Oral Surgery

Dr. Joe Gerard and our team provide a number of surgical treatments at Arizona Dental to improve your oral health and address dental pain. We've briefly notated key areas of expertise regarding oral surgery treatments & procedures. (Please keep in mind that we consider each patient's oral surgery needs on an individualized level and we endeavor to provide selective care before, during, and after an oral surgery's completion.)

Our Patients' Comfort Is Paramaount

We will ensure that your oral surgery is as comfortable as possible. Please feel free to contact us today to learn more about oral surgery and to schedule your individual consultation!

Contact Us For Oral Surgery Support

Our dentist will help you determine whether oral surgery in Phoenix and Sun City, Arizona, is the right choice for your smile. We invite you to call 602-910-3860 today to schedule an appointment and learn more about your treatment options.

Scheduling Oral Surgery

While we provide some oral surgery treatments at our office, we also work closely with local oral surgeons and specialists to ensure that you receive the high-quality results you deserve. Our dentist will carefully evaluate your smile and your dental needs to determine whether oral surgery is the best available treatment choice for you.

Oral Surgery Options

Learn More About Oral Surgery

We will ensure that your oral surgery is as comfortable as possible. Please feel free to contact us today to learn more about oral surgery and to schedule your individual consultation!

Safety, solace, and certainty are three integral facets of any oral surgery procedure; regardless of scale, complexity, or invasiveness. This is why we place so much emphasis on not only our patient's peace of mind but also in ensuring their health & well-being as well.

Common Components of Oral Surgery

• Tooth extraction
  (for teeth that are decayed, damaged, or infected to the point that an effective restoration is impossible).
• Wisdom teeth removal
  (for wisdom teeth that are impacted or have grown in at an incorrect angle).
• Jaw surgery
  (to treat a TMJ disorder, to correct uneven jaw growth, or to improve the fit of dentures).
• Bone grafts
  (to increase bone density and/or to improve the chances for a successful dental implant).

Important Treatments For Oral Surgery

Oral surgery includes a number of surgical dental treatments. The goal of oral surgery is to improve the function, health, and appearance of your smile and the surrounding structures, such as your jaw. In many cases, we strive to provide the most conservative treatment possible. Oral surgery may be necessary, however, to correct certain conditions and improve your oral and overall health.

Osseous Surgery

Sometimes the effects of periodontal disease create permanent changes in the tooth and gum structure that will cause issues in the future. Enlarged gum pockets between the tooth and the gum line are common after having advanced gum disease. Sometimes these gaps are cosmetic in nature, and affect the appearance of the gums. More commonly, the gaps put the teeth at future risk for tooth and gum disease, as they are just one more place that plaque and bacteria can collect. Pocket reduction surgery is designed to thwart the after effects of periodontal disease and restore your mouth to a healthy state.

The Process Involving Osseous Surgery

• To ensure patient comfort through numbing, a local anesthetic is introduced into the mouth.


• In order to gain access to the bones & roots underneat the gumline, portions of the gum and target area will be released.


• Any build-up of tartar, tooth corrision, or oral decay is thoroughly removed from the patient's mouth.


• In order to promote rapid & consistent healing whilst combating bacterial infection, the roots underneath the teeth are smoothed and aligned properly.


• To safeguard against misalignment or oral surgery complications, both the bone and gum tissue are contoured in line with their natural proclivity.

Contact Us For More Info About Osseous Surgery

We will ensure that your osseous surgery is as prompt & comfortable as possible. We encourage any patients to please feel free to contact us today to learn more about osseous surgery and to schedule your personal consultation!

The Purpose Behind Periodontal/Osseous Surgery

The goal of periodontal surgery is to gain access to the tooth root and to clean the damaged areas. Once the dentist can visually see the damage, it can be removed completely. Removing the plaque and decayed gum tissue leaves a pocket between the gum and the tooth. Sometimes the gum returns to its original position, but still the pocket is present. The pocket requires more frequent cleanings as the patient is unable to get to the pockets with regular brushing and flossing. Once the swelling from the periodontal treatment has subsided, the dentist may need to suture the gum to where the bone has resorbed. The goal is to create a space large enough so it can be reached through daily oral hygiene, but small enough that it is not a breeding ground for plaque and bacteria.

Arestin

"Fighting infection where is starts."

You may have heard about gum disease, also known as "periodontitis" or "periodontal disease." Maybe a dental professional or hygienist recently told you that you have this infection.

Arestin Is Extremely Effective - Here’s How!

• Applied locally to prevent bacterial growth.
• Painless for the patient during application.
• Needles are needless requirements.
• Immediate results can be observed.
• Time-release antibiotics for continued oral health.
• Affordable and often covered by many insurance plans.
• Resoundingly restores the appeal and confidence of a patient’s smile.
• Presents an effective non-surgical solution to patients actively battling periodontal disease.

Arestin effectively fights infection at the site - but how?

ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg is an effective antibiotic treatment that comes in powder form. This powder is placed inside infected periodontal pockets just after the dental professional finishes the scaling and root planing (SRP) procedure.

