Knoxville TN dentist | Knoxville TN orthodontist | pediatric orthodontics

Often orthodontists and oral surgeons work closely together. Oral and maxillofacial surgery is any surgery involving the bones and soft tissues of the face, mouth, and neck. Oral surgeons perform a wide range of operations.

Wisdom tooth removal

Third molars that fail to emerge or have insufficient space for normal eruption can misalign or damage the surrounding teeth. Should they become impacted and neglected, it could cause cysts in the jaw. If x-rays reveal problematic wisdom teeth, we can refer you to an oral surgeon pro-actively rather than waiting until a crisis arises. Removal at the proper stage of development makes the procedure easier and recovery shorter for the patient.

Jaw Growth

Jaws that fail to develop properly (the lower jaw grows larger than the upper, or vice versa) in more severe cases make orthodontic correction alone unable to resolve the problems. In those more severe discrepancies, orthognathic surgery (corrective jaw surgery) combined with orthodontics allows us to achieve a correction unachievable otherwise.

Cosmetic Facial Surgery

Birth defects, trauma, accidents and aging can lead to facial disfiguration. Maxillofacial surgery, often as part of an Orthodontic—/Restorative/Surgical team plan, can help affected individuals achieve a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and better function than any of these disciplines alone. The main ingredient to a successful result is planning and communication between patient, dentist, surgeon and orthodontist.

Dental Implants

Oral surgeons can implant natural-feeling titanium bone implants, which after healing can be restored to achieve natural appearing replacement of missing teeth.

Facial Pain

Malfunction of the Tempro-Mandibular Joint (TMJ), the joint that allows jaw movement, is a common source of facial pain. If joint pain or dysfunction does not resolve with conservative therapy, we may refer you for imaging of the joint via either an arthrogram x-ray or MRI. In extreme cases, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary to alleviate the pain and restore the joint to normal function.