Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Tooth Extraction
Teeth may require extraction for a variety of reasons, ranging from alleviation of pain from tooth decay and abscess or periodontal disease to non-salvageable teeth that need extraction in preparation for placement of implants, dentures, or a bridge. Whatever the reason, our doctors are experts in such procedures, with an advanced knowledge to manage any associated medical conditions you may have.

Extraction of wisdom teeth and other impacted teeth
Wisdom teeth (third molars) can be the most troublesome teeth in the mouth. These molars usually erupt in the late teens or early 20s. Many times, the jaws are simply not large enough to accommodate the wisdom teeth. This can cause problems such as damage to neighboring teeth, difficulty with hygiene, infection, and pain. The removal of wisdom teeth can eliminate these problems. Your surgery can be completed on an outpatient basis in most cases, and normal activities can usually be resumed within a few days of surgery, depending on your age and the severity of the procedure.

Our surgeons are also experienced in the extraction of other impacted teeth, as well as surgery that allows impacted teeth to successfully erupt into the mouth.

Dental implants
With years of research and clinical use, dental implants are now a proven, long-lasting, esthetically pleasing alternative to replace missing teeth or even an alternative to conventional dentures or crowns and bridges. Our expert oral surgeons and periodontists surgically place implants to replace any missing teeth you might have. These specialists work closely with other dentists—restorative (general) dentists or prosthodontists—to place your dental prosthesis.

Dental implants are usually placed in the dental office while the patient is under local anesthesia. The implant consists of a small titanium cylinder or screw, which is surgically implanted and serves as a "root" for the crown that will replace the tooth.

There are multiple appointments and healing times associated with dental implants. In most cases, there will be an initial consultation with a restorative (general) dentist or prosthodontist and a second consultation with a periodontist or oral surgeon. Each patient has different dental needs and these specific needs will be discussed at the two consultations. Once the dental implant is surgically placed there is a varying amount of healing time required before the dental prosthesis (crown or denture) is attached to the implant. State of the art Cone Beam CT scanning and computer analysis is available in certain cases to evaluate implant placement.

Surgery of the mouth, face, and jaws (Orthognathic surgery)
Some patients have an abnormal bite (malocclusion) due to uneven jaws and facial bones resulting from abnormal growth or an accident. As a result of these conditions, speaking, chewing, and biting may become difficult, and/or the face may appear "off-balance" and lopsided.  If you have an abnormal bite,  your teeth and facial bones may be able to be repositioned through Orthognathic surgery to create a more balanced relationship so that the jaws will work well together.

Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons can help you address whether or not this type of surgery is right for you and, if so, when it should be done. They can refer you to an orthodontist or work with your orthodontist to achieve the best result.

Biopsy of facial and oral lesions
The problem of facial and oral lesions is indeed a serious one. The signs and symptoms of these conditions are numerous and occasionally subtle. During routine examination, we always check for oral and facial lesions and cancers, even if symptoms are not noticed or present.

The treatment for facial and oral lesions usually consists initially of a biopsy to determine the nature of the lesion. If indicated, surgery to remove benign lesions is usually done at a later time. Our ultimate goal is always the restoration of function (chewing, eating and speech) and the cosmetic correction of any defects resulting from removal of the tumor. Toward that goal, a final phase of the treatment may involve soft tissue and/or bony reconstruction of the defects and placement of dental implants, if necessary. State-of-the-art laser surgery is available for some cases.

Facial trauma/fractures
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons are actively involved in the head and neck trauma program at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In this capacity, our surgeons treat patients with maxillofacial fractures and lacerations. Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons have extensive experience in treating these conditions.

Nerve repair
We know that injury to the peripheral sensory branches of the trigeminal nerve presents a challenge and can be very distressing. It results in abnormal sensation in the orofacial region that can interfere with your daily life activities. These injuries are frequently caused by a variety of oral and maxillofacial procedures, including third molar (wisdom teeth) removal, endodontic (root canal) procedures, dental implant placement, and facial trauma. The most commonly repaired nerves are the Inferior alveolar nerve and the Lingual nerve.

Repair of select nerves in the facial region can be completed with positive results if the diagnosis and management are made in a timely fashion. Our surgeons are trained in micro-neurosurgical repair of peripheral trigeminal nerve injuries, a service that is offered by few oral surgeons across the country.

Temporomandibular Disorders
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (sometimes abbreviated to TMD or TMJD) is an “umbrella term” covering discomfort and dysfunction of jaw muscles and the temporomandibular joints (the joints which connect the jaws to the skull). Symptoms often include pain, restricted jaw movement, and noises from the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) during jaw movement. Although TMD is not life threatening, it can be detrimental to quality of life because the symptoms can become chronic and difficult to manage. Our surgeons have expertise in the management of this often difficult-to-treat problem.

Anesthesia
Different kinds of surgical procedures require different types and delivery of anesthetic techniques. Our surgeons will explain these to you and help you chose the most appropriate anesthesia for your surgical needs. We also have a close partnership with the Ohio State Dental Anesthesiology program, which allows us to treat unusual or complex cases.