Billings Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center

Wisdom Teeth Removal, Dental Implants and Oral Surgery in Billings MT, Cody WY, and Sheridan WY

(406) 655-0170
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Dental Implants: Not Just for Single Tooth Replacement

Types of Dental Implants

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are widely considered to be the best, most permanent, and healthiest option for patients who are missing one or just a few teeth. What many people don’t know is that dental implants are extremely versatile tools that can be used for more than just single-tooth replacements. At Billings Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center, our expert oral surgery team places implants for single tooth replacements, to support full-arch replacements, and more. Dental implants can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, and below we’ve provided a list of some different procedures that utilize dental implant technology.

Replacing single teeth

Dental implants are commonly used to replace a single missing tooth. An implant is a great option for replacing a single tooth because the implant screw will integrate with your natural bone and stimulate the jaw, which combats bone loss and other complications.

Replacing multiple teeth in a row

Dental implants can sometimes be used to support bridges, which can replace multiple teeth in the same area. The dental implants will firmly hold the bridge in place while stimulating the jaw bone. This is preferable to traditional tooth-supported bridges, which put stress on your surrounding, healthy teeth for support. Implant-supported bridges do not damage neighboring teeth, and they promote good overall oral health.

Replacing a full arch of teeth

Usually, it is not advisable to replace a full arch of teeth with multiple single dental implants, due to the high cost and healing time of multiple procedures. Luckily, advances in dental implant technology have made it possible to replace an entire row of teeth using only a few dental implants to support a permanent denture. A full arch replacement only requires one procedure to place the implants (where you will receive a temporary set of teeth) and one more procedure to place your custom, permanent teeth once the dental implant sites have healed fully. This drastically reduces the healing time compared to using individual dental implants to restore an entire arch of teeth.

Anchoring for orthodontic work

Dental implants are extremely stable, which makes them perfect as temporary anchorage devices for orthodontic work. Your oral surgeon will place the dental implant; then your orthodontist will attach braces or other devices to the implant and surrounding teeth. The stable dental implant acts as an anchor, so other teeth can move into their proper positions more quickly and easily.

These are just a few of the treatments possible with dental implants, and oral surgeons are constantly finding new and innovative ways to utilize and improve dental implant technology. Even if you have been told in the past that dental implants were not a viable option, a wide variety of bone grafting treatments is available to prepare your jaw and surrounding structures for implant placement. If you need a tooth or multiple teeth replaced, we encourage you to contact our office for more information. With many different treatment options, we are confident that we can find a treatment plan that fits your needs.

Dental Implants as a Restoration Procedure – Is It the Right Choice for You?

Dental Implants

How can I be sure a dental implant is right for me? Many patients ask that question. This revolutionary procedure delivers preservation of bone and a resolution to other oral health problems. Many patients experience several factors that contribute to tooth loss like poor dental hygiene, lifestyle choices (like smoking), diet, and genetics, but it’s also incredibly important to quickly restore the missing tooth or teeth to prevent severe complications. Patients don’t realize that problems such as speech impediments, premature skin wrinkling, bone loss, and infections can have a serious impact on your overall health and appearance of your mouth.

Dental implant procedures are simple and effective. They work to replace a missing tooth or teeth with a custom prosthesis. The first part is to place a titanium implant into the jaw bone, which then fuses with your natural bone while it heals to create a secure foundation. Next, the abutment is placed into the implant, which acts as an anchor between the crown and the implant. Finally, the custom-designed crown, which closely resembles a natural tooth, is placed on top of the abutment. The result is a complete tooth restoration.

Another restorative technique is the All-on-4® Treatment Concept. This is a specific type of dental implant procedure that is the solution for those patients who have multiple teeth missing or severe oral health problems that need to be corrected with a full arch restoration. It has become a popular solution that provides fast, permanent results for a whole mouth of teeth. While single dental implants may be great at replacing each tooth and tooth root, the All-on-4 Treatment Concept replaces all of your upper or lower teeth through utilizing four dental implants. After a quick surgical procedure and a minimal recovery period, many All-on-4 Treatment Concept patients are happy to show off their beautiful, secure, and permanent results.

