Continuous, throbbing, or shooting pain from any tooth can indicate an abscess. When the tooth in question is a third molar, or wisdom tooth, the discomfort can be even more severe and the treatment options are significantly limited.

Under normal circumstances, an abscessed tooth can be resolved with a root canal treatment, antibiotics, and a dental crown or similar restoration. Unfortunately, most wisdom teeth are far from “normal”. As the very last teeth in the mouth, the wisdom teeth are difficult to access, difficult to clean, and the source of recurrent infections.

When an abscessed wisdom tooth has been diagnosed, the most ideal treatment generally involves oral surgery. The success rate after a root canal treatment on an infected wisdom tooth is significantly lower than average and it is typically more difficult to prevent future infections in these teeth. As a result, your oral surgeon may recommend removing the infected tooth rather than attempting to save it.

Due to the extreme discomfort and the complications associated with an abscessed wisdom tooth, it pays to try to prevent the infection whenever possible.

Most abscessed teeth are the result of excessive decay or the accumulation of bacteria in an area that cannot be cleaned regularly. More often than not, the position of most wisdom teeth is the contributing factor to cavities and bacterial accumulation. These teeth are sometimes partially covered by a flap of gum tissue or trapped behind the neighboring teeth.

If these teeth cannot be properly accessed during normal brushing and flossing, cavities and periodontal infections are likely to arise, and there is a greater likelihood that an abscess can develop. When your dentist can foresee the types of conditions that are known to lead to an abscess, the best recommendation is often an extraction.

If you have been advised to schedule your wisdom tooth extraction, or if you suspect that you are suffering from an abscessed wisdom tooth, contact Dallas Oral Surgery Associates to schedule an evaluation today.

Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition in which a person repeatedly stops breathing for a few seconds at a time during sleep. Not only does this condition disrupt a person’s rest, it also may increase that person’s risk of high blood pressure, arrhythmia or even a heart attack.

The most common form of sleep apnea occurs when the airway is obstructed during sleep. The muscles of the throat are relaxed, allowing the soft tissues toward the rear of the throat to collapse and cover up the opening to the airway.

Fortunately, sleep apnea can be treated through oral surgery in Dallas. A number of different techniques can be used to alter the shape of the oral cavity to prevent the soft tissues from obstructing the airway.

In correcting the structural problems that cause sleep apnea, the oral surgeon may remove a small piece of the soft palate or reposition the upper and lower jaw to improve access to the airway. The various structures that support the tongue may also be the target of surgical interventions to correct sleep apnea.

Prior to the surgery, patients will meet with the oral surgeon for an evaluation that helps to determine which surgical technique will be most effective in each particular case. This process may include a skull x-ray used in cephalometric analysis, as well as a nasopharyngeal examination.

Although patients will be largely unaware that they have sleep apnea unless informed of it by a partner, certain signs and symptoms can suggest the condition’s presence. People who have sleep apnea may have headaches upon wakening or experience daytime sleepiness.

Patients who suspect that they have sleep apnea must have a confirmed diagnosis before undergoing oral surgery. Patients can determine whether they have sleep apnea by participating in a sleep study.

If you have sleep apnea, it’s important to correct the condition to protect your health. After receiving your confirmed diagnosis, schedule a consultation with our experienced oral surgeons at Dallas Oral Surgery Associates to see if a surgical intervention will be helpful in your case.