Surgical Services
As a patient, you naturally want the “best in the field” to perform your surgery. After all, your oral health is essential to your overall well-being, and the process involved in surgery can be delicate. Therefore, finding the right doctor can be the difference maker. You likewise should want the “best in the field” in creating and delivering your new teeth/restorations. At OP, you are blessed with a doctor who is responsible for both the surgical and restorative components.
The surgical planning process with OP begins with a thorough assessment from both the surgeon and the anesthesia team. They will evaluate your overall health and understand your prior history of medications, surgeries, and complications. Your doctor will review your CT to understand the diagnosis and treatment options. The lab will make surgical stents/guides will be made to ensure the treatment goes exactly as planned. Technicians will also create beautiful new temporaries, prototypes, or final restorations. Your surgical team is now ready.
At Ozark Prosthodontics in Fayetteville, AR, we offer the highest quality of care for our patients through state-of-the-art technology, advanced techniques, and highly qualified professionals who provide outstanding service. When choosing our specialists for your surgical needs, you can be sure that we will provide the highest level of precision and the best outcomes. If you’re looking for excellence when it comes to surgical solutions, we are the team to provide it. Read below to discover our surgical services.
Dental Implants & Zygomatic Implants
Implants are truly transforming the landscape of oral care, offering patients a permanent and natural-looking solution for tooth loss. Gone are the days of restoring countless restorations or modifying dentures endlessly to accommodate an ever-evolving oral anatomy. At Ozark Prosthodontics, we ensure proper implant placement by using technology to identify the exact surgical site and ensure that the surgery goes exactly as planned.
With dental implants, our practice has accomplished the following for our patients:
- Performed full-mouth reconstructions to ensure a strong foundation and the ideal aesthetic look
- Replaced single or multiple missing teeth to improve function and speech while preventing unwanted shifting of neighboring teeth
- Prevented the deterioration of the jawbone after tooth loss by establishing healthy bone stimulation that stops premature facial aging
- Restored patient confidence and improved quality of life
- Addressed complex cases where other restorations would be impossible, leading to a full, functioning smile for patients with extensive medical conditions or facial trauma
While most patients with missing teeth benefit from using “regular” dental implants, there are patients who have such severe bone loss that they need Zygomatic implants. Zygomatic implants are longer implants that are placed in the zygoma (cheekbone). OP is ready to serve you, regardless of how severe your case may be.
Sinus Lift
A sinus lift or sinus floor augmentation is a surgical procedure that raises the sinus cavity and adds bone to the upper jaw. At Ozark Prosthodontics, we provide sinus lift procedures for patients who have suffered bone loss as a result of missing teeth in the upper jaw.
- The process that follows when a tooth is lost from this region is that the alveolar ridge begins to resorb (shrinks) over time. Additionally, the maxillary sinus cavity may expand into the area, resulting in a lack of adequate bone. This can create complications when trying to replace the lost tooth with a dental implant, as there may not be enough bone present in order to properly support the implant.
By performing a sinus lift, enough bone is created to facilitate the placement of dental implants. This procedure can provide the support and stability needed to create a beautiful, natural-looking smile.
Bone Grafting
At Ozark Prosthodontics, we also offer bone grafting procedures for patients in need of supplemental bone so that dental implants can be anchored securely into the jawbone. This procedure involves placing grafting material into areas with inadequate bone, allowing the jawbone to grow and heal so that the dental implants can be placed.
- Our team will map out the jawbone with advanced technology, allowing us to identify pockets of void bone tissue where density needs to be improved.
- Upon locating the precise areas of poor bone density, we will create a small incision in the gum tissue and pack the area with bone graft material. This material may be derived from your own body, from a donor, or from a synthetic compound.
- Once the bone grafting material is in place, the incision will be closed for healing.
- Over the next several months, we will check for proper healing and begin the dental implant process once the material has bonded with the existing bone.
Tooth Extraction
Our office performs tooth extractions for cases in which a tooth is damaged beyond repair or impacted below the gum line. The cause of a tooth requiring removal could range from severe decay to trauma. Before performing this procedure, our specialists will assess your teeth and make sure that an extraction is the best course of action.
