Orthognathic Surgery in Caledonia, MI & Grand Rapids, MI

Orthognathic surgery is needed when the jaws don't meet correctly and/or the teeth don't seem to fit together. The teeth can be straightened with orthodontics but corrective jaw surgery may be needed to reposition the jaws. This can ensure that the teeth function properly but it can also improve your facial appearance. Some of the long term problems associated with incorrectly positioned jaws can be decreased chewing function, speech problems, loss of teeth, periodontal problems, breathing problems, difficulty with swallowing and chronic jaw pain or TMJ dysfunction. People who can benefit from Orthognathic surgery include those with an improper bite or jaws that are positioned incorrectly. Jaw growth is a gradual process and, in some instances, the upper and lower jaws may grow at different rates. Injury to the jaw and birth defects can also affect jaw alignment. While orthodontics can correct bite problems if only the teeth are involved, Orthognathic surgery may be required if the jaws also need repositioning. Before any treatment begins, a consultation appointment will be scheduled to discuss your desires and expectations. Also during this consultation, Dr. VanHoose will perform a comprehensive clinical and radiographic examination. During the consultation process, feel free to ask any questions that you have regarding your treatment. Following the consultation, a video can be reviewed which will help you to understand the surgical process and the extent of the proposed surgery. Using comprehensive facial x-rays and photos, Dr. VanHoose can show you how your bite will be improved and even give you an idea of how you'll look after surgery. This helps you understand the surgical process and the extent of the treatment prescribed, and to see the benefits of Orthognathic surgery. If you are a candidate for corrective jaw surgery, Dr. VanHoose will work closely with your dentist and orthodontist during your treatment to ensure that all aspects of your surgical treatment are perfectly coordinated.

Tooth Pain Treatment in Caledonia & Grand Rapids, MI

Tooth pain can vary from minor to severe, but whatever the intensity, the patient wants to feel better as soon as possible. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Greater Grand Rapids offers the best in diagnostics and restorative solutions to relieve the pressure, throbbing pain and sensitivity to pressure and temperature of the common toothache. What causes tooth pain, and how can your dental team help?

They have various symptoms and many causes. Often, patients come in with:

• Throbbing pain
• Sensitivity to hot or cold beverages or a sharp pain when biting or chewing
• Swelling of the jaw
• Redness and/or a pimple at the gum line
• Drainage that is bad-tasting
• Fever
• A general feeling of malaise
• Persistent bad breath
• Toothache first aid

You should contact the office as soon as any symptoms arise. The sooner he diagnoses the problem and treats it, the better the person will feel and the better the outcome of any treatment will be.

Additionally, we recommend these simple first aid interventions to bring temporary relief before seeing the dentist:

• Take over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen for discomfort. Do not use aspirin.
• Ice the jaw, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, to reduce swelling.
• Rinse the mouth with warm salt water to control drainage.
• If the toothache comes from oral trauma, save any tooth fragments, and get to Whitecaps Dental as soon as possible.

Tooth Pain Treatments

Your dentist will examine your aching teeth and performs X-rays to determine the type and the extent of the problem. Commonly, the individual has a deep cavity and requires a tooth-colored filling or even a dental crown. If the tooth is infected, root canal therapy removes the diseased inner pulp and seals and crowns the tooth to preserve and strengthen it.

Unfortunately, sometimes a tooth is so extensively damaged it cannot be saved. In that case, your dentist extracts the tooth and plans a replacement for the patient in the form of fixed bridgework, a partial denture or dental implant, today's longest lasting and most beneficial tooth replacement.

Don't Suffer

As soon as you notice painful dental symptoms, please contact us right away for advice and a same-day appointment as needed. Our Dentists and staff wish all their patients to be comfortable and as healthy as possible.

Experiencing tooth pain? Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Greater Grand Rapids can help!
Call our Caledonia, MI office at (616) 891-1700 or our Alpine, MI office at (616)785-1700 to make an appointment!