Author: Jennifer Wells

When it comes to extractions, we often get asked “do I need to see an oral surgeon?” A tooth extraction is nothing to take lightly. It’s important to let Dr. Jennifer Wells evaluate the situation to determine whether if the extraction needs to be referred out to an Oral Surgeon.

Both dentists and oral surgeons can preform extractions. How does Dr. Wells know if she has to refer out? The answer depends on what type of procedure you need, your current medical conditions, and how involved the extraction will be.

Getting Started: Dentist or Oral Surgeon? 

If you are having any type of complications with your teeth, your first step should be to contact your dentist. Here at First Impressions Family Dentistry you can contact us at 704.933.2115 to get emergency appointments worked in.

The dentist will then evaluate the situation to determine whether an extraction is needed. This consultation typically involves x-rays and an examination of the affected tooth or teeth.

From there, the dentist will make a recommendation about whether he or she can perform the extraction. If the tooth can be removed in office, often the extraction can be done the same time as your consultation. If the dentist determines that an oral surgeon is necessary, most dental offices have oral surgeons they  routinely work with. This makes for an easy referral.

Reasons for Referral to an Oral Surgeon

There are a few good reasons why seeing an oral surgeon may be necessary for a successful extraction:

Impacted Teeth: If your teeth are impacted, either under the gum tissue or under the bone the extraction may be more complicated. This procedure will likely involve general anesthesia and cutting into the mouth to remove teeth. Sounds like surgery, right? This makes sense to go see an oral surgeon.

Facial Structure: The positioning of your teeth in your mouth may make it difficult for a dentist to perform the extraction without causing discomfort.  Large sinuses or  limited jaw mobility may necessitate an extraction by an oral surgeon.

Cracked or Fractured Teeth: Teeth that are already cracked or fractured are more likely to break during the extraction. This will require a more extensive surgical procedure, similar to what’s needed for an impacted tooth.

Dental Anxiety: Regardless of the physical situation with your tooth, some patients prefer to be asleep for an extraction if they suffer from dental anxiety or fear of going to the dentist. In this case, an oral surgeon is needed to administer general anesthesia.

Extraction Complications: As much as any dentist strives perfection, things can go wrong during some extractions. If the tooth has complex roots or fractures during the procedure, an oral surgeon may be needed to complete the process. In this case, you would be referred to a surgeon as quickly as possible to minimize discomfort and the risk for further complications.

First Impressions Family Dentistry Extraction Services

First Impressions Family Dentistry is lucky enough to work with some amazing oral surgeons. Regardless of  your needs are, we can make sure you are always seeing the best! We offer emergency services and also welcome new patients.

If you have a tooth that’s been bugging you for a while, let us help you determine if an extraction is needed and if it needs to be referred.

Hurry, lets get our vacation in before school starts!

In about two weeks school is starting here in Cabarrus County. So, everyone is in a hurry trying to get in their last vacations. This means we might neglect some of our dental responsibilities.  Lets not let this happen!

Whether you’re traveling close to home or far, far away, keeping up your dental routine while you’re away is still super important. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene habits while on the go isn’t always easy. So, here at First Impressions Family Dentistry we have put together some dental tips and tricks to help you plan accordingly.

Keep Travel Products on Hand

It’s not always the most practical to dig out your entire toiletry kit while on vacation. However you can still make keeping up with brushing and other hygiene habits easier with carrying travel size products along with your purse or a carry-on bag. A travel-size toothbrush, toothpaste, and small bottle of mouthwash can easily fit in a small bag, which means no excuse for not brushing those teeth!

Don’t Skip Your Flossing

Vacation is a perfect time to kick back and forget your responsibilities. One of the biggest mistakes travelers make is forgetting to floss. After all, Disney World is filled with lots of fun, and we can’t miss out on anything, right? But truthfully, it only takes about 30 seconds to floss, which is less than it takes to post an Instagram picture of you in front of the Cinderella Castle. Let’s not make traveling an excuse to not floss! To make flossing a little easier and more convenient, consider packing a small baggy of dental floss picks for easy on-the-go flossing.

When all Else Fails, Drink Plenty of Water

If you’re hiking the Grand Canyon, there probably isn’t a sink around to brush. It happens… The best thing for you is to avoid eating or drinking anything with high amounts of sugar. Rinse your food down with water when get a chance. This helps with getting rid of some decay causing bacteria until you get a chance to brush.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready for your last vacation before the kids go to school without neglecting your teeth in the process. 

Safe travels from First Impressions Family Dentistry!

We’ve all had moments when we felt like we had to chew some gum before an interview or pop a mint after eating something smelly. But have you ever felt like you have chronically bad breath? The solutions are simpler than you might expect, so instead of making things worse by using high-strength mouthwash, here are some simple tips and tricks that help fight bad breath for the long term, and in the right way!

tip 1
brush and floss after eating

Plaque and tartar are leading causes of bad breath, and the only way to get rid of it is to
Brush Regularly, Floss Daily and visit your dentist at least twice yearly for
professional cleanings. Consider owning an electric toothbrush, like Oral-B Genius, that
comes with a travel case to take with you to the office each day, helping encourage that
after-lunch refresh! For those of you that struggle to keep plaque at bay, despite a great
brushing routine, consider upping your visits to 3 to 4 times a year. Not a believer in
flossing? Next time you floss, SMELL it! I promise you’ll never question the value of
flossing again!

tip 2
eat celery, carrots and apples!

Snacking on foods like celery, carrots and apples can also help clean away loose food debris giving your teeth a crisper, clean feeling. Not only are these snacks great for your body, but their fibrous skins can act like a toothbrush and help reduce staining and plaque buildup!

tip 3
use a tongue scraper

Using a Tongue Scraper to scrape away gunk can also help keep bad-breath germs
at bay. Many toothbrushes, quip included, come with tongue-scrubbing feature on
the back of their brush heads. Start from the back of your tongue and scrape towards
the front, and you’ll be amazed at what you clean off! I personally prefer to do this
first thing in the morning before I brush, allowing the toothpaste to settle its minty
scent onto a nice clean surface!

tip 4
butt out

Along with causing a host of other problems, smoking is also awful for your teeth, gums and breath! Quitting is achievable, and there is an ever growing number of resources, alternatives and quitting aids out there to help!

tip 5
medications

Dry mouth is a leading cause of bad breath, and a huge reason people suffer from
dry mouth is because of prescription medication use. Talk to your doctor about
your dry mouth and see if an alternative medicine can be used instead. If not, try
products like GC Dry Mouth Gel to help boost saliva flow.

tip 6
water (not mouthwash!)

A common misconception is that mouthwash will help freshen your breath, when the truth is, it actually throws off your mouths natural PH balance and dries your mouth out further, making you bad breath problems even worse! So an easy and healthy path to fresher breath is to drink a lot of water! This will keep your mouth from getting dry AND Promote Your Saliva To Regulate Bacteria! Fill up a large BPA free water container and take it to work with you each day!