Oral Surgery Center - Laguna Beach, CA
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Oral SurgeryRead the Oral Surgery article » Impacted TeethWisdom teeth, otherwise known as third molars, are the last set of teeth to develop. Sometimes these teeth emerge from the gum line and the jaw is large enough to allow room for them, but most of the time, this is not the case. More often, one or more of these third molars fails to emerge in proper alignment or fails to fully emerge through the gum line and becomes entrapped or "impacted" between the jawbone and the gum tissue. Impacted wisdom teeth can result in swelling, pain, and infection of the gum tissue surrounding the wisdom teeth. In addition, impacted wisdom teeth can cause permanent damage to nearby teeth, gums, and bone and can sometimes lead to the formation of cysts or tumors that can destroy sections of the jaw. Therefore, dentists recommend people with impacted wisdom teeth have them surgically removed. It's not just wisdom teeth that sometimes become impacted and need to be removed. Other teeth, such as the cuspids and the bicuspids can become impacted and can cause the same types of problems described with impacted wisdom teeth.
Tooth LossDental implants are an option for tooth loss due to an accident or infection or as an alternative to dentures. The implants are tooth root substitutes that are surgically anchored in place in the jawbone and act to stabilize the artificial teeth to which they are attached. Suitable candidates for dental implants need to have an adequate bone level and density, must not be prone to infection, and must be willing to maintain good oral hygiene practices. Jaw-Related Problems
Recommended Reading Related to Oral SurgeryTemporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) » What is the temporomandibular joint?The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the area directly in front of the ear on either side of the head where the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible) meet. Within the TMJ, there are moving parts that allow the upper jaw to close on the lower jaw. This joint is a typical sliding "ball and socket" that has a disc sandwiched between it. The TMJ is used throughout the day to move the jaw, especially in biting and chewing, talking, and yawning. It is one of the most frequently used joints of the body. The temporomandibular joints are complex and are composed of muscles, tendons, and bones. Each component contributes to the smooth operation of the TMJ. When the muscles are relaxed and balanced and both jaw joints open and close comfortably, we are able to talk, chew, or yawn without pain. We can locate the TMJ by putting a finger on the triangular structure in front of the ear. The finger is moved just slightly fo... Other Related Oral Surgery ArticlesEmergency Contact for Laguna Beach
Nearby Laguna Beach Hospitals * Mission Hospital Laguna Beach  Saddleback Memorial Medical Center Laguna Hills  Children's Hospital of Orange County at Mission  Mission Hospital  Kaiser Permanente Orange County Irvine Medical Center  Saddleback Memorial Medical Center San Clemente  Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian  College Hospital Costa Mesa  Coastal Communities Hospital  Tustin Hospital & Medical Center  HEALTHSOUTH Tustin Rehabilitation Hospital  Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center  Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center  Western Medical Center Santa Ana  Huntington Beach Hospital  Kindred Hospital Santa Ana  HealthBridge Children's Rehabilitation Hospital  Chapman Medical Center  Children's Hospital Orange County  St Joseph Hospital  Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center  University Of California Irvine Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Westminster  Western Medical Center Anaheim  Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center  Anaheim Regional Medical Center  Anaheim General Hospital  West Anaheim Medical Center  Placentia-Linda Hospital  Los Alamitos Medical Center  VA Long Beach Healthcare System  Corona Regional Medical Center Rehabilitation  La Palma Intercommunity Hospital  St Jude Medical Center  Corona Regional Medical Center  Tri-City Regional Medical Center  Community Hospital of Long Beach  Kindred Hospital Brea  St Mary Medical Center  Kindred Hospital La Mirada  Long Beach Memorial Medical Center  Miller Children's Hospital  College Hospital Cerritos  Pacific Hospital of Long Beach  Norwalk Community Hospital  Bellflower Medical Center  Lakewood Regional Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center  Metropolitan State Hospital  Whittier Hospital Medical Center  Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital  Inland Valley Medical Center  Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Suburban Medical Center Campus  Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center  Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center  Fallbrook Hospital  Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital  Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro  Downey Regional Medical Center  Chino Valley Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center  Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center  Rancho Springs Medical Center  Catalina Island Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Oral Surgery by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Braces and Retainers
- Find out more about how orthodontic braces and retainers can provide proper alignment to crooked teeth. Get answers to all your braces questions about care, clear braces, and color bands.
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Toothache
- Toothache usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth or jaw problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint (TMJ), or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. A toothache can also be caused by a problem that does not originate from a tooth or the jaw, like diseases of the heart (angina or heart attack), ear infections, and sinus infections. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine the cause.
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Sleep Apnea
- Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea (OSA), and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. OSA is caused by the collapse of the airway during sleep. OSA is diagnosed and evaluated through patient history, physical examination and polysomnography. There are many complications related to obstructive sleep apnea. Treatments are surgical and non-surgical.
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Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
- Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint(s) that causes signs and symptoms including ear pain, bite problems, headaches, dizziness, clicking sounds in the jaw, tinnitus and/or locked jaws. Behaviors or conditions that can lead to TMJ include teeth grinding or clenching, fingernail biting, habitual gum chewing, trauma to the jaw, stress, and occupational hazards. Treatment for TMJ may include heat, ice, a soft diet, antiinflammatory medications, physical therapy, stress management, occlusal therapy, correction of bite abnormalities, and surgery.
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Dental Injuries
- Dental injuries range from a chipped or fractured tooth to a knocked out tooth. Treatment depends upon the severity of the dental injury. Dental injuries may be prevented by aligning protruding front teeth with braces and using face masks and mouthguards while playing sports.
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Wisdom Teeth
- Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that people get in their late teens or early twenties. Impacted wisdom teeth that only partially erupt allows for an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause an infection, which results in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness. Before your wisdom teeth are pulled, the teeth and the surrounding tissue will be numbed with a local anesthetic. Recovery from wisdom tooth removal depends upon the difficulty of the extraction.
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Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip
- Cleft palate and cleft lip are facial and oral defects that occur early in pregnancy. A cleft lip is a split of the two sides of the upper lip, and a cleft palate is a split in the roof of the mouth. Cleft lip the fourth most common birth defect in the U.S. Repair of a cleft palate or cleft lip may require multiple surgeries.
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Snoring
- Snoring, like all other sounds, is caused by vibrations that cause particles in the air to form sound waves. While we are asleep, turbulent air flow can cause the tissues of the nose and throat to vibrate and give rise to snoring. Any person can snore. Snoring is believed to occur in anywhere from 30% of women to over 45% of men. People who snore can have any body type. In general, as people get older and as they gain weight, snoring will worsen. Snoring can be caused by a number of things, including the sleep position, alcohol, medication, anatomical structure of the mouth and throat, stage of sleep, and mouth breathing.
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Dry Socket
- Dry socket is a painful condition that sometimes occurs after a tooth has been pulled. Dry socket can occur if the blood clot protecting the bone and nerves in the hole in the bone where the tooth was pulled becomes dislodged after extraction. In addition to pain, symptoms include bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth. People who smoke, have poor oral hygiene, and those who use birth control pills have a greater likelihood of developing dry socket. This condition may be treated with aspirin, ibuprofen, a nerve block, or medication prescribed by your dentist.
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