- Wisdom Teeth
- Bone Grafting
- Sleep Apnea
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Orthognathic Surgery
- Facial Trauma
- Oral Pathology
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom tooth extraction is an important procedure that has become a rite of passage for many teens and young adults due to a variety of reasons. The wisdom teeth, or third molars, are typically the last teeth to come in and there is often not enough room for them to grow properly. When there is not enough space for the wisdom teeth to develop, they may cause other oral health problems, become impacted (unable to break through the jawbone or gum tissue), or may grow at an incorrect angle.
At Excelsior Springs Family Dentistry, we are proud to offer our wisdom teeth extraction services to you or a loved one. Though we commonly recommend wisdom teeth extraction early on to teens and young adults when their wisdom teeth begin to erupt, we can also treat older patients who may develop problems with their wisdom teeth later on in life. If you experience any pain concerning your wisdom teeth, do not ignore it and call us immediately.
Common dental problems associated with wisdom teeth include but are not limited to:
- Disturbing the natural tooth alignment
- Damage to surrounding teeth
- Tooth decay
- Infection and inflammation of gums
- Formation of cysts
- Damage to the jaw bone
Dentists may recommend wisdom teeth extraction to avoid these complications and to keep your smile healthy. We will carefully evaluate your smile including the position of your teeth to determine whether you would benefit from tooth extraction. We offer several options for sedation and anesthesia so that your wisdom teeth extraction is as painless and comfortable as possible.
For more information on wisdom teeth removal or to schedule an appointment, please contact our office today at (816) 630-5713.
Bone Grafting
Regardless of the cause, when you lose a tooth, you may experience bone loss in your jawbone. The teeth stimulate the jawbone, so if you have lost one or more teeth, your jawbone will start to deteriorate. As time goes by, you may experience enough bone loss that dental implants won’t hold. If this is the case, we may recommend bone grafting.
Bone grafting is a procedure where we replace the missing bone in your jaw. There are three types: autogenous, allograft, and xenograft.
Autogenous grafts use bone from another part of your body, moving it to your mouth. Usually bone is removed from non-essential bones like your chin. By using your own bone, you are reducing the chance that your jawbone will reject it. It even prevents infection. Also, it is made up of active cellular material since it is still living.
Allografts use human bone but not your own. Instead, we use bone from cadavers who have donated their bones to bone banks. This is considered safe because the bone goes through rigorous testing before use.
Xenografts use bone from another source. The most commonly used source is cow bones.
The benefit of using either allografts or xenografts is that our patients will not have to have a second surgery to harvest their bone. Also, both sources are easily found so we will have plenty of bone for whatever you need.
Before we start, we use local anesthesia to numb the area where your bone will be removed and also in your mouth where the replacement bone is needed. We need to make an incision in your gums so we can see exactly how much bone is needed before we harvest your own bone or get bone from another source.
If we are harvesting bone from your chin, we will make another incision in the gums below your lower front teeth. This exposes the chin and we can remove the bone that we need, along with the marrow. We close this with stitches. After we remove the bone, we will place it where it is needed and screw it into the jawbone with titanium screws.
To help with the healing process, we may use bone marrow and bone-grafting material. We then stitch the incision closed.
After you have received a bone graft, you will need to go home with antibiotics and pain medication. You may need to eat soft food like pasta and JELL-O® while your mouth heals. It can take between six to nine months to completely heal. At that time, we will be able to place your dental implants in.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at (816) 630-5713 with any questions.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that is often misunderstood and can create multiple health problems if left untreated, especially in terms of dental health. Many people snore and allow their sleep habits to go unnoticed which is one of the reasons that sleep apnea is often undetected unless someone else notices. At Excelsior Springs Family Dentistry, we take time to properly evaluate your condition and can help offer treatment for those who struggle with sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder and serious medical condition that causes interruptions or disturbances in a person’s airflow during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is when sleep apnea is caused by obstructions of the airway such as the tongue rolling back or collapsed soft tissues onto the airway.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can continue to the development of several health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and liver problems.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea can include but are not limited to:
- Extreme drowsiness during the day
- Changes in personality
- Increased irritability
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Snoring
- Morning headaches
- Dry or sore throat after awakening
Sleep apnea treatment will vary depending on the patient and the severity of the condition. If you suffer from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, our dentists may recommend an oral appliance.
An oral appliance works to treat obstructive sleep apnea by fitting over your teeth and working to keep your airway open while you sleep. It can work by preventing the tongue from blocking the air passage, or by holding your jaw in a position to prevent airway blockages during sleep.
For more information on sleep apnea treatment or to schedule an appointment, please contact our office today at (816) 630-5713.