Jason came to our office looking for help to correct his large under bite. As a child he had Herpetic Encephalitis and as a result, his midface did not develop properly.
He has an identical twin brother that does not have this problem and Jason simply wanted to look like his twin.
He underwent about a year of orthodontic treatment to get ready for the surgery. While an orthodontist can move teeth in the jaw bone, if the bones are not in their proper position, moving teeth alone cannot correct the bite and facial disharmony.
Jason underwent a procedure called Orthognathic surgery. Ortho means straight and Gnathic means related to jaws. So essentially orthognathic means straight jaws. The particular procedure was Le Fort I Osteotomy.
Through a very delicate procedure, the upper jaw is separated from the midface and base of the skull, and then moved forward into its proper position. It is then stabilized with plates and screws to its new position. The entire procedure is about two hours and usually does not require an overnight stay at the hospital. There is also no need for the jaws being wired together as it was done years ago and the recovery is usually about 3-5 days.
While there will be a need for some final orthodontic tweaking after about a month, the results are very dramatic with significant changes is facial appearance and function.
And the changes are not only limited to the facial appearance as a significant percentage of patients report improvement in their quality of life.
As you can see, Jason is very happy with the results and finally looks exactly like his twin brother!
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Here’s another testimonial from a satisfied patient of South Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery:
* We value the privacy of our patients and this video is shared with the patients full consent.
Filed under Oral Surgery by admin
Why is wisdom teeth removal necessary? While not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed, for many they can be the cause of pain or discomfort. Most people’s mouth cannot accommodate all 32 teeth and because the third molars, commonly called ‘wisdom teeth’, are the last to appear there is often not enough room for the size and shape of these teeth.
These wisdom teeth typically show up between ages 17-21 and in most cases are removed for any of the following reasons:
- They are erupting into an abnormal position, such as tilted, sideways or twisted.
- They are trapped below the gum line due to lack of space.
- Pericoronitis has developed which is an infection resulting from trapped food, plaque and bacteria.
- The way the teeth bite together has changed, causing misalignment of the jaws.
- Because they are more difficult to reach, proper hygiene is difficult and can result in tooth decay of the erupted wisdom teeth.
Even though your regular dentist can give you an indication if you or a loved one should have your wisdom teeth removed, it’s best to consult with an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon as we are specially trained to deal with all things wisdom teeth.
Feel free to contact my office at (704) 542-9600 to schedule a consultation and to get all your questions about wisdom teeth answered.
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There’s no doubt that having some type of oral surgical procedure performed can be a scary and intimidating experience. Removing impacted wisdom teeth, getting a dental implant or implant supported dentures, TMJ treatment, and even surgery to correct sleep apnea are all processes that can cause even the most strong-minded patients to get nervous.
As someone living in the Charlotte NC area, you’re very fortunate to have many options available to you in the sense that there are a great many competent oral surgeons available to help you have a stress-free and possibly even enjoyable process. However, before you decide which oral surgeon to choose you’ll want to be sure you’re about to receive the absolute best care available.
While there are many factors you should take into consideration when trying to choose the right oral surgeon for your procedure, one of the most important is whether or not your doctor will be involved in all aspects of your care. This means will you be meeting with your prospective doctor during the initial consultation, will they speak with you about your individual case, will they discuss the possible complications, and will they be the one that performs the actual procedure?
You see, in some oral surgery practices, especially multi-doctor practices, your surgeon may not always be involved in the initial consultation, planning, and actual treatment of your case. Yes, it may seem strange that this would be case, but in some practices the initial patient consultation involves watching a video and speaking with a staff member about the procedure to be performed and possible complications.
And when it comes to performing the actual procedure, ‘your doctor’ may not be the one that removes your impacted wisdom teeth or gives you a dental implant or whatever oral surgery procedure you’re having.
Having had experience with this type of oral surgery practice, I’ve found that patients tend to be more nervous and less comfortable during the entire process. I’ve also found that when your doctor is able to be involved in all aspects of your oral surgical procedure, the patient has a much more relaxed and enjoyable experience.
Remember, not all oral surgeons are the same. While many doctors have similar credentials and experience, there can be major differences in the way procedures are performed and patients are treated so be certain to find out as much as you can about how you’ll be treated before going to visit any prospective oral surgeon.
Dr. Marashi is the founder and medical director of South Charlotte Oral & Facial Surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina where he and his staff are focused on providing stress-free oral surgery procedures like removal of impacted wisdom teeth, dental implants, surgical treatment of snoring, and surgery for cleft lip and palate deformities.
To learn the 21 questions you MUST ask any oral surgeon before your procedure, visit http://charlottesurgicalarts.com/21questions or call our office at (704) 542-9600.
Filed under How To Choose, Oral Surgeon, Oral Surgery, Oral Surgery Articles by admin