The oral surgeons at Billings Oral Surgery & Dental Implants Center will help you determine if dental implants are the right choice for you and if you are a good candidate for the All-on-4 Treatment Concept. After a full-mouth examination, we will offer you your best treatment plan. Please contact our office today to schedule your consultation.

Dry Socket Dread with Wisdom Teeth Removal

Dental Implants Diet at Billings Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center

Wisdom teeth patients should follow their oral surgeon’s advice
to avoid this painful condition.

Having a dry socket may sound bad, but it actually feels worse.

Advancements in wisdom teeth removal as a procedure has been streamlined to become safer than ever (just as long as the procedure is performed by a qualified oral surgeon). But one possible outcome that still tends to happen sometimes is known scientifically as alveolar osteitis but patients know it as dry socket. Dry socket can lead to serious infection and pain. To combat this from happening to you, we have outlined a series of steps that will prevent dry socket from happening if followed correctly.

A protective blood clot forms in the space where the wisdom tooth (or teeth) were extracted and this helps to guard the nerves in the jaw and the jaw bone. In a few cases, that protective blood clot may become dislodged or dissolve from the site before healing is complete. This unfortunate occurrence exposes the empty socket to bacteria and opens up the possibility of infection. If a dry socket does happen, we usually treat this complication by washing out the area and applying an ointment. Depending on the severity of the infection, some patients need antibiotics, as well.

Dry socket only afflicts a small fraction of patients following wisdom teeth removal. It is estimated that about 1 in 20 develop a dry socket. But believe us when we say — you want to do everything you can to not be one of them! Here is a series of recommended steps to follow before and after surgery. These steps help to ensure this condition is avoided.

Steps before wisdom tooth removal:

  • Please notify us of any medications you take. (This include any supplements, too!)
  • We may ask that you use oral antibiotics prior to the procedure, depending on your specific condition.
  • An antibacterial mouthwash may be necessary, but we will notify you if this is the case.

Steps for after wisdom tooth removal:

  • We do recommend that you keep your mouth clean. This can be accomplished by light brushing of your teeth.
  • Do not use mouthwashes or rinses until we tell you it is ok to do so.
  • Please rest for an entire day following surgery. Any strenuous exercise or activity can slow the healing process and you are more susceptible to complications.
  • The day after the extraction, patients typically rinse gently with warm salt water every two hours and following meals.
  • Healing happens when you are hydrated! We ask that you drink lots of water, and avoid any alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks and hot beverages.
  • You cannot use a straw while your surgical sites are healing. This is the number one way blood clots become dislodged.
  • We recommend you eat soft foods only while you heal. Any hard or sharp foods tend to puncture the surgical sites.
  • We really have to stress that smoking or using any other tobacco is not recommended.

If you are looking for a qualified and specially trained oral surgeon to remove your wisdom teeth, we are happy to schedule a consultation appointment and answer your questions. Call us at (406) 655-0170 today!

How to Become Famous Without Even Trying

General Anesthesia Hilarious Side Effects at Billings Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center

General anesthesia tends to lead to some hilarious side effects

It’s a popular online trend we all seem to know and love; the viral video of a person just out of oral surgery who is emotionally incoherent, yelling and jabbering uncontrollably.

You may remember a young woman named Julie, who was certain her oral surgeon didn’t remove her wisdom teeth. Since she couldn’t remember the procedure ever happening, she told her husband, “They didn’t take them out – don’t let them charge us.”

More notably, late last year a Utah woman named Jayci awoke from her procedure wishing she looked like Nicki Minaj and wanting desperately to be friends with Ellen DeGeneres. So popular was that particular video — with well over four million views and counting — that DeGeneres herself saw it and invited Jayci onto her show.

YouTube is filled with these funny moments. Post-op patients are playfully recorded by their loved ones and the results posted online. And this viral video gold is all thanks to the general anesthesia commonly used in oral surgery.

