Oral Surgery
Extractions
Tooth extractions range from simple to complex and occur in patients of all ages.
Children’s teeth are called primary teeth and sometimes primary teeth need to be removed so the adult tooth can come in normal and healthy. Primary tooth extractions are rarely complicated and most often fear and anxiety about removal are worse than the extraction.
Adult permanent teeth extractions are mostly simple extractions for reasons from severely decayed to removal for orthodontic reasons. In some cases surgical/ complex extractions are needed, but again and in most cases the fear and anxiety is usually greater than the extraction.
Wisdom teeth extractions are typically done between the ages of 17-21 and are recommended to facilitate the long term health of patients via diminished crowding, improved oral hygiene, and decreased bone loss on adjacent teeth.
The key to successful outcome during extractions is anesthetic prior to the procedure and proper home care afterward. Most often the patients who experience the worst outcome are those who waited too long for treatment, tobacco/ smokers, and those with poor hygiene habits post surgery. Under great anesthesia, good homecare/ diet, and good follow-up 95% of extractions are successful!
For those patients whose anxiety is too great we have treatment options that help alleviate the fear: anxiety medication, nitrous oxide, and, if severe, referral to an Oral Surgeon for full sedation.
Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in specific tissues in the mouth. The type of cancer is diagnosed through a confirmed biopsy and a pathology report to identify the stage and grade of the cancer. Most often lesions of the oral cavity are benign, however, early identification and remova is the key to success. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 28,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed annually, with more than 7,000 of these cases resulting in death. Oral cancer may occur on the mouth, lips, tongue, gums, salivary glands, and throat (oropharyngeal).
Early diagnosis and prevention is critical, which is why every time you are seen for a cleaning and exam, Dr. Morelli and his hygienists perform a cancer screen, looking at your soft tissue, gums, tongue, floor of the mouth, glands, and oropharynx. Dr. Morelli discovered, in the last year, two different patients had oral cancer and in both cases the cancerous lesions were removed successfully!
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth extractions are ideally completed between the ages of 17-21 and are recommended to facilitate the long term health of patients via diminished crowding, improved oral hygiene, and decreased bone loss on adjacent teeth.
The key to successful outcome during extractions is anesthetic prior to the procedure and proper home care afterward. Most often the patients who experience the worst outcome are those who waited too long for treatment, tobacco/ smokers, and those with poor hygiene habits post surgery. Under great anesthesia, good homecare/ diet, and good follow-up 95% of extractions are successful!
For those patients whose anxiety is too great we have treatment options that help alleviate the fear: anxiety medication, nitrous oxide, and, if severe, referral to an Oral Surgeon for full sedation.