The doctors of Indiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery provide treatment for Wisdom Teeth, Dental Implants, Facial Trauma, Corrective Jaw Surgery and TMJ disorders.
Failure to properly care for your teeth could result in a myriad of oral health problems, including a tooth abscess, which can be painful and ultimately lead to tooth loss. For more on this dental condition, keep reading:
What Is an Abscessed Tooth?
A dental abscess occurs when the tissue around a tooth or its nerve becomes infected. Abscesses are often quite painful, prohibiting sufferers from using the affected tooth. If the infection isn’t treated, it can spread, putting patients at risk for losing the tooth and developing other serious health problems.
Why Do Abscessed Teeth Develop?
An abscess often develops after a tooth experiences trauma, gingivitis worsens, or tooth decay spreads. In cases where a cavity is left untreated, the bacteria causing the decay infect the pulp inside the tooth and continue to spread until they have infected the surrounding tissue. This infection and its associated symptoms are referred to as an abscess. In cases where gum disease results in an abscess, bacteria enter the loose pockets that form around the teeth as the oral tissues degenerate.
What Are the Symptoms of an Abscess?
Symptoms of an abscess include aching pain when you bite down, inflamed gums, facial swelling, fever, a red, painful bump along the gum line, blood or puss oozing from a sore on the gums, or a toothache. As the infection festers, you may risk losing oral bone tissue, which could result in teeth becoming loose and falling out. That’s why it’s important to see your dentist or an oral surgeon right away at the first sign of infection.
If you’re experiencing an abscessed tooth, contact Indiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates. We specialize in treating major oral health problems such as TMJ disorders, facial trauma, impacted wisdom teeth, and more. To schedule a consultation, dial (317) 913-2363.
Orthognathic surgery was designed to augment traditional orthodontic treatment methods for repositioning the jaw bone. The surgery works to move the teeth and jaws to a more attractive and natural-looking position. For information on what you can expect while preparing for and recovering from the procedure, keep reading:
Before Orthognathic Surgery
Before the procedure, your oral surgeon will evaluate your medical history, facial proportions, bite, dental health, and the molds and X-rays of your teeth to determine whether you’re a good candidate for orthognathic surgery. Once you’re deemed qualified, your surgeon will work with you and your orthodontist to determine a set of goals for your jaw surgery.
After this process is complete, your surgeon will review with you the plan for the procedure, the potential risks, and the alternatives that are available. You will then need to determine which path is right for you and your smile. If you decide to go ahead with the orthognathic surgery, your insurance provider will be notified and your surgery team will begin preparing for surgery.
After Orthognathic Surgery
Once you’re initially processed on the day of your surgery, an anesthesiologist will put you to sleep and your surgeon will get to work. Following the procedure, you will wake with rubber bands between your upper and lower braces. These bands will hold your jaw in place and help produce optimal results. However, you won’t be able to talk or open your mouth wide to chew for the first week. Orthognathic surgery is an outpatient procedure, so you’ll be sent home with liquid pain medication or be hooked up to a pain pump that allows you to give yourself pain medication intravenously. After approximately six weeks, you’ll be able to resume normal eating and speaking.
If you would like to talk to an orthodontic professional about whether you're a candidate for orthognathic surgery, call the Indiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates at (317) 913-2363.
My name is Denise and I went to Dr. Kirkup for a tooth extraction last week. He is absolutely wonderful and I had very little pain, in fact, all I needed was Advil. I wish they were all like him! He has a way of making you feel at ease even though you're about to go thru something a little stressful and he shows concern for his patients! If I...
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Denise
Indiana Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates is one of the largest groups of oral surgeons in the country. To make an appointment with one of our oral surgeons in Indianapolis, visit us online or contact us at (317) 913-2363.
The media contains many messages about prostate cancer and breast cancer awareness, but oral cancer, which kills more people than both cervical and breast cancer, is often overlooked. Read below to find some need-to-know facts about this deadly disease:
Who Is at Risk for Developing Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer used to be a disease that affected people in their late 40s and early 50s, but dental health professionals are finding that younger people are increasingly prone to oral cancer. Researchers believe that oral cancer is becoming more prevalent in younger patients due to a recently discovered link between oral cancer and the human papilloma virus. However, it’s important to note that lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor oral hygiene, and excessive drinking continue to contribute to the growing number of oral cancer diagnoses.
Why Should You Be Aware of Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is a challenging disease to detect, since signs don’t appear until late in its development. In addition, victims rarely visit the dentist regularly, so symptoms often don’t get reported until it’s too late.
The American Dental Association recommends that everyone request an oral cancer screening at least once a year. During this exam, a dentist will use an oral spotlight to evaluate the oral tissues and check for changes in the color of your gums, cheeks, and tongue. If any discoloration is found, you’ll need to undergo further testing.
Roughly 40,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year in the United States, which makes it more prevalent than cervical cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, skin cancer, testicular cancer, and thyroid cancer. Despite advancements in technology, research, and medication, oral cancer has not seen a significant decrease in mortality rate, so be sure to have regular checkups and avoid making lifestyle choices that could put you at risk for oral cancer.
If you would like to undergo an oral cancer screening, visit Indiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates. We’ll evaluate your oral health status and provide tips on how you can prevent oral cancer. To learn more about how we can help, visit our website or call us at (317) 913-2363.
A tooth extraction is a major surgery that takes place in a sensitive, infection-prone area of the body, which is why it’s important to take extra precautions to stave off infection. Watch this video to learn what to eat after a tooth extraction as well as why it’s important to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
If you’re in need of a tooth extraction, choose the dental health professionals at Indiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates. We specialize in performing oral surgeries, including tooth extractions, dental implants, TMJ treatments, and more. Check out our website or call (317) 913-2363 to learn more about out certified oral surgeons.
