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Reconstructive Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons correct defects of the hard and soft tissues of the jaws and facial bones that are the results of injuries or growth abnormalities. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained in the treatment of injuries to the teeth, jaws and facial bones. They also treat the long-term defects that results from these types of injuries. Long-term reconstructive procedures include:
- Bone Grafting
- Dental Implants
- Soft tissue repair to replace lost tissue and for scar revision
Dental Implants
Dental implants are replacements for lost teeth and can be used to support crowns, bridges or dentures. If you are missing one, several or all of your natural teeth, dental implants can help reduce bone loss, which occurs after teeth are extracted. Our doctors are highly trained to perform implant surgery. If you are interested in finding more about replacing your missing teeth, please e-mail our friendly staff.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
An estimated 90% of the population does not have enough room for wisdom teeth to grow into a place that is needed for good oral health. Wisdom teeth are removed to eliminate the potential for infection and damage to adjacent teeth. When there is inadequate space for a tooth to come into its normal position in the mouth and it remains partially or completely covered with gum tissue or bone, it is said to be impacted. Impacted teeth can cause infection and also be the source of dental cysts and tumors.
Pathology
The mouth is a region where changes can be easily seen, abnormal changes or disease processes can be detected early. Performing self-exams regularly will help in early detection. We recommend that everyone do a self-exam every month. People who are at high risk for oral cancer are - smokers, consumers of alcohol or users of smokeless tobacco. Our surgeons perform biopsies and tumor resections to diagnose and treat a variety of oral pathologies.
Things to look for when performing self-exams:
- Reddish patches
- Whitish patches
- A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
- A lump of the tissue
- Chronic hoarseness or sore throat
- Difficulty with chewing or swallowing
Ways to complete a self-exam:
- Remove dentures
- Look and feel inside the lips
- Tilt head back to look at roof of mouth
- Tilt head back to feel the roof of mouth
- Pull cheeks out to see the inside
- Pull out tongue and look at all surfaces
- Feel for lumps on both sides of the neck and under lower jaw
Facial Trauma
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained to treat a wide variety of injuries to the mouth, jaw and face. Our surgeons are specialists in the repair of injuries to the face and lips, and fractures to the teeth and bones of the face. Our surgeons are credentialed at Sioux Valley and Avera McKennan hospitals and receive emergency consultations and referrals through their emergency rooms.
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery is necessary to correct jaw growth abnormalities. These growth abnormalities are accompanied by "bad bites." The correction of the growth abnormality and bad bites requires a coordinated treatment plan involving an orthodontist and oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The teeth are straightened by orthodontic treatment and surgery is used to correct the alignment of the jaws. This combination of orthognathic surgery and orthodontic care improves facial appearance and normalizes jaw functions. It also improves the patient's self-image.
TMJ Disorders
The term TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is a collective term for a variety of pain problems involving the jaws, facial, head and neck. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained in the surgical treatment of arthritic disorders of the TMJ or jaw joint. We do not provide non-surgical treatment for TMJ disorders.
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