While many extractions can be performed in a dental office under minimal sedation, our team performs surgical tooth removal to access teeth that are impacted or broken off at the gum line
- During the procedure, our specialists will make a small incision in the gum tissue to access the tooth and then use forceps to carefully remove it.
- The removal process may involve fragmenting the tooth into smaller pieces before being extracted from the socket; this helps to avoid damage to surrounding tissues, nerves, or root systems.
- After the extraction, our team will check for proper healing and provide instructions on post-op care. In some cases, we may also begin discussing restorative options, such as implants, to replace the extracted tooth.
Tissue Grafting
At Ozark Prosthodontics, we perform tissue grafting procedures to replace gum tissue that has been lost due to periodontal disease or other factors—such as recession caused by improper brushing practices, teeth grinding, or trauma sustained in an accident. The grafting material used for this procedure is a natural, living tissue that helps promote the healing and growth of healthy gum cells. We may use either synthetic material, donor tissue, or gingiva that has been transferred from another area of your mouth.
- To begin the surgery, we will first provide an anesthetic to numb the teeth and gum tissue in the area/areas we are removing or placing gum tissue.
- If necessary, we will carefully harvest a small area of gum tissue from another area of your mouth.
- The tissue will be secured to the area of recession using sutures.
Following the grafting procedure, our team will check for proper healing and ensure the new tissue does not regress in the same way. To ensure the long-term viability of the new tissue, we may provide patients with educational resources and tips to prevent the recurrence of recession.
Crown Lengthening
In addition to tissue grafting, our office also provides crown lengthening—an alternative procedure with the purpose of removing (gingivectomy) or repositioning gum tissue rather than placing it. In some cases, the bone may be removed or sculpted to achieve a symmetrical gingival margin or expose more of the tooth surface.
The purpose of crown lengthening is to reveal more dental structures, making it easier to restore a damaged tooth with a crown. When more of the tooth is accessible, it allows us to place a better-fitting restoration.
Tori Removal
For patients experiencing tori or bony exostosis along the mandibular regions or palate, our office performs tori removal procedures. While tori are not considered dangerous, they will continue to grow if left untreated. Over time, this can become uncomfortable and make speaking and eating more challenging. Additionally, excessive bone growth may make it impossible to fit denture appliances properly. It is extremely unlikely for these bone deposits to grow back; however, our professional team will monitor your healing after the procedure to ensure a successful outcome.
Frenectomy
Before describing the frenectomy procedure, it is important to first establish the definition of a frenulum and the reason for the procedure. The labial frenulum is a band of mucous tissue located in the front of the mouth that attaches the lip to the alveolar mucosa. This frenulum has the potential to cause gum recession if it is too small, and it may also negatively influence the growth of the teeth. The lingual frenulum is on the floor of the mouth, behind the front teeth, and under the tongue. When this tissue is too short, it can limit the motion of the tongue—causing difficulties when eating, drinking, or speaking. This is commonly referred to as a tongue tie.
The frenectomy procedure involves cutting away the tissue to eliminate negative effects associated with a poorly developed frenulum; typically, we will use a scalpel to cut away the mucosa tissue. While this procedure is most often performed on children, it may also be performed for adults who have begun experiencing difficulties or oral health concerns related to the frenulum.
Platelet Rich Fibrin
At Ozark Prosthodontics, we provide platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) treatment to help promote tissue healing and regeneration. PRF consists of a fibrin-rich matrix and is derived from the patient’s own blood; the compound helps stimulate natural growth molecules in the body. This can be used for a variety of purposes, such as reducing inflammation, treating soft tissue injuries, encouraging regeneration of bone cells, and promoting healing after a surgical procedure. When used in combination with a surgical procedure, PRF can help to accelerate healing, reduce pain, and reduce swelling. Our specialists will discuss the use of PRF with you, as it may be beneficial for your medical needs.
Why OP?
Our OP doctors focus exclusively on complicated cases. Consequently, our doctors treat more rare conditions than most doctors see in a lifetime. We are renowned for using technology to assist with diagnosing and designing solutions for our patients. We are pioneers in creating more effective, less traumatic, and longer-lasting treatments. Our team has completed advanced training in surgery and prosthetics. Our patients benefit from that quest by receiving not only the best treatments to minimize the impact of disease, trauma, or congenital anomalies and will also give them the best chance at a high quality of life.
We want to help. Please call.