbone loss. This is due to bacterial infections eroding bone tissue. 

To perform a bone graft, your dentist will numb the affected area and then make a small incision in the gums to allow access to the underlying bone. After cleaning the area as needed, the dentist will add grafting material to that area. The grafting material stimulates the growth of new jaw tissue in the area.