Wisdom Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Whether you have a “gummy” smile, or your teeth appear too short or stubby in your grin, gum recontouring can help reveal more of your healthy enamel and put the focus back on your pearly whites where it belongs. Although the idea of recovering from periodontal surgery may seem daunting, the truth is that the healing process is easier than you might think. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect following gum recontouring surgery, and why it may be one of the best choices you’ll ever make for your oral health!

What is Gum Recontouring?

Gum recontouring is a treatment that removes the excess periodontal tissue from the base...

If your dentist or periodontist has recommended gum grafting, you may have questions about what the procedure involves—especially whether it will be painful. The idea of gum surgery can feel intimidating, but modern dental techniques and anesthesia options make gum grafting a comfortable and manageable experience for most patients.

Gum grafting is a common procedure used to restore areas where the gums have pulled away from the teeth, a condition often caused by gum disease or other factors. By adding healthy gum tissue to these areas, the procedure can help protect tooth roots, reduce sensitivity, and support better long-term oral health.

Missing teeth can affect much more than your oral health. Gaps in your smile may impact your confidence, facial appearance, and willingness to speak or smile openly. Fortunately, dental implants provide one of the most natural-looking and long-lasting tooth replacement options available today. While dental implants offer important functional benefits, they also provide several cosmetic advantages that can dramatically improve your appearance.

Here are 4 cosmetic benefits of dental implants.

Are you missing one or more permanent teeth? Do you use tobacco products like cigarettes, vapes, cigars, or chew? As you may have already discovered, finding a replacement option for your smile can be complicated if you do. That’s because these products (yes, even vapes) can contribute to gum disease and tooth loss, making it likely that your restorations like dental implants won’t work. Here’s a closer look at the risks involved, and why now is the perfect time to quit tobacco for good!

Whether you’re headed into the friendly skies for business or pleasure, if you’re scheduled to have dental implant surgery, you may want to put a pause on your travel plans if going by air. That’s because following any surgical procedure, air flight can cause a variety of uncomfortable side effects. Here’s a closer look at what could happen if you fly too soon, and how long you should wait to “take off” following your dental implant procedure!

Dental implants might be one of the tooth replacement options you’re considering if you have missing teeth that you need to replace. They’re functional, natural-looking, and excel where traditional restorations fall short. That said, if you have healthy teeth, you might be wondering if a dental implant is technically an upgrade. Here’s more about how dental implants replace missing but why it’s still better to retain your healthy, existing pearly whites when possible.

Many experts consider dental implants the most reliable way to rebuild your smile after tooth loss. They’re the only replacements that are embedded in your jawbone to function more like a natural tooth.

Although they’re usually stronger and longer-lasting than dentures or bridges, that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. You might accidentally harm them if you don’t care for them properly, especially immediately following your surgical procedure. Continue reading to learn about 3 habits you might have that can damage your new teeth!

Do you get nervous at just the thought of going to the dentist? This is much more common than you may think. In fact, over 30 million Americans experience stress related to the dentist. The good news is that this doesn’t mean that you need to avoid dental care forever. There are several sedation options out there to help even the most fearful patients get the care they need, without all the added stress. Here are the options that you have to choose from.

The wisdom teeth typically begin to emerge during a person’s late teens or early twenties, and their appearance often leads to a host of oral health issues like chronic pain, dental misalignments, and oral infections. If your mouth does not have enough room to accommodate your wisdom teeth, these third molars may erupt from the gums sideways or remain partially submerged in your soft tissues, which causes them to become impacted. Here’s a brief guide to why this can happen and how your oral surgeon can help.

Many experts consider dental implants the ideal way to replace missing teeth because they’re the only option that’s surgically embedded in your jaw. Unlike dentures and dental bridges, they function as sturdy standalone structures that don’t rely on support from your other teeth or gums to remain in place.

Although they’re typically stronger than the alternatives, they’re not entirely invincible. Certain behaviors, like smoking regularly, could harm them. Continue reading to learn more about how this toxic habit can potentially cause implant failure!