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Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery In Beaverton, OR
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions range from simple to complex, occur in children and adults, and result from a range of reasons from pain to alignment issues. In most cases, the fear of extraction is greater than the event.
We do our best to minimize anxiety by alleviating it with understanding, patience, and lots of anesthetics! For those patients whose anxiety is too great a referral to an Oral Surgeon for full sedation is the best option.
Oral 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 removal 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 very time you are seen for a cleaning and exam, Dr. Bradley and his hygienists perform a cancer screen, looking at your soft tissue, gums, tongue, floor of the mouth, glands, and oropharynx. Dr. Bradley discovered, in the last year, two different patients had oral cancer and in both cases the cancerous lesions were removed successfully!
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
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.
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation in our office is used to describe semi-conscious state that allows patients to be comfortable during certain dental procedures. Patients that require full sedation will be referred to a specialist who can help facilitate the necessary care needed.
We offer our patients two types of sedation: Nitrous Oxide Gas, and Oral Sedatives.
Nitrous oxide is a safe gas mixture that is inhaled through a nose hood during the procedure. It will induce a relaxing feeling and send you into a dream-like state. A local anesthetic will be used in conjunction to provide pain relief. Nitrous oxide wears off within 10 minutes after the procedure and allows for quick recovery.
Oral Sedatives are prescribed anxiety medications taken orally one hour prior to your appointment and relax you. Dependent on dosage and type the sedative effect can last 2-6 hours after your procedure and will require a caretaker to monitor you to and from your appointment. As oral sedatives are not pain relievers, a local anesthetic will also be used.
Not all patients are candidates for sedation based on physical health and some medications. A thorough health review will determine your eligibility.
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