May 24, 2012

Why Choose a Maxillofacial Surgeon For Facial Cosmetic Surgery?

Dr. Chilcoat @ 12:23 pm

Trained and specializing in surgical facial reconstruction and jaw surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (OMFS) are specially and specifically trained in the anatomy and physiology of the facial structures including bone, muscle, nerve and tissue relationships of the face, head and neck.  For this reason, an OMFS has vast knowledge and extensive expertise in this defined area of the body.

Maxillofacial Surgery Training

An OMFS earns a degree as a dentist before pursuing four or more years of continued education and residency training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.  This pre-residency training also involves tuning the eye to smaller and more minute details, providing him or her with “THE ESTHETIC EYE”.  The residency training includes training in  Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology, General Surgery, Internal Medicine and Anesthesiology.  In fact, an OMFS is generally trained, more than any other physician, excluding Anesthesiologists, to provide general anesthesia and/or IV sedation, especially in an out-patient setting.

The Cosmetic Connection

permanent lip augmentation

Perma Facial Implant for lip augmentation

An OMFS has the ability and training to take the entire face into consideration, from bone structure to tissue quality and exacting placement, when performing a cosmetic procedure.  An OMFS’ ability to realign facial structures stems from their residency years which are filled with the treatment of multiple facial fractures and traumatic soft tissue injuries.  An OMFS is experienced in “putting back together” tissues and structures, which are deformed in an unnatural way through injury, in a manner that results in the best possible esthetic outcome.  Treating the skin is only a part of a more three dimensional perspective in the mind of an OMFS, and specifically for Dr. Weinstein who embraces this concept.

3-Dimensional Consideration

For example; a patient who has undergone tissue augmentation of the cheeks and/or lips without satisfactory results may

chin augmentation

chin augmentation

have an underlying skeletal abnormality or even missing teeth causing a sunken or hollow appearance.  Correction of this problem can often be achieved surgically through the inside of the mouth, negating the need for any visible external scarring and possibly reducing or eliminating the need for facial tissue augmentation altogether.

Complete Facial Cosmetics

Treating the face, skin and jaws as a whole provides more complete and longer lasting results.  An OMFS’s clinical understanding of the dental, skeletal and tissue relationships in facial esthetics, along with the “ESTHETIC EYE”, make him/her an ideal specialist for cosmetic facial surgery.

Dr. Robert A. Weinstein

Dr. Robert Weinstein is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with over 30 years experience in cosmetic facial surgery as well as peri-oral related surgery such as reconstructive jaw surgery, bone grafting and dental implant surgery.    His office boasts state of the art laser equipment which makes it possible to achieve a greater variety of results without invasive surgery.  The lasers used in his practice are the top rated and most advanced lasers of their kind.  Surgical techniques are minimally invasive, allowing for swift recovery and minimal scarring. Over thirty years of clinical experience combined with rigorous continuing education including orthognathic surgery, facial trauma reconstruction, facial plastic surgery, dental implantology and bone grafting surgery means that when you choose Dr. Robert Weinstein for your facial cosmetic procedure, you are choosing an expert in the field of facial esthetics.

Cosmetic Facial Surgery

May 17, 2012

Dental Emergency and First Aid

Dr. Chilcoat @ 10:04 am

Moms know how to handle anything.  As a mother of two adventurous boys, I’ve had my share of cuts, scrapes

dental emergency procedures

A dental emergency waiting to happen

and most recently, a nice sized burn.  I’m proud to say that in most instances, I handle myself pretty well.  My boys almost always cry much harder than I do when they get hurt. Being in the dental profession, I feel well-equipped to handle dental emergencies should one arise.  It occurred to me that my confidence in being able to manage a dental emergency or injury might be a rarity.   Dental injuries and emergencies can leave moms who are not dental professionals a little baffled about how to respond and what to do.

Never fear, the answers are right here!  Thanks to the American Dental Association, I am able to share these handy dental emergency first aid tips.  I hope you never have to use them, but just in case, you can print them out and keep them in your home and travel first aid kits!

