Tag: Oral Surgeon

Types of Facial Injuries Your Oral Surgeon Can Help Correct

Oral surgery is more than tooth extractions, implant surgery, and resolving impacted teeth. It also deals with facial trauma potentially affecting your ability to speak, eat, see, or breathe. Restoring these critical functions requires an exceptionally trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon to correct the aftermath of facial trauma. Here are common facial injuries your surgeons at Hill Country Oral Surgery can help rectify.

Jaw Fractures

Sports activities, auto accidents, and falls often lead to fractures in the lower jaw (mandible), the upper jaw (maxilla), or both. In most incidents, loosened, damaged, or knocked-out teeth accompany jaw fractures.

Hill Country Oral Surgery performs facial trauma surgery to stabilize the jaw and restore correct alignment. And since our surgeons specialize in replacing missing teeth and treating injured tooth sites, they are most qualified to address jaw-related injuries.

Cheekbone Fractures

Cheekbone fractures can result from violence, falling, sports injuries, or being in a car accident. Also called zygomatic bone injuries, these fractures might be easy to overlook. Usually, they don’t initially link with functional problems.

However, if not recognized and treated soon after trauma by an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the facial injury can cause cosmetic and functional problems. With severe cheekbone injuries, oral surgery may be necessary to restore the bone to its original position and shape.

Nasal Fractures

The nose is a prominent facial feature and a frequent site of injury. Blunt-force trauma is usually the culprit. In fact, any solid blow on the face – whether from violence, a fall, an accident, or a sports activity – can result in a broken nose.

Oral surgery is not always the ideal solution for nasal fractures. However, if the nose is visibly crooked or you are having trouble breathing, oral and maxillofacial surgical intervention may be necessary.

Orbital Fractures

Violent blows to the face often fracture the eye socket. Sports activities and auto accidents are common causes.

Most orbital fractures affect the eye socket’s lower portion, where the bone is thinner. As with nasal injuries, oral surgery isn’t always necessary for eye injuries. But if there is eyeball displacement from the natural position or double vision, the patient will likely need surgical treatment.

Hill Country Oral Surgery surgeons have extensive training, certification, and experience at treating all types of facial fractures and injuries. We serve the greater Austin area with a full range of oral and maxillofacial services, including wisdom teeth extractions, dental implants, impacted canines, and pre-prosthetic surgery.

If you would like more information about facial trauma requiring oral surgery, call our Austin office at (512) 327-7233 to request a consultation.

Oral Surgeons > General Dentist for Oral Surgery- Here’s Why

You want the best for your teeth, your mouth, and your health. When you need oral surgery, choose an oral surgeon. An oral surgeon is typically your best choice for oral surgery for many reasons, including anesthesia safety. We’ll discuss a few of the many benefits of choosing an oral surgeon over a general dentist when you need oral surgery.

More Procedures Available

A general dentist may offer a few oral surgery procedures, but often your options are limited. An oral surgeon offers a greater variety of oral surgery options. At Hill Country Oral Surgery, we can take care of all your oral surgery needs from wisdom tooth removal to dental implants. An oral surgeon specializes in oral surgery. They have more training and more experience. Just like you choose a heart surgeon for heart surgery, choose an oral surgeon for oral surgery.

More Training and Experience

For a dental cleaning or simple filling, go see your regular dentist, but if you require advanced oral surgery, choose an oral surgeon. Oral surgeons have more training and experience performing delicate and complex surgical procedures. See your oral surgeon any time you need one or more of the following procedures:

  • Wisdom tooth removal
  • Tooth extractions
  • Exposure of an impacted canine
  • Apicoectomies
  • Pre-prosthetic surgery
  • Facial trauma
  • Jaw surgery
  • Dental implant surgery
  • Bone grafting
  • Sinus lift

While a general dentist may only perform these advanced procedures occasionally, if at all, an oral surgeon regularly practices and hones their skill on these types of procedures. An oral surgeon has more training and experience than a regular dentist on surgical procedures like the ones listed above.

The reverse is also true. An oral surgeon should not be your only dentist. You need a general dentist to help you maintain and improve your oral health. Regular cleanings, fillings, and oral health screenings are best performed by a general dentist.

Anesthesia Safety

One of the most important reasons to choose an oral surgeon for oral surgery is anesthesia safety. Anesthesia risks are low, but when complications occur, they can be very serious. Oral surgeons have more training and more experience with dental anesthesia and are a safer choice for oral surgery. Oral surgeons are better prepared for emergency situations than most general dentists. When an emergency happens, training and experience matter.

Getting an anesthesia permit for in-office anesthesia is surprisingly easy. Dentists must meet bare-minimum requirements for training and education. Oral surgeons are held to a much higher standard. During their training they undergo a rigorous and extensive training program, often in a hospital setting, under the direct supervision of anesthesiologists. This training is much more advanced and comprehensive than the training required for an anesthesia permit.

Anesthesia Safety at Hill Country Oral Surgery

We take anesthesia safety seriously at Hill Country Oral Surgery. Here’s what we do to keep you safe when using anesthesia:

  • Variety of Anesthesia Options– We offer a wide range of anesthesia options include local anesthetics, IV sedation, oral sedation, nitrous oxide, and general anesthesia. With many options available, we can customize your treatment to your needs, choosing the safest, most effective options for your treatment.
  • Up-to-Date Monitoring Equipment– We use the latest, up-to-date monitoring equipment to ensure your safety during treatment. Our state-of-the-art facility is carefully equipped for safe and effective anesthesia delivery.
  • Medical History Review– Before administering any anesthesia we carefully review your medical history with you and perform a complete physical examination.
  • Anesthesia Permit– We hold a valid anesthesia permit from the Texas Board of Dental Examiners.
  • Life Support Training– Our doctors are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Many other members of our staff have received advanced anesthesia training. We also train in the rescuing of patients and managing of airways in the ICU and emergency room.

Questions to Ask Your Oral Surgeon About Anesthesia Safety

If you’re preparing for oral surgery with anesthesia, make sure you choose an oral surgeon for your procedure. Ask your surgeon the following questions to ensure that they take anesthesia safety seriously.

  • How will you keep me safe during dental anesthesia?
  • What are the risks and benefits of the type of anesthesia you’re recommending for my procedure?
  • What type of emergency resuscitation training do members of your staff receive? Do any members of your staff have anesthesia training?
  • How will I be monitored during surgery to ensure anesthesia safety?
  • What plans are in place in the event of an anesthesia emergency?

Anesthesia safety is an important reason to always choose an oral surgeon for your oral surgery needs. Call us today to schedule your consultation at Hill Country Oral Surgery.