How To Detect Impacted Wisdom Teeth

People experience different symptoms of having impacted wisdom teeth. Some don’t even experience symptoms. To prevent complications and to ensure oral health, it is important to have these teeth removed. Here are some ways to detect impacted wisdom teeth:

Difficulty opening the mouth

Some people who experience this symptom feel as if their jaw is stuck and their mouth is unable to do its usual movement. If the mouth and jaw feel numb for a certain time, perhaps it is due to an impacted molar.

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Bad breath

There are many reasons a person may have halitosis. However, an impacted tooth can trap particles of food and hard to clean. This causes the growth of bacteria that may cause bad breath.

Metallic taste in a person’s mouth

Some people describe this symptom as if they can taste something metallic in their mouth. This is perhaps due swollen or bleeding gums that react to the wisdom tooth or teeth’s growth. This can worsen if the area around the impacted tooth becomes infected.

Sensitive teeth and gums

An erupted molar can affect other teeth and the gums as well. Gingivitis may be a common occurrence, but it can be a telling sign that a person may have impacted wisdom teeth especially when gums feel tender and bleed at the slightest brush.

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When one or two of these symptoms occur, it is best to seek the help of a dentist. While extraction might not be immediately suggested, a dentist can provide solutions to a patient to control the painful and uncomfortable symptoms before the operation.

Dr. John Pasqual, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, helps in rebuilding bone structure with minimal surgical intervention and optimal patient comfort. Visit this website to know more about his practice.

A Guide To Dental Implant Maintenance

Dental implants certainly improve a person’s smile and confidence. Here are some ways to keep these implants and the rest of the teeth healthy:

Brush regularly.

Dentists and dental hygienists cannot stress enough the importance of regular brushing. Even with implants, people are expected to brush three times a day to keep their teeth clean and healthy.

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Keep on flossing.

Dental implants are not prone to tooth decay but they are prone to stain and dirt that seep in the remote areas of the teeth. To prevent discoloration and infection in other teeth, flossing is the solution. For those who are not so fond of the threading floss, they can use water floss, a device that squirts water in the hard to reach areas. This tool prevents the buildup of dirt and keeps teeth looking clean.

Spend time in the dentist’s chair.

Dental implants can last up to twenty years. But this doesn’t mean that check-ups are no longer necessary. Going in for routine comprehensive cleaning will ensure the longevity and the quality of the implants. Dental hygienists also have better tools that will preserve not just the implants but all of the teeth.

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Maintaining oral health is a must whether or not a person is using dental implants. Having clean teeth can protect a person from periodontal diseases and other conditions.

As a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, John Pasqual, DMD, PA,  is an expert in techniques designed to rebuild bone structure with minimal surgical intervention and optimal patient comfort. He also diagnoses and treats facial pain and facial injuries, among others. Visit this page for more information about his practice.

How To Know If You Are a Candidate For Dental Implants

Dental implant procedures have become one of the most common solutions to tooth loss; however, not everyone is fit to be fused with dental implants. What makes an ideal candidate for the surgical procedure?

Adequate bone support
Dental implants are fixed inside the mouth by fusing them with the jawbone. Insufficient bone density or growth can hinder the success of the dental procedure; this is also the reason children usually do not qualify. Those who do not have enough bone support can instead undergo bone grafts or mini-implants.

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Improved overall health
A dental implant is a surgical procedure, which is why the overall well-being of the patient is paramount. Those with heart conditions or sleep apnea are discouraged from having dental implants as anesthesia is involved in the process. Furthermore, patients who have diabetes, drink alcohol, or smoke encounter a lower success rate because of poor oral health associated with these conditions and addictions.

Healthy gums
Gum disease and infection affect the gums, bones, and ligaments attached to the teeth, which is the primary reason for adults losing their teeth. Poor gum health can also cause the failure of dental implants.

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No bruxism
Bruxism is the medical term for the clenching or grinding of the teeth and jaw. While doing it infrequently may not cause lasting problems or symptoms, doing it persistently can not only result in jaw pain or discomfort but also reduce the success rate of the dental implant.
Dr. John Pasqual, DMD, PA, is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with years of expertise in conducting dental procedures, including dental implants. Read more about the procedure here.

Some Facts About Wisdom Teeth

Dental health means having a proper education about how teeth work behind the scenes. Not a few people are surprised to know a number of facts about wisdom teeth, for instance. Here are some of them:

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1. 
   