Besides receiving the desired effects of relaxation and temporary sedation to control pain, anesthesia can cause a few harmless but unwanted side effects, including confusion, and strange – perhaps even hilarious — emotional outbursts that include shouting, crying, and singing. These side effects typically last only a few minutes after the patient awakes, so family and friends who hope to catch your hilarity to post on YouTube will have to be quick with the camera.

The biochemical reasons behind this immediate confusion and strange post-op reactions are not well understood. But you can rest assured that the safety and effectiveness of anesthesia are very well understood. It provides a benefit to patients and their surgeons when it comes to handling pain and surgical anxiety.

Medical experts unanimously agree that general anesthesia is very safe, with the risk of complications remaining very small. As with any type drug, medical factors such as drug allergies or preexisting conditions (with the heart, lungs, or liver) must be brought to the surgeon in advance to ensure patient safety. Prior to any procedure involving general anesthesia, be sure you fully answer all of your oral surgeon’s questions.

Happy Halloween! Tips for a Healthy Smile This October

Oral-Health-Tips-for-Enjoying-Halloween

Halloween is fast approaching, and everyone is ready to enjoy their favorite candies and treats. Our team at Billings Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center wants you to enjoy the holiday without the stress of damaging your teeth. To help you have a fun and healthy Halloween, we’ve listed several helpful tips so you can have your candy and eat it too without damaging your smile.

Have a designated candy time. Eating candy at one designated time (rather than snacking on it throughout the day) can limit the number of times your teeth come into contact with sticky caramel and sugar. It’s also a great way to teach children about the importance of moderation.

Rinse your mouth with water after having candy. Brushing your teeth right after eating extremely sour candies, which are very acidic, can erode tooth enamel. Wait a while before brushing if you just ate something acidic, and try rinsing with water instead. This can help neutralize acidic foods while flushing out some food particles from your teeth. Flossing or using toothpicks can also help remove candy from teeth.

Chocolate is better for teeth than chewy and hard candies. Chewy candies stick to your teeth for long periods of time, and hard candies stay in your mouth longer than other treats. Tooth decay is more common after this type of extended exposure. If possible, encourage children to eat other candies. Chocolate is a better option since it dissolves relatively quickly. Sugar-free suckers are another good choice.

Be mindful of your braces, fillings, dentures, and other dental work. Hard candies can break some dental devices, and it is difficult to clean under permanent retainers and wires, especially if you have been eating chewy candy. Avoid biting extremely hard or sticky candies like taffy and jawbreakers if you want to avoid breaking a wire, dislodging a filling, or even cracking a tooth.

If you wear removable dental prostheses, most candies will damage or dislodge your prosthesis. If you would like to enjoy your favorite treats again and not worry about your prosthetic tooth or dentures, call our office for more information about permanent tooth restoration options, like dental implants.

Have fun! Restricting yourself or your children from enjoying Halloween will only make eating candy more tempting. Instead of trying to keep kids from eating any candy, use Halloween as an opportunity to teach children about good dental hygiene. Teaching children how to floss and brush properly will do more good in the long run than depriving them of candy on Halloween.

Our team at Billings Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center wishes you a happy and healthy Halloween! If you have missing teeth or removable prostheses, contact our office to learn about some of our permanent tooth restoration options, such as dental implants, so that you can enjoy your favorite Halloween treats once again.

Main Office

Billings Oral Surgery
& Dental Implant Center
 152 S 32nd St W, Suite B
Billings, MT 59102
Main: (406) 655-0170
 Hours:

Heights Office

Billings Oral Surgery
& Dental Implant Center
 711 West Wicks Lane
Billings, MT 59105
Main: (406) 655-0170
 Hours:

Cody

Billings Oral Surgery
& Dental Implant Center
 2910 Big Horn Ave, Suite C
Cody, WY 82414
Main: (307) 587-5451
 Hours:

Sheridan

Billings Oral Surgery
& Dental Implant Center
 1274 North Main, Suite A
Sheridan, WY 82801
Main: (307) 673-4452
 Hours:

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