Facial Surgery Institute

Do You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Do You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

Getting your wisdom teeth removed seems to be a rite of passage these days. Everyone knows a friend or a family member who has gotten them extracted or even have had them pulled themselves. Aside from enjoying the perks of getting these last set of molars extracted such as getting to miss school or even work for a few days, or the endless and guiltless ice cream soiree, here are the occasional and sometimes painful telltale signs that you need your wisdom teeth removed:

• Gum pain: When your “third molars” or wisdom teeth begin to erupt, they push past the gums creating an uncomfortable and hot feeling. It will most likely be accompanied with pressure or a dull throbbing sensation in the gums nearest the jaw bone. Infection can also lead to puffy and swollen gums and some unwanted drainage.

• Jaw pain: A wisdom tooth infection can cause sore throats and swollen lymph glands under the jaw. These symptoms can make the area around your jaw uncomfortable and difficulty chewing and eating may become persistent. In the case where an impacted wisdom tooth is present, it can lead to jaw aches and ear pain as well.

• Teeth and mouth pain: When you have an impacted wisdom tooth that is growing in at an angle, it can impact surrounding teeth. This can result in an increase of pressure on tooth nerves and bone, crowding the surrounding teeth. Symptoms include swelling, tenderness and pain.

You may be the lucky few who never experience these symptoms and may not even need your wisdom teeth removed if they are growing properly positioned, but making sure to address the pain and getting them removed early will ensure that you get to enjoy the perks of wisdom teeth extraction without the pain! Call our office today! Bruce S. Kuhn M.D., D.D.S. Office Phone Number 402-330-8460

What to Expect When Expecting (…A Bone Graft)

What to Expect When Expecting A Bone Graft

Need a dental implant but don’t have sufficient jaw bone? Dental implants are the most effective option when it comes to replacing a tooth. However, if in order to successfully get an implant, you need to have an adequate amount of jawbone. If you don’t, then you will need a bone graft before getting the actual implant. Bone grafting is when an oral surgeon will either harvest bone from another part of your body, a cadaver, a deceased animal, or in most cases, use a special bone grafting material to anchor it onto your jaw bone, thus increasing its’ strength and density. Although the procedure may sound pretty scary, we can promise you it’s nothing of the sort. Below are some things to expect when getting a bone graft!
First, it’s important to keep in mind that dental implant surgeries are most often performed in stages. The first stage is the removal of the damaged tooth. After the removal of the tooth is when the actual bone grafting takes place; which, as explained previously, is when an oral surgeon replaces lost bone, therefore creating a base for a dental implant. Once the jawbone heals, you’ll be able to move on to the next stage, which is setting up the base for the dental implant using a titanium post. After this heals, the prosthetic tooth will then be inserted. To summarize, this process is often very long, spanning over months. A successful bone graft and implant won’t just happen overnight.
Recovery time is often based on the size of the bone graft and implant. This can take anywhere from a short two weeks to more than a year. We recommend avoiding intense physical activity for the first six weeks. Swelling is expected (as it always is after most surgical procedures); it’s your body’s reaction to the surgery. Most swelling won’t be apparent until the day following your surgery. To help aid your swelling, Ice packs can be applied to the outside of mouth where the surgery was performed.
As always, if you have any questions regarding the procedure, or simply want to discuss the details further, simply call our office @ Bruce S. Kuhn M.D., D.D.S. Office Phone Number 402-330-8460.

Busting The Top 3 Botox Myths

busting botox myths

Let’s face it; aging is inevitable. With aging, comes everybody’s worst nightmare, wrinkles. Luckily, you’re able to turn back the clock with Botox. Botox, also known as Botulinum toxin type A, is a non-surgical procedure in which injections are used to weaken certain muscles by blocking nerves, therefore lessening the appearance of facial wrinkles! On average, more than 6.7 million people get Botox per year, with the statistics increasing more and more as time goes on. With the ever-increasing popularity of Botox, there’s also an influx of misconceptions and myths about the procedure. That being said, below are the top three myths regarding Botox!

Myth #1: Botox is painful.

One of the most common misconceptions about Botox treatment is that it hurts. When people think of Botox, they automatically think of big, scary needles. However, this is false. The needles used for Botox injections are typically very small, therefore the level of pain is as well. Most patients report back very minimal pain. In fact, many compare the pain level to being equivalent of simply getting a shot at your general practitioner.