Important Questions Regarding Arestin

• Do you really know the difference between periodontal disease and other types of complications that can affect your mouth, such as gingivitis?
• Do you know why it's so important to treat periodontal disease-and why brushing and flossing alone won't do the trick?
• Most importantly, did you know that periodontal disease is today's #1 cause of tooth loss among American adults?

The Risks of Periodontal Disease Are Many

Although a causal relationship between periodontal disease and an elevated risk for systemic events has not been established, recent data suggest a possible association between periodontal disease and other health issues including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and preterm low birth-weight babies.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Many patients need their wisdom teeth removed to preserve their oral health and the spacing of their teeth. If you are one such patient, we encourage you to visit Arizona Dental for wisdom teeth removal in Phoenix and Sun City, Arizona. We invite you to call 602-910-3860 and schedule an oral exam with our dentist, Dr. Joe Gerard to learn if your wisdom teeth need to be extracted.

Wisdom Teeth Can Grow To Be Problematic

The third molars, which are commonly called the wisdom teeth, are typically the last teeth to come in. Because they are the last to erupt, there is often not enough room for the wisdom teeth to grow in as they should. When there is not sufficient space for the wisdom teeth, they may become impacted (unable to fully break through the gum tissues and jawbone), or they may grow in at an incorrect angle.

Common Dental Issues Caused By Non-Erupted Wisdom Teeth

• Disturbing the natural tooth alignment or orthodontic treatment
• Damage to the neighboring teeth
• Tooth decay
• Infection and inflammation in the gums and other tissues
• The formation of cysts
• Damage to the jawbone

Knowledge Is Important Regarding Wisdom Teeth Removal

Our dentist may recommend wisdom teeth removal to avoid these serious complications and to keep your smile healthy. We will carefully evaluate your smile, including the positioning of your teeth and wisdom teeth, to determine whether your smile would benefit from wisdom teeth removal. Our dental team will ensure that your wisdom teeth removal treatment is as painless and comfortable as possible. To learn more about wisdom teeth removal, please call or visit us today. We are committed to keeping your smile in the best possible health.

How Wisdom Teeth Affect Your Life

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that emerge, usually during your late teens to early twenties. For some people the wisdom teeth emerge through the gums and have enough room to grow naturally. For others, wisdom teeth often cause problems as they are trying to protrude through the gums. When a wisdom tooth is impacted the tooth is coming in at an angle and not straight through the gum line. This can cause pain, the tooth can come in unevenly, or the tooth may only emerge partially. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause structural damage to the jaw and other teeth. They can also provide a place for bacteria to gather since they are hard to reach and clean. These potential problems make it necessary to remove impacted wisdom teeth so that larger problems do not arise. Routine x-rays during a dental exam can reveal if you will need to have your wisdom teeth removed.

Tooth Extractions

Tooth Extraction Caused By Impacted [Wisdom] Teeth

Impacted teeth and wisdom teeth that can potentially cause problems, like infections, need to be removed. Extractions can range from a single tooth, to removing all four wisdom teeth at once. Based on the preference of the doctor and/or the patient, a local anesthetic could be used to numb the areas where the teeth will be extracted. Others will prefer to go under a general anesthetic so that they will be sedated during the procedure. The gum tissue around the wisdom tooth is cut open to reveal the tooth. The tooth is loosened by gripping it tightly and wiggling it back and forth until it can be lifted out of the gums. Sometimes a tooth may be impacted so tightly that it cannot be simply lifted out of the gums. In cases like this the tooth will be broken up into pieces first before being removed. Depending on the incision and extraction site, sutures may be needed to close the area. Soluble sutures are the best option, which will dissolve on their own.

Wisdom teeth extractions are a fairly common procedure. Wisdom teeth often cause problems as they are trying to protrude through the gums. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it means the tooth is coming in at an angle and not straight through the gum line. This can cause pain, the tooth can come in unevenly, or the tooth may only emerge partially. When a wisdom tooth only emerges partially a flap of skin, called an operculum, may form over the tooth. This can make the tooth hard to clean, and pieces of food may be caught under the skin. This makes it easy for an infection, called pericoronitis, to develop. It will usually go away on its own, but it causes swelling and pain in the area.

Food & Beverage Consumption

You will be limited to soft foods for a few days after your surgery. Some recommended foods are:

• Gelatin
• Pudding
• Yogurt
• Mashed Potatoes
• Ice Cream
• Thin Soups

Things To Remember

When drinking, make sure you do not use a straw. The sucking motion can loosen your sutures and slow the clotting process. The same goes for smoking. If you have prolonged pain, bleeding, irritation, or don't feel that the extraction site is healing properly call your dentist for a follow up.

Proper Care Post-Extraction

After the surgery you will need to rest. You need to be driven home by a friend or family member because of the anesthesia. You can expect for the extraction site to bleed for a little while after the surgery. Gauze will be applied at the completion of the surgery, and you will need to change it when it becomes soaked. If bleeding continues for longer than 24 hours you should call your dentist. Rest when you return home, but do not lie flat. This could prolong the bleeding. Prop your head up on a pillow when lying down. Your dentist will prescribe you pain medication, so if you become sore take as directed. You can also use an ice pack for the pain. Your dentist might also provide you with a cleaning solution to clean the extraction site.