Oral Surgery & TMJ Therapy
Many general dentists are not able to perform oral surgery and TMJ therapy, but at Higginbotham Family Dental, Dr. Higginbotham and his associate dentists are highly trained and certified to perform these extra procedures. Read below to see if oral surgery or TMJ therapy is right for you!
Oral Surgery
Sometimes, restoring full oral health requires oral surgery. That’s why all of our locations provide a wide range of oral surgery services. In many cases, we can perform oral surgery on the same day as your x-rays and exam. For more complex procedures that require advanced sedation, we’ll schedule a follow-up appointment. Our team handles most simple, surgical, and wisdom teeth extractions. If a case requires additional expertise, we’ll refer you to a trusted oral surgeon to ensure you receive the care you need. Some of the oral surgery procedures we offer include wisdom teeth extractions, biopsies, bone grafts, dental implants, and more. Request an appointment today and take the first step toward better oral health!
Extractions
Tooth extraction is a relatively standard dental procedure.
Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone. The following issues can require an extraction:
- Decay or infection has reached deep into the tooth
- Trauma or injury
- Not enough room for all the teeth in your mouth
- Baby teeth that don’t fall out in time for the permanent teeth to come in
- Orthodontic treatment might require tooth extraction to create room for the teeth as they move into the correct place
- Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in (impacted)
Before removing a tooth, your dentist will thoroughly review your medical and dental history and take the appropriate X-rays. X-rays reveal the length, shape, and position of the tooth and surrounding bone. Before removal during a simple extraction, the dentist will numb the area around your tooth using local anesthetic. Tooth extraction makes room for something better and can help keep your smile healthy and confident.
TMJ Therapy
When jaw joints (temporomandibular joints or TMJ) are misaligned, patients may experience antagonistic symptoms such as:
- Ringing ears
- Popping or clicking jaws
- Pain in the face, neck, shoulders, or mouth
- Tooth wear from grinding and clenching
- Tingling in the extremities
- Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
- Headaches, and even migraines
If these symptoms sound familiar, we may be able to offer relief for bruxism (clenching and grinding) recommend a preventive night guard to keep teeth apart while you sleep. For more extensive cases, we may recommend a specialist.
Schedule your TMJ assessment today and book online. We want you to look good, be healthy, and feel fantastic!