Archive for February, 2018

IS CAPNOGRAPHY NEEDED FOR MODERATE SEDATION?

We use capnography for every one of our procedures that involve intravenous anesthesia. (JADA 149(1) pages 38-50, January 2018). We have extensive training and background in anesthesia and we are experts in these areas of care along with many years of experience. I can say without hesitation that the use of capnography (monitoring of CO2) […]

KEEPING YOUR IMPACTED WISDOM TEETH (THIRD MOLAR TEETH) IS LIKELY TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR OTHER TEETH

It has been shown time and time again in scientific studies that leaving impacted wisdom teeth in place leads to problems on the other teeth (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 75:2048-2057, 2017). We see this everyday in OMS practice. The big concern to me is that these problems increase with age, in scope, and in severity. […]

SHOULD I REMOVE MY WISDOM TEETH EVEN IF I’VE HAD BRACES?

This is a question that I get a lot and it really makes me crazy. The answer is Yes you still usually need to have your wisdom teeth removed even if you have had braces. As a general rule, orthodontists will guide their patients to put off removal of their third molar teeth “until they […]

USING LASERS FOR TREATMENT OF WISDOM TOOTH SITES

There is no question that laser use for periodontal surgery has shown great promise for this care. Laser treatment of gum pockets to influence resolution of periodontal disease has brought on the idea that this treatment might be applied to other areas such as surgical removal of impacted teeth. The idea is to use the […]

COATED TITANIUM IMPLANTS REVISITED

During the late 1980s and during the 1990s we were introduced to various ceramic coated dental implants. I embraced this technology because it made sense. And it did. We placed many of these and many of you have been functioning on them for years. In fact, I have been placing dental implants for over 30 […]

What Teeth Grinding Means for Your Dental Health

Teeth grinding has become one of the most common health concerns worldwide, as there is a very high number of people who encounter it every night. Usually, the teeth grinding, which is also known as bruxism, can appear as a result of high stress and tension, as many studies revealed that most of the people […]

CONE BEAM SCANNER

We have been using the cone beam scanner for a number of years and it has been an unbelievable adjunct in terms of basic diagnosis and aiding in surgery. The ability to virtually perform procedures such as dental implants as well as looking “into” and around structures such as third molar teeth or the jaw […]

THE NEED FOR PAIN MEDICATION AFTER ORAL SURGERY

Many oral surgery conditions and procedures can cause discomfort. You would be surprised at the wide range of discomfort responses among people to the same procedure. Even the effectiveness of the type of medication provided varies widely among different individuals (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 75:2063-2069, 2017). In fact, it is nearly impossible as a doctor […]

WE ARE NOW ABLE TO DO TEETH IN A FEW HOURS!

I am excited to announce that we have taken the All on Four™ concept to a whole new level. There are many ways to say it: Teeth in a Day™, Same Day Teeth™, Smile in a Day™, etc, etc. These have all been coined to illustrate the immediacy of this technique. In fact, I would […]

Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

Bone grafting and dental implants typically go hand-in-hand, as the loss of a tooth can wear down the surrounding jawbone structure and a dental implant is a common procedure to replace lost teeth. As soon as a person loses a tooth, bone loss begins. In order to place a sturdy, reliable dental implant, a bone […]