Dental Emergency First Aid

dental first aid

Dental First Aid

Knocked-Out Tooth

Hold the tooth by the crown, and gently rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it is dirty.  Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments.  If possible, gently reinsert and hold the tooth in it’s socket. If that is not possible, place the tooth in a cup of milk.  The sooner you can do any of these things, the better because it helps keep the small attachment fibers on the root of the tooth alive.  Try to get to the dentist within an hour, if you can.  Don’t forget to bring the tooth with you!

Toothache

Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out.  Use dental floss to remove any food that may be trapped between the teeth.  Never put an aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissue.  See your dentist as soon as possible.  Over the counter pain relievers may be used, but in moderation and never for longer than a week.

Broken Tooth:

Rinse the mouth with warm water to keep the area clean.  Put cold compresses on the face to reduce swelling.  See your dentist immediately.

Bitten Tongue or Lip

Clean the area gently with a cloth, and place cold compresses to keep the swelling down. If bleeding is excessive or does not stop in a short period of time, go to your dentist, oral surgeon or hospital emergency room.

Objects Caught Between Teeth

Gently try to remove the object with dental floss.  If you are not successful, go to the dentist.  Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument.

Possible Broken Jaw

Apply a cold compress to the face to control swelling.  Go to your dentist, oral surgeon or hospital emergency room immediately.

With any luck, moms reading this post will never have to use any of these dental first aid tips.  If you are anything like me and my daredevil boys, all bets are off!  Either way, you are now prepared for anything.  For questions about dental injuries and dental emergencies not mentioned in this post, feel free to give Dr. Weinstein a call.  We’re happy to help!

 

 

May 10, 2012

Affordable Dental Implants

Dr. Chilcoat @ 11:04 am

If you have a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth, you are not alone.  An estimated 2 out of 3 adult Americans has at least one missing tooth.  In the past, a missing tooth was compensated for using a dental bridge, which requires the grinding down of the adjacent teeth and construction of a false “bridge” tooth in between.  While a dental bridge is still a viable option for some patients, there are several drawbacks to replacing a missing tooth with a dental bridge which should be considered prior to deciding on a treatment plan.

bridge vs implant

dental bridge

  • Dental bridges do not support good oral health.  They are difficult to floss around, promoting tooth decay of the adjacent teeth as well as increased risk of periodontal disease.
  • A bridge can sacrifice otherwise healthy adjacent teeth, since those teeth must be ground down in order to attach the bridged tooth in the center.
  • A bridge does not maintain the bone height and width in the area of the missing tooth, allowing recession over time.
  • A bridge has a life span of approximately 5-10 years.
  • A failed bridge often requires extraction of the adjacent abutment teeth and extension of the bridge.

 

Many patients coping with one or more missing teeth choose to proceed with a dental bridge simply because they are unaware of all the options available.  Dental implants to replace missing teeth are a mainstream permanent solution for missing teeth.  A dentist or oral surgeon should present your restorative options to you so you can weigh the pros and cons yourself, and decide upon a treatment option that is best for you.  Some patients do not consider a dental implant simply because the perception is that they are too expensive.  The truth is, dental implants, even when the initial cost is higher than that of a bridge, are significantly more cost effective over time.  Since the life of a bridge is expected to be 5-10 years, it will require replacement or expansion sometime in the near future.  A longer bridge spanning additional missing teeth will increase the cost.  A dental implant has a success rate of over 97% over 47 years of research.  This means that when you replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, there is a good chance that that implant will stay with you for the rest of your life.

 

Here are some of the benefits of replacing missing teeth with dental implants:

  • Predictable and precise treatment

    dental implant picture

    dental implant

  • Permanent solution for missing teeth
  • 97% successful over 47 years
  • No sacrifice of adjacent teeth
  • No decay
  • Easier to keep clean
  • Feel, look and function like natural teeth

Many doctors, such as Dr. Robert Weinstein, believe so strongly in the positive outcomes from dental implants that they have made them more affordable than ever.  Visit our seasonal specials page for more information on the actual cost of dental implants.

When considering your treatment options for the replacement of missing teeth, make sure you have all the facts.  While a dental bridge may be the best option for some patients, dental implants for permanent tooth replacement may provide a permanent and more predictable outcome.