   Wisdom teeth are called such because they grow by the age of “wisdom”, during which most agree that a person forms an independent identity. Specifically, this is in the age of 17 to 25 years.
2. Normally, wisdom teeth can grow in each of the four quadrants, but there may be times when a person grows more than four wisdom teeth in his lifetime. These are called supernumerary teeth.
3. Wisdom teeth are not problematic teeth per se. However, these do cause problems for other teeth as they develop. This is when they are considered impacted, and so they need to be removed.
4. Not everybody grows wisdom teeth. A congenital condition called agenesis of the teeth, which is attributed to a particular gene, has been observed in nearly 100% of Mexicans. This is technically an indication of underdevelopment.
5. There is a huge risk in not having an impacted wisdom tooth removed. The crown of an impacted wisdom tooth is associated with a jaw cyst. When left untreated, a cyst can destroy the bone around it.
6. Not all wisdom teeth have to be removed. However, there is already an existing technology that can be used to predict whether or not a wisdom tooth will cause harm in the future. The best advice to be sought still comes from the world’s most advanced practitioners in dentistry.

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John Pasqual D.M.D., P.A. is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Follow this blog for the latest in dental surgery.

Harmful Habits That Could Damage Dental Implants

Dental implants are a great way to fix a person’s smile. After the procedure, a person must maintain the implants by following proper oral hygiene and regularly visiting the dentist for a check-up. While waiting for the implants to heal, here are some harmful habits to avoid:

Using the teeth to crush ice cubes, hard candy, or other hard food Carelessly using the teeth to chew on hard food might cause the implants to crack. Doing this action repeatedly might affect the post of the implant and make the teeth crooked. When the teeth are still healing from the procedure, chewing on objects for long periods of time is not suggested as food getting into the gums and inside the implants might cause a wound or an infection.

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Smoking Nicotine and tar can stain the implants. It could also slow down the healing process as the nicotine in tobacco products deprives the body of essential nutrients such as Vitamin C, which promotes quick recovery. Those who chew on their tobacco might cause wounds and infect the gums around the implanted tooth.

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Consuming sugary drinks Sugar damages the enamel of the teeth. Drinking lots of soda and sports drinks might lead to tooth decay. While waiting for the implants to heal, patients are suggested to drink water or other sugar-free beverages.

Avoid these harmful habits to have a speedy recovery. Dental implants are an investment for a person’s self-image. Even when the teeth and gums have healed, maintenance is still crucial to keep a confident and healthy smile.

Dr. John Pasqual, DMD, PA,  is an expert in techniques designed to rebuild bone structure with minimal surgical intervention and optimal patient comfort. He also diagnoses and treats facial pain and facial injuries, among others. Visit this page for more information about his practice.

Immediate Implant: Teeth In a Day Or Hour

A bar attachment denture is a revolutionary method of restoring a full set of teeth.

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Conventional dentures could be rather limited, especially because of the difficulty of securing the prosthesis inside the mouth. In most cases, these dentures can be painful, uncomfortable, inconvenient, and constraining to everyday activities, such as chewing food.


The bar attachment denture provides a stable replacement for the missing teeth, and uses a full dental bridge that is supported by only four specially angled dental implants.

With ensured stability in the bone, the need for bone graft surgery, which would have increased bone volume at a higher cost and months of healing, can be done away with.

And with less than the typical number of implants required, it is a cost effective solution. It also provides faster overall treatment and healing time.

Immediately after tooth extraction, the implants can be placed, while a temporary set of teeth is attached on the same day to help the patient lead a normal life during the healing period. As soon as the implant is ready, the final bridge, which is customized and tailor-made for the patient, is placed.

Bar attachment denture has been scientifically tested and documented to give the patient an improved quality of life.

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John Pasqual, DMD, PA, an experienced oral and facial surgeon, offers the teeth-in-a-day bar attachment denture procedure to patients. Dr. Pasqual is committed to delivering superior individualized patient care. Find out more about his practice by checking out this website.

Intense Pain After Wisdom Tooth Extraction? It Might Be “Dry Socket”

Many people suffer from pain after a wisdom tooth extraction, but not every one gets the dry socket. What is it, and why do people get the chills just hearing about it?

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Feeling pain after a tooth extraction is inevitable, and most people just sleep (or eat) through it. But a condition called dry socket subjects the patient to a different kind of pain.

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Dry socket, also known as alveolar osteitis, is an intense pain felt by about 2 to 5 percent of those who went through tooth extraction. Everyone who undergoes tooth extraction can see the socket, or a hole in the bone which previously held the tooth. After the tooth is pulled, a blood clot forms in the socket to protect the nerve and bones from any harmful bacteria that enter the mouth. The clot can be dissolved days after the procedure, which leaves the nerves and bones exposed to different elements that can lead to infection and pain.

People who smoke, take birth control medication, have poor oral hygiene, and previously had dry socket are at risk of acquiring the condition.

Fortunately, dry socket can be treated. Medication like ibuprofen or aspirin can give temporary pain relief, but it will be best to consult a specialist for better treatment options.

Dr. John Pasqual is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Learn more about his expertise by visiting this page.