Myth #2: Botox is a Long Procedure

A lot of people think of Botox as a long and drawn out service. This is completely false. In fact, Botox is often referred to as a “Lunch Time Treatment” because of how short and harmless the procedure is. The average Botox treatment clocks in at around fifteen minutes. After the initial service, you can expect to see results anywhere from 24-72 hours, with the full effect becoming noticeable between 7-10 days.

Myth #3: Botox is Toxic

Many skeptics of Botox assume that it is toxic to the human body. We can assure you that Botox is 100% safe, non-harmful, and has a well-established safety history. While it is true that Botox is derived from Botulinum, it’s actually just an isolated piece of protein from the bacteria. Because of this, one does not need to worry about the potential of botulism. Botox has also gone through heavy research trials and has even been given the stamp of approval by the FDA (the Food and Drug Administration).

We believe in doing what makes you happy. If you feel that Botox could increase your self-confidence, or just want to get rid of those pesky wrinkles, don’t waste another minute. Give our office a call at Bruce S. Kuhn M.D., D.D.S. Office Phone Number 402-330-8460 to start your journey to smooth, young, wrinkle-free skin.

5 Perks of Getting Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

5 perks of having your wisdom teeth removed

For some reason there is this negative stigma surrounding wisdom teeth removal when in reality there are more perks than you would think. Odds are you will have to get your wisdom teeth removed, so it’s in your best interest to accept the good and the bad of this procedure. So let’s focus on the good!

1. No More Pain: Whether this was a preemptive procedure or a tad bit rushed due to pain, the whole reason for removal is to ensure your wisdom teeth won’t ever be an issue again. Even though there can be negative side effects to removal, it doesn’t mean that all will apply to you. By making sure you keep up with all of your doctor’s instructions after the procedure you can avoid any further discomfort and remain pain free moving forward.
2. Time Off: The average amount of wisdom teeth recovery time is about three to four days depending on the severity of impaction. More than not people tend to take a full week off, maybe even more, to have enough time to fully heal before getting back into the swing of things. Take advantage of the mandatory down time you have.
3. Ice Cream: Not like you ever need an excuse to eat an unlimited amount of ice cream but having your wisdom teeth removed is basically a get out of jail free card. It’s in your best interest to choose a flavor without any huge chunks to avoid irritating the sensitive areas surrounding your extracted wisdom teeth.
4. Unlimited Movies: There is no shame in binge watching your favorite TV shows or movie trilogies because technically it’s the doctors’ orders. Rest and relaxation is your top priority for the first couple days after removal. Although you physically won’t be productive during this time it doesn’t mean you can’t productively cross off all of your shows you’ve been waiting to watch.
5. Sympathy: A majority of the time you end up looking worse than you feel which can work in your favor. More than likely the majority of your friends and family will have already had the procedure and can relate to it. It won’t be long until your friends and family show up with thoughtful surprises, like wisdom teeth removal friendly snacks, movies and a good book.

To schedule your root canal therapy consultation make sure you give our office a call! Bruce S. Kuhn M.D., D.D.S. Office Phone Number 402-330-8460

 

3 Tips on Plastic Surgery Preparation

Preparing for surgery is so much more than making appointments and taking time off of work. Make sure you’re preparing your body by giving it the essentials it needs for a safe and successful surgery.

1. Make the Appointment When You’re Healthy:
It’s important for your body to undergo surgery when it is at its peak health to ensure a more speedy and safe recovery. Relatively good health ensures that your immune system is ready to take on all of the healing and stress your body may be under during this time. Although it may be difficult to predict future illnesses, keeping up with your health a few weeks prior to the appointment is crucial as the appointment may have to be rescheduled if your immune system is too weak.

2. Make Sure You’re Hydrated: You put your body through an immense amount of stress when undergoing surgery, so hydration is key. Being fully hydrated helps cleanse the body of toxins that could prevent a speedier recovery. The day of surgery, water intake is significantly decreased so preparing your body with an influx of high quality water each day weeks in advance will ease the entire process. There are other instructions that your surgeon may give you in advance regarding your specific procedure, but your body’s overall health and hydration is your first priority.

3. Increase your Intake of Vitamins: There are a variety of vitamins that can assist with healing and recovery regarding scarring and reducing the chance of any infection that a surgery may cause. Adding supplements to your diet such as vitamin A, vitamin C, copper and zinc will increase your immune system and give your body and health the boost it needs. Filling your body up with supplements that will elevate your body’s overall health will make sure your body is prepared for the entire surgery and recovery process after.

For any of your surgery preparation needs and consultations please reach out to our office by calling Bruce S. Kuhn M.D., D.D.S. Office Phone Number 402-330-8460.

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