Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to develop and appear in your mouth. They come in between the ages of 17 and 25, a time of life that has been called the "Age of Wisdom." When a wisdom tooth doesn't fully grow in, it's "impacted"–usually unable to break through the gums because there isn't enough room.
An impacted wisdom tooth can damage neighboring teeth or become infected. Because it's in an area that’s hard to clean, it can also invite bacteria that lead to gum disease. Oral bacteria can also travel through your bloodstream and lead to infections and illnesses that affect your heart, kidneys and other organs. In some cases, a cyst or tumor can form around the base of the impacted tooth, which can lead to more serious problems as it hollows out the jaw and damages surrounding nerves, teeth and other parts of your mouth and face.
In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under general anesthesia. Surgical options as well as the surgical risks (i.e., sensory nerve damage, sinus complications), will be discussed with you before the procedure is performed. Once the teeth are removed it is recommended you bite down on gauze for at least one hour. You will rest under our supervision in the office until you are ready to be taken home. Upon discharge, your postoperative kit will include postoperative instructions, prescriptions, and follow-up appointment in one week to make sure the extraction sites are healing as they should. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at (801) 614-0999.
Dental Implants have an overall success rate of about 95%.
More and more people are getting dental implants to replace missing teeth. They're a long-term solution that is placed in your jawbone, just like your natural teeth. They even go your natural teeth one better, since they can't develop cavities. Plus, unlike fixed bridges or removable dentures, dental implants will not affect neighboring healthy teeth or lead to bone loss in the jaw. If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime.
Implants are made of titanium metal that "fuses" with the jawbone through a process called "osseointegration." There's no short cut to get around that process, and it usually takes several months once the implant is put into your jawbone. Osseointegration, however, is why implants never slip or make embarrassing noises like dentures, and why bone loss is usually not a problem.
Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, Dr. Benson is able to place single stage implants. These implants do not require a second procedure to uncover them, but do require a minimum of 3-4 months of healing time before artificial teeth are placed. There are even situations where the implants can be placed at the same time as a tooth extraction – further minimizing the number of surgical procedures.
Dental Implant placement is a team effort between an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a restorative dentist. While Dr. Benson performs the actual implant surgery, initial tooth extractions, and bone grafting if necessary, your general dentist fits and makes the permanent prosthesis. Your dentist will also make any temporary prosthesis needed during the implant process.
You may need to have a tooth extracted for a number of reasons such as decay, injury, or as part of orthodontic treatment. Whatever the reason, you will most likely be referred to our office to remove your tooth using an anesthetic that is appropriate for your procedure.
Dr. Benson offers a range of anesthetic options including general anesthesia, IV sedation, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and local anesthetic (numbing shots) to make your procedure as comfortable as possible.
We can plan with your dentist different tooth replacement options following your extractions such as immediate replacement with a flipper or denture or long term replacement with dental implants. We will find a solution that best fits you and your needs.
Sometimes the jawbone may not be strong or substantial enough to support dental implants. There are many reasons this can happen. For example, when several teeth are missing, the jawbone may weaken and atrophy over time. Jawbone structure can also be negatively affected by other conditions, including trauma, infection, gum disease, surgery, and congenital defects. Without a healthy, stable jawbone, dental implants cannot be placed securely.
For patients with defects or deficiencies in the jawbone, Dr. Paul Benson uses the most advanced bone grafting techniques to promote bone growth, while creating a strong, stable foundation for the placement of dental implants. Bone grafting can increase bone volume, replace missing bone, and fill in voids in bone structure. In short, advanced bone grafting techniques allow us to grow bone exactly where we need it.
The materials used for the bone graft will depend on the patient’s individual circumstances. In most cases specially prepared bones from cadavers or synthetic materials may be used for the graft. In some rare cases, the best results may come from using the patient’s own bone for the graft. Depending on how much bone is needed, Dr. Benson can harvest bone from within the patient’s mouth or from other areas, such as the hip.
Bone grafting is an advanced, effective and safe way to promote healing and bone growth in the jaw. Because bone tissue has the ability to regenerate and grow, strategic placement of bone grafts can encourage bone growth in the space where it’s needed. Once the graft has been placed, the bone must be allowed to heal before placing the dental implants, typically 8 weeks.
Corrective jaw, or orthognathic surgery is performed to correct a wide range of minor and major skeletal and dental irregularities, including the misalignment of jaws and teeth. Surgery can improve chewing, speaking and breathing. While the patient's appearance may be dramatically enhanced as a result of their surgery, orthognathic surgery is performed to correct functional problems. Jaw Surgery can have a dramatic effect on many aspects of life.
Following are some of the conditions that may indicate the need for corrective jaw surgery:
Difficulty chewing, or biting food
Difficulty swallowing
Chronic jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain and headache
Excessive wear of the teeth
Open bite (space between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)
Unbalanced facial appearance from the front, or side
Facial injury
Birth defects
Receding lower jaw and chin
Protruding jaw
Inability to make the lips meet without straining
Chronic mouth breathing
Sleep apnea (breathing problems when sleeping, including snoring)
Your dentist, orthodontist and Dr. Paul Benson will work together to determine whether you are a candidate for corrective jaw, or orthognathic, surgery. Dr. Benson determines which corrective jaw surgical procedure is appropriate and performs the actual surgery in our office operating room or the hospital. It is important to understand that your treatment, which will probably include orthodontics before and after surgery, may take several years to complete. Dr. Benson and orthodontist understand that this is a long-term commitment for you and your family, and will try to realistically estimate the time required for your treatment.
Dr. Paul Benson is an expert for diagnosing and surgically treating cancer of the head, neck and mouth.
The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that close to 49,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. Oral cancer’s mortality is particularly high, not because it is hard to detect or diagnose, but because the cancer is often discovered late in its development. Your family dentist or Dr. Benson is in the best position to detect oral cancer during your routine dental examinations.
Things he may be looking for include:
White patches of the oral tissues — leukoplakia
Red patches — erythroplakia
Red and white patches — erythroleukoplakia
A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
An abnormal lump or thickening of the tissues of the mouth
Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
A mass or lump in the neck
Your mouth is one of your body's most important early warning systems. Don't ignore any suspicious lumps or sores. Should you discover something, make an appointment for a prompt examination. Early treatment may well be the key to complete recovery.
Once an abnormality is detected a biopsy is recommended. During a biopsy a sample of the tissue is removed often under Local Anesthesia. That sample is then sent to a oral pathologist who will evaluate it under a microscope. Results are then sent back to our office for Dr. Benson to discuss further treatment planning with you. If caught early, removing the abnormality is the treatment.
As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Paul Benson is trained in all aspects of anesthesia administration. Following dental school he completed his residency in a hospital setting training in various specialties including anesthesia. Dr. Benson served for a time as medical anesthesiology service, where he evaluated patients for anesthesia, delivered the anesthetic and monitored post-anesthetic patients.
As a result of his extensive training, Dr. Benson well-prepared to appropriately administer local anesthesia, all forms of sedation and general anesthesia. They are experienced in airway management, endotracheal intubation, establishing and maintaining intravenous lines, and managing complications and emergencies that may arise during the administration of anesthesia.
Before your surgery, Dr. Benson will review the type of anesthetic to be used, as well as the way you're likely to feel during and after the operation. This is the time to discuss any concerns you may have about any facet of the operation. Usually, patients describe their feelings during surgery as comfortable and surprisingly pleasant. After surgery, you may be prescribed a medication to make you as comfortable as possible when you get home.