For Patients

A dental implant is a replacement for the root of your tooth and it can be used to replace single missing teeth; stabilize dentures; or they can replace an entire arch of teeth. Placement of the actual implant is a minor surgical procedure that can be done in an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons’ clinic under either sedation or local anesthesia (freezing).

A dry socket is a swelling of the bone, resulting from the recent extraction of loss of a tooth. Most commonly, dry socket occurs as a complication of wisdom tooth (third molar) removal, however it can also occur as a complication of routine tooth extraction as well.

Impacted wisdom teeth is a disorder where the third molars (wisdom teeth) are prevented from erupting by a physical barrier, usually other teeth. If the wisdom teeth do not have an open connection to the mouth, pain can develop with the onset of inflammation or infection or damage to the adjacent teeth.

Maxillomandibular fixation (or MMF) is used by Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons to stabilize the lower jaw, by securing it to the upper jaw.  Thin wires are placed around each tooth, and brace-bars (called Erich arch bars) with small hooks are first secured to the teeth in the upper jaw, and then the lower jaw.  Those brace-bars are then secured top to bottom with 4-5 wire loops to stabilize the lower jaw.  Alternatively, just wires are used sometimes (called Ivy loops), or bone screws (called MMF screws) depending on where stabilization is needed.

MRONJ is caused by either antiresorptive drugs (including bisphosphonates) that cause a reduced ability for the reabsorption of bone, or antiangiogenic drugs, which impair the formation of new blood vessels. While uncommon, MRONJ is a serious side effect of these drugs, and extra awareness should be used when treating patients with these conditions.